Note : This is a work in progress, and may change. I’ll repost with any changes when I actually have colored versions

If you want to know more, see *OpalSkye’s journal here [link] These two are Hyksis, a deer/rabbit/weasel hybrid species.

Characters :

Dandelion
Appearance
Tall, about 38” (a little over three feet)
Still young and not completely developed and muscled
Antlers are third year – still growing, not yet impressive (need to find out lifespan and whatnot)
Coloring – caramel, dark gray, and black. (work in progress, based on a black tan rabbit pattern) Inherited the back stripes from Loosestrife (who is © to ~swiftwhippet)
Has a large scar and empty eye socket on his left side, a going away present from his father.

Personality
Dandelion is a very angry young buck. From the moment he was born, he has been treated badly both because he was a buck (which are not tolerated in Loosestrife’s herd) and because he inherited Loosestrife’s characteristic back stripe marking. When the other hyksis would see him, there was no doubt who his father was, and they could take out some of their frustrations and anger at Strife out on the defenseless Dandelion.

Even his mother was disappointed with him. She was mortified that her first kyfaw by Loosestrife should be a young buck, and one that invited such animosity. She would constantly whisper poison in his ears, that he would turn out just like Strife and she couldn’t wait to be rid of him.

It was only Meadowsweet that stood up for him. She was his older sister (same mother, different father), and although she herself was poorly treated, she was also well liked by the general dal population in Strife’s herd. She loved him, and constantly reassured him and helped him when he was younger, and he became extremely attached to her.

He declared himself her champion, and even as a young kyfaw would go to great lengths to make her happy, or to avenge her if he felt she was being treated unfairly. In doing so, he attracted even more animosity, especially from Strife and Juniper. When it came time for him to be weaned, he was forcibly driven from the herd and nearly killed by Strife. He lost his left eye in the encounter, and has never forgiven Strife for what happened, and still harbors a deep anger and grudge against the buck.

Name
The Dandelion is a weed that is hated by lawn gardeners everywhere. It is a particularly persistent weed with a deep taproot and is notoriously difficult to eradicate. That’s my Dandybuck. Loosestrife may try to get rid of him as many times as he pleases, but Dandy will keep coming back. In addition, Dandelion actually means “lion’s tooth” and Dandy is most definitely dangerous, his anger makes him doubly so.

Despite being hated by gardeners, the dandelion is actually a beneficial weed. Children of all ages love to blow the white-globed seed heads, and the yellow flowers are a cheerful compliment in any yard. It also has multiple culinary and medicinal uses.

So even though he may come across badly to some people, he’s really quite nice, and has a lot to respect and love about him.

Dandelion was given his name by Meadowsweet, who wasn’t aware of how silly the name “Dandy” is for a buck. She is the ONLY one allowed to call him Dandy. Everyone else better call him by his full name or “Lion”, otherwise he gets very angry.


Meadowsweet
Appearance
Average-sized dal, about 30” (2.5 feet) (Need to confirm average dal height)
Slightly older than Dandelion, beginning to show her first bloom of maturity
Coloring – white/cream, with dark gray (reddishpurplegray) markings (work in progress, based on Sable Point rabbit pattern)
Always carries her right hind leg at an awkward angle, always limps.

Personality
Meadowsweet is exactly as her name implies. She’s sweet and loving, makes friends easily, and is generally likeable. She is also very shy and has a difficult time being honest about her feelings, or saying bad things about others. She avoids confrontation most of the time, but will rally to the defense of the weak, because she understands what it means to be treated unfairly.

Her mother, Sumac, was “annexed” into Loosestrife’s herd while she was with kyfaw. When she gave birth to a dal, she was praised for bringing new blood into the herd. Until it became known that the kyfaw was disfigured, her right hind leg useless and twisted. The rest of the herd began to whisper that Sumac would never be able to bear an unblemished kyfaw, and she took her anger out on Meadowsweet, blaming her for being born unwhole.

Most of the dals came to like Meadowsweet, and quietly helped raise her, but bravery is not a desired trait in Loosestrife’s herd, and they were only able to help in ways that would not be noticed.

Because of her limp, Meadowsweet would often lag behind the herd when they needed to flee from the Fearaki, and she became widely known as a liability.

When her brother was born, she finally found someone that she could love wholeheartedly. When he was driven from the herd, she grew depressed. The next time the herd bolted, she pretended to fall and twist her poor leg, causing her to fall farther and farther behind, and finally get left. She returned to her brother’s side, and has been with him ever since. He protecting her, and she giving him the love he needs.

Name
Meadowsweet is a beautiful plant, with delicate, graceful, creamy white flowers that give off a strong, sweet smell. It has been described as both pleasant and medicinal, and the stems are a reddish/purple color. Sweety’s design is a little plain, and a little drab, but that reflects her personality, which is not very complex. She’s not a very strong-willed dal, and it shows in her coloring.

The other thing about her coloring is that although the majority of her pattern is plain, with little extra, when she DOES put her foot down, she’s very serious. Her patterns have very defined edges, and the dark bits are dark enough to show that when she does feel strongly about something, she can be just as stubborn as any buck.


(( For a look a the rabbits that inspired their designs, visit [link])

The Hyksis, Fearaki, and all associated critters, societies, and cultures are © to *OpalSkye
The character Loosestrife © to ~swiftwhippet
The character Juniper © to *OpalSkye

If you want to know more, see *OpalSkye’s journal here [link]