Status:
2990: Smoketrail
Owned by BendustKas
Island: Pera
Biome: Ashlands, savannah, scrub, forest, coastal, wetlands
Diet: Woody browse, grasses, tree bark, shrubs, water plants
Pack: Ashwalkers
Mate: N/A
Weight: Slender
Height: Above average
Length: Above average
Smoketrail is an unusual-looking styra. His tail is a bit longer than most, he's a bit thinner than most, and he's tall - which gives him a bit of an awkward silhouette. A few scars mark his hide, but nothing truly remarkable.
Notable Traits: Rows of spikes add to his strange silhouette, running along his crest, spine, and tail. His crest has a more narrow profile than most styracosaurs, and his tail is thicker than is typical.
Personality
Smoketrail is just about as serious as his half-brother, Greylander, with a bit more of a gentle touch - but only a bit. He's less grumpy and irritable than Greylander, but doesn't really react to jokes with much more than a dull snort and a roll of his eyes. His words have power to them, but lack a hard edge - it's evident that beneath a hard exterior, he cares about those that he travels with. Smoketrail ends up softening the metaphorical blows when Greylander is in a bad mood, which is, unfortunately, often. Despite his size and somewhat brusque behaviour, Smoketrail is of gentle heart, and often lags behind to give aid to those that need an extra push. He doesn't like to see others struggling, and will often wander amongst his fellows when the herd traveling or resting to ensure that no one needs help.
History & Relations
For most of his early years, Smoketrail lived alone with his aging mother. Pisces doted on her single, solitary son, which soothed the ache in his heart whenever Odysseyr visited and looked on his son with disdain.
When he got old enough, he helped her babysit the other hatchlings that grew up with him. He took his job seriously, but always dissolved into giggles whenever Pisces teased him about it. When he grew older, still, he began to realise that his mother no longer seemed to be doing as well as she had been. She didn't eat as much, and her weight was dropping. He didn't quite know what that meant, at the time, nor why Pisces looked so calm, and warm, but also sad when she told him that it was time for him to move on and see the world. He couldn't take care of her forever. He argued that he could, but at her insistence, he departed from the comforting green space that he had grown up in.
He wandered on his own, for a time, before he came to miss the company of other styracosaurs. As fate would have it, he'd cross paths with someone he'd least expect - a half-brother, Greylander. The gruff male reminded him of Odysseyr in many ways, but didn't look on him with the disappointment that Odysseyr had. Rather, he seemed glad to have found company, as well, though less open about admitting it than Smoketrail was. He joined Greylander, traveling with him as a mostly quiet companion.
Their first winter took them the the shadow of the volcano, where the snow melted more quickly and food was more available than other areas on the island touched by winter. With resources more scarce, Smoketrail advised that they share what little food and fresh water that he and Greylander had been able to find. Other herbivores that they'd encountered needed it more than they did. They stayed together for the duration of the winter, keeping an eye out for one another, and when spring came, they went their separate ways - Greylander and Smoketrail one way, and their winter companions another.
This was not the first time that the pair ended up helping other herbivores that crossed their paths. Chasing off carnivores, watching hatchlings and nests while parents went off to find food, guiding others to reliable water sources during droughts. Over time, they began to get something of a reputation for helping others. A few decided that it would be in their best interest to travel with the two of them. It took some convincing, but Smoketrail eventually got Greylander to relent. It was safer to travel in a group, and they would have the numbers to look out for one another.
The small group began to be known as the "Ashwalkers," those who live and travel across the Ashlands, where they spent most of their time. Greylander was the obvious leader of the growing herd, but he refused to see the group as a true "herd" until one of the younger members challenged him for the authority to lead. Smoketrail had warned him several times that it was likely to happen, that this was a herd and that there was growing unrest among some of the herd's younger members. He didn't deign to listen, but realised after the fight that Smoketrail had been correct. Greylander began to heed Smoketrail's advice more, especially to do with matters relating to the social aspects of the herd.
Smoketrail was officially stated as Greylander's second-in-command, which came as a tremendous relief to Smoketrail, who had never been certain of his place beside Greylander. He moved more confidently and held his head a little higher, but never let his authority get to him too much. He still wanders amongst the herd, making sure that everyone is safe and well-cared for. He listens, and he observes, and he ensures that Greylander's rules are enforced when he needs to. When it's time for the herd to move on, he makes sure that no one gets left behind.
Smoketrail was officially stated as Greylander's second-in-command, which came as a tremendous relief to Smoketrail, who had never been certain of his place beside Greylander. He moved more confidently and held his head a little higher, but never let his authority get to him too much. He still wanders amongst the herd, making sure that everyone is safe and well-cared for. He listens, and he observes, and he ensures that Greylander's rules are enforced when he needs to. When it's time for the herd to move on, he makes sure that no one gets left behind.
Fun Facts:
- Often takes dust baths in the ash fields to sooth itching between his spikes; when he walks, clouds of soot and ash rise off of his body, as though his hide is smoking
- Smoketrail often uses his height and longer legs to stretch up and pick fruit and young leaves from trees (which he may or may not share)
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