(oops meant to share this yesterday <: )

An experimental painting done in Manga Studio, for our upcoming novel The Leopard Sun.

Standing together against the backdrop of towering clouds are Indinda (Zulu, "wanderer") & Moyana (Zulu/Tswana, "little wind"), father & daughter, respectively. Like many of the other key characters in the story, Moyana's circumstances are unusual: her mother died shortly before she was hatched. Like many birds of prey, African fish eagles mate for life, and although Indinda was free to pursue a new partner after the death of his mate, Legadema (Tswana, "light from the sky"), he chose not to due to a number of personal reasons - among which is a feeling of guilt over Legadema's death, and a sense of obligation to the precious daughter who was all he had left of her.

As the result, Moyana developed a strong bond with her father, and the two remained as a family unit & frequently traveled together despite Moyana's age (a typical African fish eagle fledges around the age of 4 months, and can become independent shortly afterward). As we mentioned in the brief description of the 4 main species featured in the book, the eagles are supposed to choose a name for themselves when they fledge, which is symbolic of their independence.

Moyana (her given name) never got around to choosing a name for herself; the thing that defines her was still out there, still nebulous, and she felt wrong to choose a name without knowing that which she sought. Indinda, as his name implies, travels a great deal, and is wise to the world. He taught his daughter a great deal, all the while watching over her protectively in fear of repeating the same tragedy that befell her mother.

But Moyana is her mother's daughter, and her boundless thirst to know the world would eventually clash with her father's wishes...

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Artwork by  Balaa
The Leopard Sun is ©  Balaa &  Bagheera