With a twinge of sadness, I made the decision to shelve my fursona Elra, who I have used to represent myself for about 8 years. I haven't drawn a proper picture of her in literally 2 or 3 of those years and I don't think she's resonated with me for a long time so I've drawn this piece as a final farewell to Elra and a hello to... whatever I'm going to name my new fursona (they have no name as of yet).

Back when I first designed Elra, I felt restricted by certain parameters, as if I wouldn't have friends in the furry community if I didn't stick to certain rules or have a certain species. I felt like I HAD to be a predator. I HAD to have this. I HAD to have these abilities or whatever.

Last February, I made a huge U-turn with my self image. I used to shun anything pink or cutesy or kawaii because, again, I felt like I wouldn't be taken seriously or that people wouldn't want to know me (despite always having loved it). After finding a certain Youtuber, I realised I was robbing myself of my own happiness, chucked a bunch of my edgier crap and bought a METRIC BUTT-TON of kawaii "fairy kei" clothes. I've had this style for a year now and, honestly, I couldn't be happier. So, already, the differences between who I was trying to be and who I actually was were starting to show.

And then, around Christmas, I went vegetarian, having wanted to for a VERY long time. Welp. There goes being a predator I guess.

In all honesty, I've always loved cute things, rabbits have always been among my favourite animals, I've always loved pink and pastels but I never wanted to display that because I didn't want to be seen as weak. So, I suppose Elra was more my ARMOUR than ME! She surrounded this true me that I didn't dare display. And making her a shapeshifter gave me the freedom to be that cutesy character temporarily if I so wished.

But no. I'm tired of feeling like I have to meet certain standards to be friends with people. If someone judges my choices, that says more about them than me and, if it costs me friends, they were never my friends.

And it's kind of fitting that this is the first proper art piece that I've done digitally with my new tablet. New era. New me. New art medium.

INTO THE FUTUUURRRRREEEE!!!!!

Also, I may be slightly sleep drunk...

With the setting of the sun comes the rising of the moon.

EDIT: Elra is by no means vanishing for good! I still need her for the 'Angel's Compass' series. She's just been demoted to OC status. Ha ha :D