Azreal's attention quickly fixed upon the rattling sound on a tree, hir back lighting up in an electric-blue glow as shi studied, trying to determine if the strange sound was a threat or prey. I couldn't help the smirk that crossed my face. This was the first time shi had experienced the forests of Earth, and the new sounds were startling hir. "Quite the frightening hunter you are, scared by a woodpecker."

Azreal glanced to me as the glow died down to nothing on hir bone-colored horns and scales, sensing through our bond that I wasn't threatened by it at all, calming down. Despite the fact Azreal was the first Sylvanian Felidar to ever set paw on Earth, I was still feeling much safer than usual with hir nearby. It helped that hir favorite natural prey was the Sylvanian Lowland Basilisk, which is one of the few creatures I've encountered that genuinely terrified me, but even in relation to Terran species, hir predatory form was not to be trifled with.

"We have more ground to cover on today's walk."

I reached over, scritching behind hir horns, soon feeling said horns vibrate as a sound similar to moaning wood emanated from hir, resonating within the structures on hir head. I didn't need to be bonded to hir to know how much shi enjoyed that. "Come, Azreal. Let's keep going."
______________________________________________________

Introducing Azreal. The species shi is of, Sylvanian Felidar, is one that Reve has discovered during hir expeditions as a xenobiologist.

Sylvanian Felidar are a widespread predator on the planet Sylvania, filling a similar ecological niche as wolves and pumas do on Earth. Numerous regional subspecies exist, primarily recognizeable by the base color of their bioluminescence. The glowing is consciously suppressible and serves as a major part of their communication. The calmer they are, the darker the shade (Azreal going all the way down to a royal blue color), and the more stressed, the more it goes towards white.

Azreal in particular has different connections to Reve, depending on universe. In the Chakat Universe canon, Azreal was an abandoned cub that Reve adopted and raised hirself. Reve, already being familiar with the species and a strong empath to boot, had bonded with the small felidar and was able to properly care for hir. Azreal being a hermaphrodite is already unusual for hir species, and was probably the reason shi was abandoned in the first place. In this universe, shi is as intelligent as a well-trained service dog.

In other universes, Azreal is Reve's familiar, created and bound to hir by Reve's mate Starshard. Here, Azreal is just as intelligent as Reve is, though significantly more of a "live in the moment" (Red/Black in the Magic the Gathering color wheel) personality. Shi serves as a protector, mentally and physically, with more emphasis on the former. Here, the bond is more than just empathic, as the two can share thoughts directly if they desire.

Reve and Azreal © myself
Sylvanian Felidar © myself
chakats ©
art ©