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Formal name: Hadrius of The Hurons, Ontario sect
Informal name: Hadrius, son of Turbalio
Common name: Hadrius
DOB: June 1921. Ontario, Canada. Close to Saugeen Shores
Parents: Turbalio (Father), Sornatia (Mother)
Siblings: One brother, Harpax (1946)
Spouse: Calidia
Children: 4, twin daughters and two sons. Loreia and Lusia (1947), Pius (1965), Lycus (1982)
Current home: Sarnia, Ontario
Hadrius is a feral Common Avanta. Born in a forest near the shores of Lake Huron, he’s lived much of his life outside in the Ontario wilderness and has fathered multiple children. He’s also lived a storied life due to his wartime service and travels overseas, which has led to younger Avantas and humans begging him to tell them stories. Usually, he will oblige.
Feral Avantas like Hadrius live in clans ruled by an alpha male and female. The clans often number 40 to 60, but this can vary. Because the first Avantas to arrive on Earth ten million years ago brought with them the Latin language, feral Avantas in modern times uphold the tradition of using Latin first names and not using a last name. Individuals are distinguished by the name the clan they belong to, their father’s name, or if they’re rogue and living alone. Clan names are often based on locations, landmarks, or the name of the alpha that founded the clan. In terms of language, the primary spoken language among feral Avantas is Latin. However, most know a second language. In Hadrius’s case, he’s fluent not only in Latin, but French and English as well.
Hadrius belongs a large group of feral Avantas known collectively as The Hurons, with about 2,500 members residing in Ontario and Michigan. All live within 30 miles of Lake Huron’s banks. The numerous smaller clans are ruled by alphas. Rather than be ruled by a single alpha, the numerous alphas convene to settle disputes and make decisions as a delegation. For The Hurons, delegations have always been held in Thunder Bay, Michigan. The signifying mark of The Hurons is their black stripes on their fuselages, wings, and tails. Those born without the stripes have them painted on. Like his parents, Hadrius was born with them. His forefathers were close allies with the French and helped establish Fort Detroit in 1701. Members of The Hurons defended Fort Detroit from incursions for nearly 60 years and took part in the French and Indian War. Lingering members of The Hurons were ultimately forced north, back to Lake Huron, when Fort Detroit fell in 1760 to the British and the Domesticated Avantas that travelled with them.
Feral and Domesticated Avantas have always had a strained relationship due to mistreatment at the hands of humans and the different ways they lived their lives. Domesticated Avantas, which live alongside humans and have a better quality of life, will sometimes refer to their Feral counterparts as ‘Fer’ and ‘Fers’ as a reference to living in the wild. Another insult is ‘prime’, in reference to the word primal. A gross insult toward members of The Hurons is ‘stripes’ for their black stripes. However, the insults and belittling go both ways. Feral Avantas refer to their Domesticated counterparts as ‘pet’, ‘tame,’ or ‘circus animal.’ Feral Avantas view themselves as truly free while Domesticated Avantas gave up their uninhibited freedom to live under human rules and routines. While Feral Avantas do live free, they’re exposed to the elements, don’t live as long, weigh less, and have fewer children than their counterparts.
Hadrius’s father, Turbalio, is well known and respected throughout the Ontario and Michigan sects of The Hurons. He’s a descendant of the defenders of Fort Detroit. Very agile and known for his pain tolerance. He’s also well known for answering the Canadian government’s call when war was declared against the Axis powers in 1914. Just 17 when he enlisted, he and Sornatia became mates only a week before he was sent to basic training near Toronto. When asked why he was joining to fight a human war, Turbalio brought up the fact France under siege. The Hurons and French were once close allies. Like brothers. Their old ally needed help and he was answering the call. Just like in the past, there was no decision to make. It had to be done. Not wanting to partake in a human war, a far-off conflict that was of no concern to them, no one else from his local clan joined him. While he said his goodbyes and vowed to return, his friends believed he’d lost his mind.
Slightly smaller and weighing less than his companions, Turbalio was insulted and belittled relentlessly by his Domesticated counterparts. Nevertheless, he kept his mouth shut and proved he had the skills to match his reputation. He earned praise from his superiors, who commended his aerobatics. Not wanting to cover his black stripes with paint and mask his only tangible connection to his home, Turbalio only received military emblems and basic squadron markings. As a result, he looked far different than the other members of his squadron, who wore dark green paint and sported intricate designs. Deployed to France, he was awed by the Eiffel Tower and grand avenues of Paris. The Parisians were welcoming and friendly to him. It was a sharp contrast of what was to come. He witnessed the horrors of modern warfare and the terrifyingly ferocious nature of the German Avantas. Verdun. The Somme. The German Spring Offensives. Amiens. Jutland. Ypres. Turbalio was present for all and amassed dozens of kills. Proving his worth time and again. As his wartime reputation grew, his black stripes were later adopted by other members of his squadron. His squadmates even referred to themselves as The Hurons. When WWI ended in 1918, they emerged as Canada’s top Avanta squadron.
When Turbalio returned home, many in the local clan rejoiced. He’d been gone for four years and news about him was unreliable. Nicked and scraped, his parents and Sornatia were happy to see him alive. Members of both the Ontario and Michigan sects wanted to know what he’d seen and what France and Paris were like. Everyone knew fighting was occurring. However, few believed the scattered reports they’d overheard. The war sounded too terrible to be real. Turbalio proved their fears correct. He described machine guns, poison gas, tanks, dreadnaughts, continuous gunfire that sounded like thunder, and a rain of artillery that never ended. He described landscapes devoid of all color and all life. Nothing but mud, countless craters, shredded trees, barbed wire, smashed vehicles, plumes of acrid smoke, and decaying bodies as far as the eye could see. Not to mention the men and Avantas cursed to remain alive with injuries too gruesome to describe. Turbalio had seen enough for one lifetime and never wanted to travel again. He’d seen enough of the human world. Domesticated Avantas displayed a stunning willingness to die in a human war, a fight that wasn’t even theirs. Humans and their hysterical drive to destroy each other terrified and baffled him. He felt foolish for enlisting if this was what he had to live with. Resigning himself to the forests and shores of Ontario, he removed his military emblems and refused to wear the medals he’d rightfully earned. He vowed to never kill again and live a life of peace with Sornatia by his side. Gripped by nightmares and jumping at the sound of thunder, Sornatia helped ease his pain.
In 1921, when Turbalio was 24, their first child was born. Hadrius. A curious and inquisitive child, Hadrius shared a very strong bond with his father. Like Turbalio, he was courageous. Strong in will and ready to do what was right. However, he was reckless and a bit of a daredevil who loved to fly low, skimming above Lake Huron’s surface. For most of his life, he was a close friend of Calidia, a member of another Ontario clan. Beginning as childhood friends, they spent their time exploring and playing on the beaches of Lake Huron. As early teenagers, they would dare each other to fly lower, to the point they’d nearly touch treetops or Lake Huron’s surface. Their antics earned them many rebukes from their parents. They also traveled to cities. Looking up to his father, Hadrius wanted to explore and see the world. He and Calidia flew from Detroit to Toronto and Beaver Island to Georgian Bay. Turbalio watched his son grow with pride and happiness. His son was carefree and innocent. He’d never be burdened with the horrors of a human war. He’d never have to watch his own kind slaughter each other or take the life of another Avanta. Having already established trust and understanding, their parents knew long in advance that they’d fall together. Which they did. In 1938, when Hadrius and Calidia were 17, they flew ‘the parabola,’ a dangerous ascent to 100,000 feet and rapid descent while flying belly to belly. Meant to be the ultimate test of trust and synchronization between an Avanta pair, their flight was faultless. As per tradition upon completing the parabola, they experienced their first brush with intimacy, sealing their bond and status as mates.
Living together as mates close to a beach they frequently played on as children, Hadrius and Calidia couldn’t have been happier. Impulsive and giddy teenagers, the thought of children and what they might name them had already crossed their minds. Knowing female Avantas reached sexual maturity later than males, they had to wait until Calidia was 22 before getting serious about parenthood. In the meantime, they did everything together and mated daily, as a typical new Avanta pair will. The good times, however, were not to last. In 1939, Canada declared war on Nazi Germany. A draft was instituted. All able-bodied male Avantas older than 17 and younger than 60 were to report for service. Hadrius knew what his father had seen in France. He still had nightmares to the point he would sometimes sleep a distance away from his mother so he wouldn’t hurt her if he had another nightmare. Hadrius didn’t want to fight in a human war. That is, until he learned how Feral Avantas were being treated by the Axis powers. German and Japanese doctrine stated that all Avantas were to fight for the regime or assist in some capacity. Those who didn’t or refused would be severely punished and ‘subject to relocation or imprisonment.’ Which meant slaughtered where they stood. Viewed as a nuisance and occupying valuable land, Feral Avantas were no match for hardened fighters and modern weapons.
As part of Blitzkrieg tactics, the Germans made sure to eliminate any Feral Avantas they encountered to prevent them from siding with their enemies and to move their troops more easily. Entire clans were wiped out in minutes. Hundreds of thousands across Europe and Asia were gunned down from land and air before they could flee or mount any sort of defense. Feral Avantas in occupied areas were treated the same way. The Imperial Japanese employed similar tactics as their military advanced and conquered Korea, the Phillipines, and China. When conquering small islands in the middle of the Pacific, numerous isolated Avanta clans were wiped out and plowed over to build airfields and ports. As the war dragged on, many Feral Avantas banded together and fought back. Most who fought were killed. Those that remained had no choice but to flee the onslaught. While the Axis powers sought to dispose of the Feral Avantas and viewed them as a burden, a drain on their stretched resources, the Allies saw them as an opportunity. Several million able-bodied Avantas that could be trained into soldiers. An overlooked force that could turn the tide of the war in their favor. When Hadrius and his father were drafted along with many other members of The Hurons, Turbalio was vehemently against going. He fought for Canada once and came home psychologically destroyed. He knew what humans were capable of. For the trauma they put him through, he felt he owed them nothing. Hadrius was appalled by his father’s words. Everyone knew how bad things were getting in the world.
Hadrius said “Let’s say we stay here and do nothing like you say. You heard what they said. They’re slaughtering our brethren. If we do nothing, if the Germans and Japanese win, what will stop them from coming here and doing the same to us?” Hadrius reasoned that he wasn’t going to fight because he wanted to, but because he had to. If The Hurons wished to survive as they had for millennia, if he wanted to raise a family and watch his children grow with Calidia one day, it had to be done. Like when his father enlisted in 1914, there was no decision to make. The evil that was hellbent on conquering the world had to be stopped. Seeing his son’s reasoning, Turbalio agreed. As before, it had to be done. Saying goodbye to Calidia, Hadrius vowed to return. Going through basic training with his father, Hadrius and 22 other members of The Hurons were grouped together in their own 24 Avanta squadron. Sharing a common heritage, they were a very close-knit group. Just like in WWI, they proudly displayed their black stripes. Meeting a few of his old squadmates from WWI, Turbalio never thought he’d be returning to the place he never wanted to see again, to save it again. As a child, Hadrius was taught well by his father. They practiced their aerobatics every day. A skilled flier, he earned high praise from his superiors. Domesticated Avantas in other squadrons would cheer them on. Calling ‘Go stirpes!’ At first, Hadrius took it as an insult. Over time, he saw it as a compliment. After completing training, Hadrius, Turbalio, and their fellow clan members were deployed to England.
Hadrius’s first taste of combat came while escorting convoys of merchant ships across the northern Atlantic as part of the Battle of the Atlantic. U-boats preyed upon slow merchant ships and were tricky to intercept. His squadron, known as The Hurons, was credited with sinking two U-boats and damaging at least one more. During the Battle of France, the Germans advanced through the Low Countries of the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium, bypassing the Maginot Line entirely. Hadrius and The Hurons provided much needed cover as French and British soldiers retreated to Dunkirk and evacuated across the English Channel. During the Battle of Britain and The Blitz, Hadrius engaged the fearsome German Avantas over London and other British cities, scoring several kills. Turbalio, having seen the German tactics before, scored even more. Following his example, other members of The Hurons racked up over 100 kills. Enough to get the German’s attention and realize trained Feral Avantas were a grave threat. By slaughtering Feral Avantas, they only motivated The Hurons and other Feral Avantas to avenge their brethren. Hadrius felt terrible about taking the lives of other Avantas and humans. It wasn’t right to be killing his own. He kept telling himself that this had to be done. The Axis powers had to be stopped, otherwise nowhere would be safe. Turbalio and his squadmates weren’t faring any better. For Turbalio, this was worse than WWI. These Germans fought harder and showed even less mercy. They were 110% committed to their cause. While in London, Hadrius saw the bombed-out buildings for himself. Orphaned children. Civilians and Domesticated Avantas searching for survivors and helping dig out the wounded. The cries of those mourning their dead haunted his dreams. Those he met, human and Avanta alike, took solace knowing he and The Hurons were there to defend them. The Londoners were very kind and hospitable. Domesticated Avantas viewed them as equals. Friends from afar fighting for a common purpose. Old prejudices on both sides had to be cast aside out of necessity.
Escorting British bombers over France and Germany, Hadrius took part in many dogfights. Air to air combat was nothing like training. If you made even the slightest miscalculation, if the enemy had an advantage over you for even an instant, you were dead. Four of his squadmates met their end that way. He didn’t understand how humans and the Domesticated Avantas that followed them could be so cruel. By shooting down German bombers and sinking ships, by lowering himself to their level. To keep himself motivated, Hadrius told himself he was preventing the unparalleled destruction he saw in London from occurring elsewhere. From occurring back home in Ontario. The thought of seeing Calidia again when the war ended gave him hope. Knowing his father and other members of his clan were beside him also helped. During bombing raids over Berlin and St. Nazaire, Hadrius and his father developed an effective tactic for destroying German Avantas. One would bait the pursuer to follow while the other would engage from behind and above or from below. Other members of The Hurons and the new Avantas that replaced the deceased adopted the tactic. Improvised tactics, a shared lineage, and preexisting trust enabled the Hurons to score more kills than any other Canadian squadron. Their black stripes became feared symbols.
Once the beaches were stormed in Normandy, the war heated up. The German Avantas fought tooth and nail to hold onto France. Hadrius took part in bombing raids, knocking out bridges and factories. He strafed tanks and trains. Days felt like years. Hadrius no longer flinched when he shot down an Avanta. He felt indifferent. Angry. They forced him to come here, so far from home and his mate. He and Calidia could’ve been parents already. Instead he was here, in France, having to kill his own. By 1944, ten of his fellow clan members who set out with him would never return home. They too had lives to live. Instead they died here. Fighting a human’s war so their loved ones wouldn’t have to know the suffering he’d seen across England and France. Hadrius and his father had both sustained injuries from flak and other Avantas. During the Battle of the Bulge, Hadrius was shot and nearly bled to death. Turbalio had to hold his son down while infantryman used rags and coats to plug the leak. Hadrius survived and was out of action for two weeks. The desperation of the Germans by 1945 and coming close to death hammered home just how far he’d come. How much he’d changed. Taking the fight all the way into Germany, the last line of defense offered the toughest resistance of the war. Hadrius and The Hurons survived it all. When the Soviets captured Berlin, the war was over. Finally able to let his guard down, Hadrius reflected on everything he’d seen and done. Of the 24 Avantas that set out from Ontario, himself and his father included, 11 of the original squadron remained.
War weary, dirty, and exhausted, they met the German Avantas face to face. Seeing they too were younger males told to fight, Hadrius and the others realized they and their former enemies were not so different. Under different circumstances, they could have been friends. Despite everything, Hadrius and his father survived. Dogfights, bombing raids, rocket attacks, tanks, even discovering concentration camps and mass graves of Feral Avantas. He’d seen the very worst of humanity and Avantas. After being away from home for six years, Hadrius wanted to return to Calidia. Would she even recognize him now? Could he ever go back to living a carefree life? Was this how his father felt when he returned in 1918? Upon returning to Ontario in May 1945, The Hurons and other Canadian Avantas were welcomed back with parades in Toronto. Back at the clan, the celebrations lasted for two weeks. Reunited with Calidia, she was a radiant angel. Still pure and innocent. Although he looked pretty much the same, she could sense how much he’d changed. He wasn’t quite himself anymore. He wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his life with her in peace. In 1946, his mother gave birth to Hadrius’s brother Harpax. The brothers share a strong relationship. Harpax was just like him. Giddy and a daredevil. Idolizing his older brother and wanting to be like him, he wanted to learn how to fly like he did during the war. Hadrius was happy to teach him. That same year, Calidia learned she was expecting. The following year, she gave birth to twin daughters, Loreia and Lusia . Not expecting twins, Hadrius was ecstatic. Across all clans of The Hurons, there was a spike in the number of births. Watching his twin daughters grow, he also taught them how to fly the way he did in the war. They and Harpax were enamored by his stories. Despite all the bad things he saw, Hadrius did get a number of good and humorous memories out his time overseas.
Even years afterward, Hadrius was still plagued by the trauma of what he’d witnessed. With his Loreia, Lusia, and Calidia beside him, he was able to put aside most of the bad memories. Although a few continuously plagued his dreams. Seeing his daughters off when they were 17, both quickly found mates. In 1965, Calidia gave birth to their first son, Pius. In 1982, their second son, Lycus, was born. After Lycus, Hadrius decided he’d had enough children. Harpax found a mate from the Michigan sect of The Hurons and settled near Oscoda, where they had two sons. For 45 years, Hadrius lived in Ontario with Calidia beside him. While his children and Harpax joined the Canadian military and went on United Nations missions to Africa, Europe, and the Carribean, Hadrius himself didn’t take part in any military actions. He’d seen enough of war. He and Calidia traveled across Canada, to Alaska, throughout the United States, and overseas to Europe. He showed her the avenues of Paris, stately buildings of London, and the open French, English, and German countryside. Where he fought his battles and made new friends. Returning to the battlefields helped Hadrius overcome a few of his demons. When Canada joined the Coalition during the Gulf War in 1990, Hadrius was asked to join the fight. Loreia, Lusia and Pius were going. Lycus was too young to enlist at the time. Harpax and his sons were going as well. Despite swearing to never again take up arms, Hadrius obliged. His experience was sorely needed.
Fighting the Iraqi army over the sands of Kuwait, this was a different kind of war. New technology made the job easier. More precise. Hadrius proved to be a potent tank buster and Scud seeker. Missile attacks at his base in Saudi Arabia brought back bad memories. Once again, he proudly displayed his black stripes on the battlefield. Just as the Germans feared him, the Iraqis feared him as well. Newspapers published a picture of him, his children, and Harpax and his sons wearing their military emblems, stating ‘The Hurons Have Returned.’ His children’s and Harpax’s skill and aerobatics impressed Hadrius. He’d taught them well. He watched as Coalition Avantas treated shooting down Iraqi Avantas, blowing up tanks, and annihilating a retreating army like it was all some sort of game. It felt wrong. Tens of thousands of Iraqi soldiers and Avantas were captured, wounded, or killed. Only 300 Coalition soldiers and Avantas were lost. Compared to what he saw in France and Germany, this was barely a war at all. It was a one-sided massacre. When the hostilities ended, younger American Avantas asked him if this is what it was like in WWII. Hadrius shook his head. “This was nothing like that. You kids had it easy.” Living in the wild for another 28 years with Calidia, Hadrius’ health began to decline. By 2018, at 96 years old, his age and old wounds finally began to catch up to him. Because of his wartime service, he was allowed to live at a veteran’s home in Sarnia, Ontario. Thanks to his father’s wartime experience, he and his mother lived there as well. Hadrius missed living outdoors but his corrosion issues were worsening, and he wasn’t ready to die just yet.
Able to get the care and repairs he needed, Hadrius opened up about his wartime experiences. He told Calidia and his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren everything. Turbalio opened up about things he’d never spoken of before. Getting it all of their chests helped both sleep easier. As of 2020, Hadrius and Calidia are 98 years old. Turbalio and Sornatia are 123. Because they’re receiving proper care and their corrosion issues are well managed, they still have many years left in them. Harpax is 74 years old and still active with the Canadian military, although his retirement is looming. Loreia, Lusia, Pius, and Lycus all have mates and children. All are still active duty.
Fun fact: male Avanta in military service can be equipped centerline pods and weapons racks, however, the pods and racks are tailored to each Avanta so they don’t rub against or damage their sheaths. Giving the centerline pods and racks the universal crude name of ‘junk pods’ and ‘junk racks.’ For an Avanta unlucky enough to have skin damage to their underside because of an improperly fitted centerline pod or weapons rack, the injury is known as getting ‘racked.’ In addition to being painful, it’s embarrassing. A human equivalent to this would be getting ‘scoped’ by a rifle scope.
Informal name: Hadrius, son of Turbalio
Common name: Hadrius
DOB: June 1921. Ontario, Canada. Close to Saugeen Shores
Parents: Turbalio (Father), Sornatia (Mother)
Siblings: One brother, Harpax (1946)
Spouse: Calidia
Children: 4, twin daughters and two sons. Loreia and Lusia (1947), Pius (1965), Lycus (1982)
Current home: Sarnia, Ontario
Hadrius is a feral Common Avanta. Born in a forest near the shores of Lake Huron, he’s lived much of his life outside in the Ontario wilderness and has fathered multiple children. He’s also lived a storied life due to his wartime service and travels overseas, which has led to younger Avantas and humans begging him to tell them stories. Usually, he will oblige.
Feral Avantas like Hadrius live in clans ruled by an alpha male and female. The clans often number 40 to 60, but this can vary. Because the first Avantas to arrive on Earth ten million years ago brought with them the Latin language, feral Avantas in modern times uphold the tradition of using Latin first names and not using a last name. Individuals are distinguished by the name the clan they belong to, their father’s name, or if they’re rogue and living alone. Clan names are often based on locations, landmarks, or the name of the alpha that founded the clan. In terms of language, the primary spoken language among feral Avantas is Latin. However, most know a second language. In Hadrius’s case, he’s fluent not only in Latin, but French and English as well.
Hadrius belongs a large group of feral Avantas known collectively as The Hurons, with about 2,500 members residing in Ontario and Michigan. All live within 30 miles of Lake Huron’s banks. The numerous smaller clans are ruled by alphas. Rather than be ruled by a single alpha, the numerous alphas convene to settle disputes and make decisions as a delegation. For The Hurons, delegations have always been held in Thunder Bay, Michigan. The signifying mark of The Hurons is their black stripes on their fuselages, wings, and tails. Those born without the stripes have them painted on. Like his parents, Hadrius was born with them. His forefathers were close allies with the French and helped establish Fort Detroit in 1701. Members of The Hurons defended Fort Detroit from incursions for nearly 60 years and took part in the French and Indian War. Lingering members of The Hurons were ultimately forced north, back to Lake Huron, when Fort Detroit fell in 1760 to the British and the Domesticated Avantas that travelled with them.
Feral and Domesticated Avantas have always had a strained relationship due to mistreatment at the hands of humans and the different ways they lived their lives. Domesticated Avantas, which live alongside humans and have a better quality of life, will sometimes refer to their Feral counterparts as ‘Fer’ and ‘Fers’ as a reference to living in the wild. Another insult is ‘prime’, in reference to the word primal. A gross insult toward members of The Hurons is ‘stripes’ for their black stripes. However, the insults and belittling go both ways. Feral Avantas refer to their Domesticated counterparts as ‘pet’, ‘tame,’ or ‘circus animal.’ Feral Avantas view themselves as truly free while Domesticated Avantas gave up their uninhibited freedom to live under human rules and routines. While Feral Avantas do live free, they’re exposed to the elements, don’t live as long, weigh less, and have fewer children than their counterparts.
Hadrius’s father, Turbalio, is well known and respected throughout the Ontario and Michigan sects of The Hurons. He’s a descendant of the defenders of Fort Detroit. Very agile and known for his pain tolerance. He’s also well known for answering the Canadian government’s call when war was declared against the Axis powers in 1914. Just 17 when he enlisted, he and Sornatia became mates only a week before he was sent to basic training near Toronto. When asked why he was joining to fight a human war, Turbalio brought up the fact France under siege. The Hurons and French were once close allies. Like brothers. Their old ally needed help and he was answering the call. Just like in the past, there was no decision to make. It had to be done. Not wanting to partake in a human war, a far-off conflict that was of no concern to them, no one else from his local clan joined him. While he said his goodbyes and vowed to return, his friends believed he’d lost his mind.
Slightly smaller and weighing less than his companions, Turbalio was insulted and belittled relentlessly by his Domesticated counterparts. Nevertheless, he kept his mouth shut and proved he had the skills to match his reputation. He earned praise from his superiors, who commended his aerobatics. Not wanting to cover his black stripes with paint and mask his only tangible connection to his home, Turbalio only received military emblems and basic squadron markings. As a result, he looked far different than the other members of his squadron, who wore dark green paint and sported intricate designs. Deployed to France, he was awed by the Eiffel Tower and grand avenues of Paris. The Parisians were welcoming and friendly to him. It was a sharp contrast of what was to come. He witnessed the horrors of modern warfare and the terrifyingly ferocious nature of the German Avantas. Verdun. The Somme. The German Spring Offensives. Amiens. Jutland. Ypres. Turbalio was present for all and amassed dozens of kills. Proving his worth time and again. As his wartime reputation grew, his black stripes were later adopted by other members of his squadron. His squadmates even referred to themselves as The Hurons. When WWI ended in 1918, they emerged as Canada’s top Avanta squadron.
When Turbalio returned home, many in the local clan rejoiced. He’d been gone for four years and news about him was unreliable. Nicked and scraped, his parents and Sornatia were happy to see him alive. Members of both the Ontario and Michigan sects wanted to know what he’d seen and what France and Paris were like. Everyone knew fighting was occurring. However, few believed the scattered reports they’d overheard. The war sounded too terrible to be real. Turbalio proved their fears correct. He described machine guns, poison gas, tanks, dreadnaughts, continuous gunfire that sounded like thunder, and a rain of artillery that never ended. He described landscapes devoid of all color and all life. Nothing but mud, countless craters, shredded trees, barbed wire, smashed vehicles, plumes of acrid smoke, and decaying bodies as far as the eye could see. Not to mention the men and Avantas cursed to remain alive with injuries too gruesome to describe. Turbalio had seen enough for one lifetime and never wanted to travel again. He’d seen enough of the human world. Domesticated Avantas displayed a stunning willingness to die in a human war, a fight that wasn’t even theirs. Humans and their hysterical drive to destroy each other terrified and baffled him. He felt foolish for enlisting if this was what he had to live with. Resigning himself to the forests and shores of Ontario, he removed his military emblems and refused to wear the medals he’d rightfully earned. He vowed to never kill again and live a life of peace with Sornatia by his side. Gripped by nightmares and jumping at the sound of thunder, Sornatia helped ease his pain.
In 1921, when Turbalio was 24, their first child was born. Hadrius. A curious and inquisitive child, Hadrius shared a very strong bond with his father. Like Turbalio, he was courageous. Strong in will and ready to do what was right. However, he was reckless and a bit of a daredevil who loved to fly low, skimming above Lake Huron’s surface. For most of his life, he was a close friend of Calidia, a member of another Ontario clan. Beginning as childhood friends, they spent their time exploring and playing on the beaches of Lake Huron. As early teenagers, they would dare each other to fly lower, to the point they’d nearly touch treetops or Lake Huron’s surface. Their antics earned them many rebukes from their parents. They also traveled to cities. Looking up to his father, Hadrius wanted to explore and see the world. He and Calidia flew from Detroit to Toronto and Beaver Island to Georgian Bay. Turbalio watched his son grow with pride and happiness. His son was carefree and innocent. He’d never be burdened with the horrors of a human war. He’d never have to watch his own kind slaughter each other or take the life of another Avanta. Having already established trust and understanding, their parents knew long in advance that they’d fall together. Which they did. In 1938, when Hadrius and Calidia were 17, they flew ‘the parabola,’ a dangerous ascent to 100,000 feet and rapid descent while flying belly to belly. Meant to be the ultimate test of trust and synchronization between an Avanta pair, their flight was faultless. As per tradition upon completing the parabola, they experienced their first brush with intimacy, sealing their bond and status as mates.
Living together as mates close to a beach they frequently played on as children, Hadrius and Calidia couldn’t have been happier. Impulsive and giddy teenagers, the thought of children and what they might name them had already crossed their minds. Knowing female Avantas reached sexual maturity later than males, they had to wait until Calidia was 22 before getting serious about parenthood. In the meantime, they did everything together and mated daily, as a typical new Avanta pair will. The good times, however, were not to last. In 1939, Canada declared war on Nazi Germany. A draft was instituted. All able-bodied male Avantas older than 17 and younger than 60 were to report for service. Hadrius knew what his father had seen in France. He still had nightmares to the point he would sometimes sleep a distance away from his mother so he wouldn’t hurt her if he had another nightmare. Hadrius didn’t want to fight in a human war. That is, until he learned how Feral Avantas were being treated by the Axis powers. German and Japanese doctrine stated that all Avantas were to fight for the regime or assist in some capacity. Those who didn’t or refused would be severely punished and ‘subject to relocation or imprisonment.’ Which meant slaughtered where they stood. Viewed as a nuisance and occupying valuable land, Feral Avantas were no match for hardened fighters and modern weapons.
As part of Blitzkrieg tactics, the Germans made sure to eliminate any Feral Avantas they encountered to prevent them from siding with their enemies and to move their troops more easily. Entire clans were wiped out in minutes. Hundreds of thousands across Europe and Asia were gunned down from land and air before they could flee or mount any sort of defense. Feral Avantas in occupied areas were treated the same way. The Imperial Japanese employed similar tactics as their military advanced and conquered Korea, the Phillipines, and China. When conquering small islands in the middle of the Pacific, numerous isolated Avanta clans were wiped out and plowed over to build airfields and ports. As the war dragged on, many Feral Avantas banded together and fought back. Most who fought were killed. Those that remained had no choice but to flee the onslaught. While the Axis powers sought to dispose of the Feral Avantas and viewed them as a burden, a drain on their stretched resources, the Allies saw them as an opportunity. Several million able-bodied Avantas that could be trained into soldiers. An overlooked force that could turn the tide of the war in their favor. When Hadrius and his father were drafted along with many other members of The Hurons, Turbalio was vehemently against going. He fought for Canada once and came home psychologically destroyed. He knew what humans were capable of. For the trauma they put him through, he felt he owed them nothing. Hadrius was appalled by his father’s words. Everyone knew how bad things were getting in the world.
Hadrius said “Let’s say we stay here and do nothing like you say. You heard what they said. They’re slaughtering our brethren. If we do nothing, if the Germans and Japanese win, what will stop them from coming here and doing the same to us?” Hadrius reasoned that he wasn’t going to fight because he wanted to, but because he had to. If The Hurons wished to survive as they had for millennia, if he wanted to raise a family and watch his children grow with Calidia one day, it had to be done. Like when his father enlisted in 1914, there was no decision to make. The evil that was hellbent on conquering the world had to be stopped. Seeing his son’s reasoning, Turbalio agreed. As before, it had to be done. Saying goodbye to Calidia, Hadrius vowed to return. Going through basic training with his father, Hadrius and 22 other members of The Hurons were grouped together in their own 24 Avanta squadron. Sharing a common heritage, they were a very close-knit group. Just like in WWI, they proudly displayed their black stripes. Meeting a few of his old squadmates from WWI, Turbalio never thought he’d be returning to the place he never wanted to see again, to save it again. As a child, Hadrius was taught well by his father. They practiced their aerobatics every day. A skilled flier, he earned high praise from his superiors. Domesticated Avantas in other squadrons would cheer them on. Calling ‘Go stirpes!’ At first, Hadrius took it as an insult. Over time, he saw it as a compliment. After completing training, Hadrius, Turbalio, and their fellow clan members were deployed to England.
Hadrius’s first taste of combat came while escorting convoys of merchant ships across the northern Atlantic as part of the Battle of the Atlantic. U-boats preyed upon slow merchant ships and were tricky to intercept. His squadron, known as The Hurons, was credited with sinking two U-boats and damaging at least one more. During the Battle of France, the Germans advanced through the Low Countries of the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium, bypassing the Maginot Line entirely. Hadrius and The Hurons provided much needed cover as French and British soldiers retreated to Dunkirk and evacuated across the English Channel. During the Battle of Britain and The Blitz, Hadrius engaged the fearsome German Avantas over London and other British cities, scoring several kills. Turbalio, having seen the German tactics before, scored even more. Following his example, other members of The Hurons racked up over 100 kills. Enough to get the German’s attention and realize trained Feral Avantas were a grave threat. By slaughtering Feral Avantas, they only motivated The Hurons and other Feral Avantas to avenge their brethren. Hadrius felt terrible about taking the lives of other Avantas and humans. It wasn’t right to be killing his own. He kept telling himself that this had to be done. The Axis powers had to be stopped, otherwise nowhere would be safe. Turbalio and his squadmates weren’t faring any better. For Turbalio, this was worse than WWI. These Germans fought harder and showed even less mercy. They were 110% committed to their cause. While in London, Hadrius saw the bombed-out buildings for himself. Orphaned children. Civilians and Domesticated Avantas searching for survivors and helping dig out the wounded. The cries of those mourning their dead haunted his dreams. Those he met, human and Avanta alike, took solace knowing he and The Hurons were there to defend them. The Londoners were very kind and hospitable. Domesticated Avantas viewed them as equals. Friends from afar fighting for a common purpose. Old prejudices on both sides had to be cast aside out of necessity.
Escorting British bombers over France and Germany, Hadrius took part in many dogfights. Air to air combat was nothing like training. If you made even the slightest miscalculation, if the enemy had an advantage over you for even an instant, you were dead. Four of his squadmates met their end that way. He didn’t understand how humans and the Domesticated Avantas that followed them could be so cruel. By shooting down German bombers and sinking ships, by lowering himself to their level. To keep himself motivated, Hadrius told himself he was preventing the unparalleled destruction he saw in London from occurring elsewhere. From occurring back home in Ontario. The thought of seeing Calidia again when the war ended gave him hope. Knowing his father and other members of his clan were beside him also helped. During bombing raids over Berlin and St. Nazaire, Hadrius and his father developed an effective tactic for destroying German Avantas. One would bait the pursuer to follow while the other would engage from behind and above or from below. Other members of The Hurons and the new Avantas that replaced the deceased adopted the tactic. Improvised tactics, a shared lineage, and preexisting trust enabled the Hurons to score more kills than any other Canadian squadron. Their black stripes became feared symbols.
Once the beaches were stormed in Normandy, the war heated up. The German Avantas fought tooth and nail to hold onto France. Hadrius took part in bombing raids, knocking out bridges and factories. He strafed tanks and trains. Days felt like years. Hadrius no longer flinched when he shot down an Avanta. He felt indifferent. Angry. They forced him to come here, so far from home and his mate. He and Calidia could’ve been parents already. Instead he was here, in France, having to kill his own. By 1944, ten of his fellow clan members who set out with him would never return home. They too had lives to live. Instead they died here. Fighting a human’s war so their loved ones wouldn’t have to know the suffering he’d seen across England and France. Hadrius and his father had both sustained injuries from flak and other Avantas. During the Battle of the Bulge, Hadrius was shot and nearly bled to death. Turbalio had to hold his son down while infantryman used rags and coats to plug the leak. Hadrius survived and was out of action for two weeks. The desperation of the Germans by 1945 and coming close to death hammered home just how far he’d come. How much he’d changed. Taking the fight all the way into Germany, the last line of defense offered the toughest resistance of the war. Hadrius and The Hurons survived it all. When the Soviets captured Berlin, the war was over. Finally able to let his guard down, Hadrius reflected on everything he’d seen and done. Of the 24 Avantas that set out from Ontario, himself and his father included, 11 of the original squadron remained.
War weary, dirty, and exhausted, they met the German Avantas face to face. Seeing they too were younger males told to fight, Hadrius and the others realized they and their former enemies were not so different. Under different circumstances, they could have been friends. Despite everything, Hadrius and his father survived. Dogfights, bombing raids, rocket attacks, tanks, even discovering concentration camps and mass graves of Feral Avantas. He’d seen the very worst of humanity and Avantas. After being away from home for six years, Hadrius wanted to return to Calidia. Would she even recognize him now? Could he ever go back to living a carefree life? Was this how his father felt when he returned in 1918? Upon returning to Ontario in May 1945, The Hurons and other Canadian Avantas were welcomed back with parades in Toronto. Back at the clan, the celebrations lasted for two weeks. Reunited with Calidia, she was a radiant angel. Still pure and innocent. Although he looked pretty much the same, she could sense how much he’d changed. He wasn’t quite himself anymore. He wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his life with her in peace. In 1946, his mother gave birth to Hadrius’s brother Harpax. The brothers share a strong relationship. Harpax was just like him. Giddy and a daredevil. Idolizing his older brother and wanting to be like him, he wanted to learn how to fly like he did during the war. Hadrius was happy to teach him. That same year, Calidia learned she was expecting. The following year, she gave birth to twin daughters, Loreia and Lusia . Not expecting twins, Hadrius was ecstatic. Across all clans of The Hurons, there was a spike in the number of births. Watching his twin daughters grow, he also taught them how to fly the way he did in the war. They and Harpax were enamored by his stories. Despite all the bad things he saw, Hadrius did get a number of good and humorous memories out his time overseas.
Even years afterward, Hadrius was still plagued by the trauma of what he’d witnessed. With his Loreia, Lusia, and Calidia beside him, he was able to put aside most of the bad memories. Although a few continuously plagued his dreams. Seeing his daughters off when they were 17, both quickly found mates. In 1965, Calidia gave birth to their first son, Pius. In 1982, their second son, Lycus, was born. After Lycus, Hadrius decided he’d had enough children. Harpax found a mate from the Michigan sect of The Hurons and settled near Oscoda, where they had two sons. For 45 years, Hadrius lived in Ontario with Calidia beside him. While his children and Harpax joined the Canadian military and went on United Nations missions to Africa, Europe, and the Carribean, Hadrius himself didn’t take part in any military actions. He’d seen enough of war. He and Calidia traveled across Canada, to Alaska, throughout the United States, and overseas to Europe. He showed her the avenues of Paris, stately buildings of London, and the open French, English, and German countryside. Where he fought his battles and made new friends. Returning to the battlefields helped Hadrius overcome a few of his demons. When Canada joined the Coalition during the Gulf War in 1990, Hadrius was asked to join the fight. Loreia, Lusia and Pius were going. Lycus was too young to enlist at the time. Harpax and his sons were going as well. Despite swearing to never again take up arms, Hadrius obliged. His experience was sorely needed.
Fighting the Iraqi army over the sands of Kuwait, this was a different kind of war. New technology made the job easier. More precise. Hadrius proved to be a potent tank buster and Scud seeker. Missile attacks at his base in Saudi Arabia brought back bad memories. Once again, he proudly displayed his black stripes on the battlefield. Just as the Germans feared him, the Iraqis feared him as well. Newspapers published a picture of him, his children, and Harpax and his sons wearing their military emblems, stating ‘The Hurons Have Returned.’ His children’s and Harpax’s skill and aerobatics impressed Hadrius. He’d taught them well. He watched as Coalition Avantas treated shooting down Iraqi Avantas, blowing up tanks, and annihilating a retreating army like it was all some sort of game. It felt wrong. Tens of thousands of Iraqi soldiers and Avantas were captured, wounded, or killed. Only 300 Coalition soldiers and Avantas were lost. Compared to what he saw in France and Germany, this was barely a war at all. It was a one-sided massacre. When the hostilities ended, younger American Avantas asked him if this is what it was like in WWII. Hadrius shook his head. “This was nothing like that. You kids had it easy.” Living in the wild for another 28 years with Calidia, Hadrius’ health began to decline. By 2018, at 96 years old, his age and old wounds finally began to catch up to him. Because of his wartime service, he was allowed to live at a veteran’s home in Sarnia, Ontario. Thanks to his father’s wartime experience, he and his mother lived there as well. Hadrius missed living outdoors but his corrosion issues were worsening, and he wasn’t ready to die just yet.
Able to get the care and repairs he needed, Hadrius opened up about his wartime experiences. He told Calidia and his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren everything. Turbalio opened up about things he’d never spoken of before. Getting it all of their chests helped both sleep easier. As of 2020, Hadrius and Calidia are 98 years old. Turbalio and Sornatia are 123. Because they’re receiving proper care and their corrosion issues are well managed, they still have many years left in them. Harpax is 74 years old and still active with the Canadian military, although his retirement is looming. Loreia, Lusia, Pius, and Lycus all have mates and children. All are still active duty.
Fun fact: male Avanta in military service can be equipped centerline pods and weapons racks, however, the pods and racks are tailored to each Avanta so they don’t rub against or damage their sheaths. Giving the centerline pods and racks the universal crude name of ‘junk pods’ and ‘junk racks.’ For an Avanta unlucky enough to have skin damage to their underside because of an improperly fitted centerline pod or weapons rack, the injury is known as getting ‘racked.’ In addition to being painful, it’s embarrassing. A human equivalent to this would be getting ‘scoped’ by a rifle scope.
Category Artwork (Traditional) / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 1280 x 470px
File Size 151.1 kB
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