Welcome to Gaia! ::

Respectfully stolen borrowed from the lovely Meep.

I'm trying to get some more members and interest for my Wild Dog pack concept, the Mbwa Mwitu, so I'm giving out completely free customs/semi-customs/established characters to get it up-and-running. You can enter for as many dogs as you'd like, but can only receive a possible max of two.

So read up on the pack thread and feel free to post here if you have any questions or comments~!

There is no closing date for this--I'll be pulling concepts out for the rest of the month.

Custom Character
Everything about these characters is up to you! Feel free to plot around with others to create families, relationships, etc.

Form:


Be as specific or vague as you want with the appearance--whether you want a full custom, semi-custom, or random is up to you. I'm more likely to be enticed to color something that gives me freedom or isn't crazily-complicated, though.

EDITED 11th July - Added another form.

Username: Lightning Shadow X
Character you're interested in: Maua
RP Response:
Where was everyone? Had they gone hunting already?
Brow furrowing as she snuffled and sniffed out the scent trails leading from the main pack grounds, following them to the border before the furrow turned into a frown as the creeping realisation came to her. They -had- gone hunting.
And in the wrong direction. A whole herd of Thompson's had been meandering around the eastern borders since midday yesterday, did she have to direct everything around he-...wait...had they gone without her?

...

They had.
Ears folded against her head she eye'd out over the borders where the scent trail ended and felt a soft pine bubbling the back of her throat as she felt that self concious monster raise its head in the back of her mind. They'd left her. They didn't want her. It slung all the worst case scenarios at her which she half heartedly shrugged off, turning and heading back into the center of the packgrounds with a slight drag of her paws.
Momentarily stewing before a call raised out behind her, flicking one large ear she blinked and glanced back over her shoulder.

It was the hunters.

Well a pair of them, two younger females.

"Hey Maua!" The first, tawny one called out to her. "We've been waiting for you, you coming or what?"

Pausing, mostly to gather her bearings and beat the monster back down in her head, she took a soft breath and turned about face to meet the two young females head on. Muzzle open in a soft smile as she spoke and made her way past them.

"Always have to prepare yourself mentally, Zanga, you know that, it means you don't let your mind dawdle whilst on the hunt." Content once again, they headed off. Reminding herself to inform today's hunt leader about the Thompson's....and their stance.




Username: Lightning Shadow X
Character Name: Shina (Root)
Character Gender: Female
Character Age: Pup
Character Rank: Pup
Born-in or Newer Member: Born-In
Character Personality:
Like any puppy she is active and playful. Loving adult attention and to play almost constantly before she eventually either gets bored with her current playmate or interested in something else. Almost entirely ADHD anything small, fuzzy and moving or interesting sounds will set her off into a spur of hide and seek or tag, sadly this is the same for when she's tried to be put down for bed. However this incessant energy can also lead to tantrums if she doesn't get her way, giving adults the cold shoulder if she's scolded or not paid any attention.
Brief Character History:
Born to a pair of hunters, Shina was named for her round belly, like the fat root of a tree despite being more so the middle pup. Her parents recently had a falling out after her father went sniffing around another female and found himself Exiled by her own mother.
However been told the rules and laws of the pack, Shina takes the memory of her father with a pinch of salt and tries as all do, to look past the dirty incident. She currently stalks her mother and promises boldly that someday she'll be the best hunter the pack will ever have...if she can pay attention to anything long enough.
Appearance:
Natural colors but mostly CC.

Username: magnadearel
Character Name: Ingwe'Gazini (Leopard blood in Zulu)
Character Gender: CC
Character Age: Adult
Character Rank: Hunter
Born-in or Newer Member: Newer Member?
Character Personality: Gazini is grateful to the pack that took in a stray, injured pup. Somewhat of a serious dog, s/he does her/his best to repay them. S/he likes to hunt, but her favorite activity is pupsitting. Gazini will play endlessly with energetic pups until nap time, then cuddle with them in a giant ball of heads, legs, and tails.
Brief Character History: Ingwe'Gazini was rescued from the mouth of a leopard that had strayed into pack territory when s/he was just a tiny pup. S/he was taken in by a young couple who had just had a small litter of their own. Her/his wounds were tended, and s/he was raised in the ways of the pack.
Appearance: CC

Username: ChezaRain
Character Name: Zola ["tranquil" in Zulu]
Character Gender: Female
Character Age: Adult
Character Rank: Hunter
Born-in or Newer Member: Born-In
Character Personality: Always thought to be in-tune with her surroundings, Zola is always the last to finish a meal and the first to gaze at the rising sun, a soft smile across her face. She hardly speaks more than a few words at a time, but on rare occasions you can find her singing to the moon, when she believes herself to be alone.
Brief Character History: Zola had been the only pup born to her mother, and many had thought something wrong with her because she never cried. None could find any good qualities about her for a decent name until her mother woke one morning and saw Zola admiring a flower, the rising sun casting a soft glow over it to make the colors stand out. She had a faint smile on her face, and her little eyes glimmered with admiration, and her mother knew that she was highly intelligent despite her silent ways, and she was given her name to represent her soul.
Appearance: CC, pale colors but I do want light green eyes.

Eski: She wouldn't be able to be the last to enjoy a meal since the dogs present in a hunt all eat at the same time. Also, if she seemed very weak, the pack would fuss over her endlessly in hopes there was a chance she could grow stronger and survive. If you tweak those things, you're good to go!

I've attempted a tweak? XD

Male added

Username: Boudaihobbit
Character Name: Nandi {Sweet ~ Zulu}
Character Gender: Female
Character Age: Adult
Character Rank: Hunter
Born-in or Newer Member: Born-In
Character Personality:
Throughout her entire life, Nandi had been brought up and infused with her pack’s traditions and culture. As a result, she is a very spiritual and traditional young female. She is a bit naive, having never really been exposed to life beyond the Mbwa Mwitu lands, and to some extent within. Nandi could not imagine doing anything to disrespect or harm the Earth in any way, firmly upholding the belief that the Earth is Mother and treating it as such.

Overall, she is a kind and sweet “good girl”. However, being so soft hearted, she does not yet have full reign over her emotions, which occasionally causes her to be taken over by them. Rarely does she get angry, however, at her worst, she can be blinded by what she feels. Otherwise, she is generally happy and friendly towards others.

Since she was very sheltered as a pup, she loves to make new friends and learn things about others. Although, others tend to think that she is odd. While she loves her family, she sometimes wishes that she knew about more things and was better able to relate to others her own age.

As an adult, Nandi has promised herself that she will expose her pups to many exciting things and teach them everything that she knows instead of hiding them away from the world.

Brief Character History:
Nandi was born to a mated pair in the Mbwa Mwitu, but, due to a tragic event, was raised by her maternal grandparents who were both a bit introverted. Because of her parents dying before she could remember them, she has merged her feelings, thoughts, and emotions of them with those of her spirituality, especially with her mother. Believing that her mother’s spirit went to the ground, she has built an association between Mother Earth and her actual mother.

Her grandparents largely kept her away from romping around with other pups of her age group. Having lost their daughter, they were very clingy and watchful over Nandi, only allowing her so much freedom. While at home, where she spent most of her time, she was continuously taught the history and ways of the pride. Growing up, she was constantly enwrapped in old stories and spiritual tales.

Appearance: Nandi has honey colored eyes and makrings. Here's a template [X]

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Username: Boudaihobbit
Character Name: Inaya {Providence/Guardianship ~ Swahili}
Character Gender: Female
Character Age: Adult
Character Rank: Hunter
Born-in or Newer Member: New Member
Character Personality: Inaya is quiet and a bit skittish of others. With only her recently discovered emotions and emerging feelings, she is trying her best to fit in. She is not used to the calm and peaceful life that she had attained in this pack and gets restless at times. Learning more and more about their peaceful, Earth loving ways, she has become more calm and is slowly adopting much of their culture.

For the most part, she put her remaining negative energy into hunting. She loves to hunt for her new pack and is quick and efficient at it. Inaya, while still adjusting, is coming to loving her new pack and the peace that she now lives in. She has also become very protective over the Mbwa Mwitu and will fight any danger that comes to them.

Brief Character History: Inaya was born to a group of wandering mercenaries for hire that traveled alongside the mountains. As a young pup, she was taught to fight and was brought along on missions. Early on, Inaya was exposed to battle, and violence was a common part of life.

As a juvenile, she was traded to a coalition of lions to trained her to be an assassin along with another male her age. He never knew his real name, and the coalition hadn’t bothered to give him one, so she called him Haki, her father’s name. By the time she was near adulthood, she had become a cold and skilled killer, and so had Haki.

One day, while she and her partner were out hunting for everyone, the coalition was ambushed and all were killed. No longer with a purpose, they wandered the rogue lands on their own. With their handlers gone, they began to warm up to one another, and were able to become true friends.

They had begun to form some semblance of happiness and normalcy, when the same group that had killed the coalition they had been a part of discovered their whereabouts and attacked them. Haki was killed in the attack and Inaya fled the scene heartbroken. Painfully lonely, she aimlessly walked until she discovered a pack wild dogs like herself. She was welcomed there and has never left since.

Appearance: X, or wild dog or natural colors.

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Username: Boudaihobbit
Character Name: Rubanza {Couragous} ~ Swahili
Character Gender: Male
Character Age: Adult
Character Rank: Hunter
Born-in or Newer Member: Born-In
Character Personality: For the most part, Rubanza is a quiet but nice guy. He does not display his feelings loudly, but in subtle gestures and expressions. Those who didn’t know him would say that he was antisocial and unfriendly, and though he doesn’t like a crowd, he is quite far from being either.

A bit of a loner, Rubanza spends much of his time appreciating small details in life, especially in nature. It does not take much to please him, but someone would have to know what things make him happy. Throughout his life, Rubanza has slowly refined a skill in crafting objects and creating art, and is now quite good at it. He tends to wander off and end up working on some odd project. Rubanza does not enjoy and will do his best to avoid large amounts of attention or conflict.

He holds those he cares for very close to him, and they have the ability to both make him the most happy and most miserable. Keenly observant, he has the uncanny ability to sense the emotions of others and they affect him more than one would think. He does his best to keep everyone happy, and avoids confrontation.

Brief Character History: Rubanza grew up in the Mbwa Mwitu to highly traditional parents. As a pup, his parents betrothed him to a female his age called Funani. He spent much of his time growing up with her, as their parents were trying to get them to forge a relationship with one another.

Over time, Funani became his closest friend and he was happy. As of late in his life, the impending marriage to her suddenly became a glaring reality as opposed to the distant chore that it had once seemed t be. His relationship with her is now a bit strained and it does not flow carefree as it once did. Laden with his looming responsibilities, he still heavily concerned himself with Funani and the stress that everything is causing her.

Appearance: Rubanza has a black base coat with light cream highlights and markings. [X]

Username: Mtorolite
Character Name: Ngedwa
Character Gender: male
Character Age:Adult
Character Rank: Hunter
Born-in or Newer Member: Born in
Character Personality: Ngedwa had a strong personality- a go get 'em type who believed in all for the pack and the pack for all. He was always helpful, always great to be around, the first one out in the hunt, the last one to back down from a fight, first on the dog pile and last to complain about the puppies. An all-around dog's dog, he wasn't the type to make enemies. Everyone liked him.
Now, Ngedwa has changed. He fulfills his duties in the pack, but he is driven not by joy of life but by a contained, simmering rage. He longs to lash out- and it's going to get him into trouble.
Brief Character History:


Ngedwa, was, in his former life, a wild dog on the rise. He was in love with Ukhozi, an excellent hunter, she was beautiful, she was kind, and she was wise. Her seriousness balanced out his eternal playfulness. Some considered him an excellent candidate for alpha, when the time came for the current alphas to step down.
The greatest day of his life- the day he would make Ukhozi his life mate- was fast approaching when the lovebirds, enjoying some peace together, met a rag-tag band of lions. The lion's crazed leader immediately attacked the two, with his band falling in.
Ngedwa was found later that day, clinging to life. Ukhozi's body was never found, except part of her hide that was ripped off in the fight.
Ngedwa recovered slowly. He is now physically fit as he ever was, but the joy has gone out of him. His mother wants him to find someone to become his life mate, but Ngedwa ignores her.

Ngedwa's rage at the lions that took Uhkozi from him is a bit terrifying, even to the pack members. He wants nothing more then revenge, but he will not abandon his pack to seek it. Instead, he wants to wait, until he can rip the grin off the lion that killed Uhkozi, and then he can die in peace.

(While it may be possible for Ngedwa to be redeemed and find his joy again, it would take a lot of work. He's pretty much doomed to die at the hands of a lion- any lion- because his rage is so intense. Even if he does fall in love again, if he had to choose between living happily with his mate and getting a chance at revenge, he'd probably go with revenge.)

Appearance: Originally a black-and-tan dog, he is now black-and-tan in bits but largely covered in cruel looking pink and white scars. One of his eyes is useless. The other one is honey colored.

Username: Mtorolite
Character Name: Cebisile (Zulu- advise giver)
Character Gender: Female
Character Age: Adol
Character Rank: Hunter (shooting for elder at a later date)
Born-in or Newer Member: Born-in
Character Personality: Ngedwa's quieter, and perhaps wiser younger sister. She's very pretty, considered quite a catch, and, when she does laugh, usually infects everyone around her with it. As Ngedwa moves farther into the shadow of his pain, Cebisile comes farther into the spotlight that he has left.
Brief Character History: Cebisile is used to living in Ngedwa's shadow, but remained devoted to him through all of his pain. She tries to deflect him from his misery, and to help him find solace in life. Cebisile will go on when Ngedwa falls, and her level headedness, wisdom, and determination will eventually see her rise to the rank of Elder.
Appearance: Black and white. Honey colored eyes. Aside from that, go for it.