Tak'Inokoiz

The Zekiran colony had been established decades ago on Planet Twenty, and slowly but surely the dragons among them would spread far and wide. After the big 'furry frenzy' event (which as of 3.8.21 has still not really happened, sorry no dragons yet, but the character offspring exist) there was certainly a explosion of interest in these amazing creatures.

But local to the colony's mountain area were numerous tribes, and among the 'fan favorites', the Horse Kin tribe whose artisans and hard workers produced amazing goods that were durable and pleasant to look at, in addition to being practical in every Zekiran's home. With an eye for genetics, it didn't take much effort before some of the more Steed-like Zekirans found partners among the local group of Horse Kin, rather like the cheetahs and felines did among those types during the Furry Frenzy. Although some Kin still find the weird colors and ultra-strong powers that many Zekirans show off-putting, there are plenty who really enjoy the company of the exotic humanoid aliens.

Because of their love of Steeds as not just work animals, but dear companions and powerful allies, the Zekirans hardly ever look at these Kin as anything less than equals, which is more than can be said for some other types of Kin around the world. After all, their elders have returned to Zekira once or twice by virtue of dragonry-hopping, and they know that whole flocks of highly intelligent Steeds rule that world now!

Instilled with such respect, then, Tak'inokoiz (whose name loosely translates to 'leaps into the sky to join the action there') was raised by their parents down by the shoreline as well as up in the main Zekiran colony halls in the mountain. And truly Tak is a sight to behold - when they go into the air it's with purpose, all but leaving gravity behind, and flying with strength and grace befitting of the winged Steeds in their genetic line. Aern is still proud of this long-line-descendant, and has helped them to learn more about how to control their unusually strong psionics.

Though they only have a few fingers, and those tipped with heavy, slightly pliable 'hoof nails', Tak's ability to manipulate small items is poor, but overall their life has been impacted very little by that fact. Typing is difficult, though with a specialized datapad available, and other items such as mugs suitable for holding with big fingers, easily applied clothing, and the like, Tak's youth has been reasonably easy.

Only once has he seen the odd invaders which still lurk in the system, as well as the human-centric ships which sometimes drop new Kin to their 'prison'... If this planet is a prison, Tak wonders what their 'freedom' is like. They do yearn to know more about not just their home world of Planet Twenty, but about their Zekiran history ages ago, plus... There are dragons to ask about!

Lots of them. From disparate worlds, with so many features... But what about ones which need their own aid? Are there dragons out there that they can challenge themself to keep up with? They are speedy in the air, after all, and can reach heights that even some dragons dare not go. And while they do like the water, they're not always happy with how long it takes for their feathery wings to dry out after a good swim.

After looking so wistfully at those dragons around the mountain, one of the elders decided to get on the comms with some other distant folks... arrangements made, travel taken care of thanks to their dragons powers...

The Refugium was a magnificent place, big - so big, they knew they could fly with ease within the arrival deck, Tak and their escort Vision were shown to their quarters first, with a tour the next day... and then to greet some incredibly beautiful dragons the next!

They watched wide-eyed as the wingless dragons flew in the artificial sky over a large 'ocean' inlet, it was all so similar to their home below the mountain colony! And, familiar to Tak's distantly-related escort Vision, as he had lived on the Zekiran ship with such a flight dome... One that had gotten much too cramped for them to continue loading dragons on board, leading to their permanent colonization efforts.

Would these dragons be a good fit with those on Planet Twenty? Perhaps - they seemed keenly intelligent and according to Vision, could use an assist that perhaps their own technology or psionic powers could provide. "If only they lived in our space," he muttered, but Tak didn't really understand: they'd been brought between dimensions. This space station orbiting around a beautiful planet was in a place that could never be reached by starships, from Planet Twenty. Tak knew that some dragons came from 'other places', but had just assumed they were 'conventionally' reachable.

Not so, but that didn't matter for the moment. Vision would provide their travel back and forth, and would be on hand to record anything fun for those back home at Planet Twenty.

***

"It seems that your people had things in common with my ancestors," Tak said, to Monari. Monari was positively dwarfed by the Zekiran-Kin hybrid, but they held themself with a grace that made her more comfortable. She knew they wouldn't accidentally crush her, though with those hooves, Tak left imprints in the beach sand and even the dirt and grass beyond, with their weight.

But what they'd said was what made her bold enough to ask, "in what way?" She all but folded back in on herself when the big winged person tossed their head and gave off a strange noise. She realized it was... almost a whinny?

"They were infertile, and your people have been ruined by that... what did they call it," Tak searched for a word, "some bacteria or something? That sounds awful." But when they detected how the small Aleran reacted... Externally, she hardly winced and merely looked away. But internally, Tak realized it was a very sore subject. "Oh - I am... I am so sorry that was quite insensitive of me." They furrowed their odd brow, "I hope you don't judge me harshly for that." They got a bit of a gleam in their golden eye, "but look, my people survived. Surely yours will too!"

They were both interrupted from saying anything further by the shadow that passed overhead, and instantly Tak's whole posture changed. And - Monari sensed something very odd happening. Something that she only felt when Kaba was ready to fly!

This big Zekiran steed-creature tensed up their wing shoulders and their legs, but it was more the sudden absence of pressure or - no, it was gravity? She felt like she too could just take off right then and there. But Tak's spring into the air took only themself along, they were heading into the sky to chase after another of the local Luung, maybe to ask them questions too, maybe to just put them to shame with that speed burst!

"Tak will be back," Vision said, the similarly furry man with a feline appearance told Monari as he approached. "What do you think?"

She looked after the green and pink and brown blur, "well I think that even if they do not bond at Kaba's nest, they probably should somewhere. They said their name would become 'all' something?"

Vision nodded deeply, but corrected, using a slightly different inflection, "ahl, is the word we use to claim kinship. Tak'Inokoiz ahl'Runike, or ahl'Oneya, it kind of rolls off the tongue if you've got a twist in it." Vision winked. "Oh look at them go," he chuckled. And indeed, the steed-kin flashed circles around one of the Luungs - who suddenly gave chase, not angry, but with something to prove!

*** update 9.30.21 ***

Tak brought Ao back to Planet Twenty with pride, the Luung seemed - finally - impressed by something other than himself. There were so many sights and new experiences available to him, and they flew over the Zekiran city under their own power, in their own bright sunny sky. Tak'Inokoiz ahl'Oneya reintroduced themselves to their family and friends, and Ao started keeping notes about who he could race or practice in the air with.