✶ Kioni ages throughout the story and is nearly an adult by the epilogue.
✶ Kioni ✶
Story
Kioni lived with her mother and brother in the savanna on the outskirts of Falling Ash territory. When her family is killed by a rogue lioness, Kioni is left an orphan. She wanders, starving and alone, until she stumbles--literally--into Layali during Muambe's eruption Together, Layali and Zain care for the cub and nurse her back to health as she tags along on their quest. She picks up canine mannerisms and eventually learns their language, which is a rare skill for any animal in Africa.
In the future, she becomes mates with a cheetah named Zikomo and bears multiple litters with him throughout the years.
Personality
Kioni is an innocent soul bubbling with curiosity. Whenever Layali and Zain are feeling down, she never fails to put a smile on their face. She has a deep fear of fire and large animals of any kind, preferring to be among dogs even as an adult. As she grows, she sometimes shows symptoms of post traumatic stress, though likes to brush it off.
Kioni latched onto Layali when she was fleeing the wildfires in Falling Ash territory, as she was the first and only friendly soul she met after her family's death. Layali tried to get rid of her at first, insisting that she couldn't hunt and it would be a waste of time to follow her. Even after forming a little "pack" on the journey, Layali would continue to see Kioni as a burden tagging along, but would eventually grow fond of her, impressed by how she picked up the Canine language.
In the Pack of Painted Flowers, Layali becomes a nanny and grandmother figure to Kioni's future children, telling them stories of her heroic old days.
Kioni bonded quickly with Zain. He was usually the one to hunt for the group and feed her, and she in return would sleep next to him and comfort him as he was mourning Zahra's death. She would come to call him Uncle.
Jabari and Shani promised to look after Kioni as Layali and Zain journeyed up the Painted Mountain. Jabari was amazed at the idea of a cheetah in a dog pack, and Kioni was eager to pick up on his language and mannerisms, finding him very funny and friendly.
Educated on other animal species, Shani was quick to criticize the way Layali and Zain were raising the cheetah cub. She gave herbs to Kioni to help bring up her strength, and together the four adult dogs were able to provide Kioni with more meat than she was previously used to.
Mossyoddity
Kioni
