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Description
So a lot of people who do art trades and collabs with me always ask about a reference sheet for Kalani, a character I had created last year! So, here's the reference sheet! I'll also include her information below:

Name: Kalani

Pronunciation: [kah-LAH-nee]

Meaning: "The heavens, sky; royal one, chieftain."

Gender: Female.

Species: Bateleur Eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus) spirit inside a Side-Striped Jackal's (Canis adustus) body.

Title: "The Scavenger."

Background:

The autumnal morning was laced with golden hues as the world awoke around her; silent sun chasing off the shadows of the night that had long overstayed their welcome. Kalani, a beautiful Bateleur eagle, called the craggy bluffs along the river her home, and commonly roosted there. The ancient cliffs, encased in vegetation, still stood tall, breaking the wind's relentless howling through the river's hollow. The land about her steep bluff home was untamed and beautiful; perfect for a soaring soul. She was a proud, naive eagle in a wild paradise!

Kalani awoke with the sun and quickly took to the skies, tipping wings into the air as the spiraling thermals took her up high over the world. Effortless circling allowed her to observe the lowly land below her, and of course, consider breakfast. The days were beginning to grow colder, and although the forest was beautiful shades of amber and red, days of snow and ice were nearing.

The only man-made object to be seen for miles was a stone temple, overgrown with vines and almost completely hidden by the forested vegetation. Seemingly forgotten, many creatures utilized the foreign creation as their home-- it was always a place Kalani had interest in when she needed a meal. She pumped her large wings, gaining lift as she teetered towards the distant hills where the tribal building stood.

Then she was struck. It all happened so fast.

A black mass. That's all she saw when she felt herself flung and falling from the sky, faster and faster as hundreds of feet were lost beneath her. Blood tattooed the air as she fell from it, streaming away from her broken wing. Confused and terrified, she slammed her eyes shut; painful attempts to flap her wings and gain some type of leverage were sadly futile. She hit the cold river with a large splash, the water's undertow dragging her into its shadowy rocky depths.

This was the end.

"Wake up, Kalani."

The voice was whispered, gentle, calm. It called out again, and Kalani opened her eyes-- or rather, came into realization that someone was talking to her.

"My eagle, Kalani." The voice said, in a whispered tone of pride.

Kalani's clarity wavered as the voice spoke; she didn't know where she was at-- it was as if she was in a grayscale, simple room. No details; just haze. When she looked down, she saw nothing. She was nothing. She had died.

"I have a deal for you, if you wish to live again." The voice called out from the haze, "Do you accept?"

After a moment of contemplation, she accepted with a confirming nod.

"Then you shall live once more. You will no longer soar-- you will be a mere scavenger of the earth, bound to the soil. Such humility is necessary for the task at hand, for you will be the guardian of two objects, that will be bound to your tail by a green ribbon. One item brings forth eternal blessings and joy, while the other harnesses the power of sin and death. Both feathers must be protected, for the time is not yet right for either to be used. Let these two items, feathers, be a pleasant reminder of the life you once had, and do not hesitate to live the life you have now chosen. If you ever wish to escape this life of responsibility and enter into death, you simply remove the ribbon."

The greyscale place suddenly turned blinding white, and as the voice talked, it was if she was being hurled through the light that surrounded her.

"Let the dog of death carry along with her the navy shades of night,

She'll wear them on her paws and underside, so she's forever above the sky,

If only in nostalgic memory and longing heart.

Give her autumnal shades and eyes that reflect the azure heavens above,

So she will never forget who she once was,

But let her neck be laced with crimson-- to remind her of death.

Bring a peacefulness to her heart, let her grow in mind and strength;

Bless her with the wisdom that only comes from such humility."

And then, the voice was gone. Kalani awoke in her novel form-- that of a side-striped jackal, thick, furry tail tied up with a green ribbon holding a beautiful alabaster feather, and a sleek ebony one right next to it. She was within the temple she had soared over so many times. The walls were covered in carvings and moss; remnants of pottery and tools scattered about in the corners. One wall portrayed a painted hunting scene, another showed a scene of battle, and yet another showed a canine and two feathers.

After finding her way out of the temple, she gazed up past the autumnal trees to the cliff she would never fly to again.

On the wind was an encouraging murmur, "It's time for you to believe--that is how you truly soar."

Need some more Kalani artwork? Check out this folder:
mischievousraven.deviantart.co…

Description
So a lot of people who do art trades and collabs with me always ask about a reference sheet for Kalani, a character I had created last year! So, here's the reference sheet! I'll also include her information below:

Name: Kalani

Pronunciation: [kah-LAH-nee]

Meaning: "The heavens, sky; royal one, chieftain."

Gender: Female.

Species: Bateleur Eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus) spirit inside a Side-Striped Jackal's (Canis adustus) body.

Title: "The Scavenger."

Background:

The autumnal morning was laced with golden hues as the world awoke around her; silent sun chasing off the shadows of the night that had long overstayed their welcome. Kalani, a beautiful Bateleur eagle, called the craggy bluffs along the river her home, and commonly roosted there. The ancient cliffs, encased in vegetation, still stood tall, breaking the wind's relentless howling through the river's hollow. The land about her steep bluff home was untamed and beautiful; perfect for a soaring soul. She was a proud, naive eagle in a wild paradise!

Kalani awoke with the sun and quickly took to the skies, tipping wings into the air as the spiraling thermals took her up high over the world. Effortless circling allowed her to observe the lowly land below her, and of course, consider breakfast. The days were beginning to grow colder, and although the forest was beautiful shades of amber and red, days of snow and ice were nearing.

The only man-made object to be seen for miles was a stone temple, overgrown with vines and almost completely hidden by the forested vegetation. Seemingly forgotten, many creatures utilized the foreign creation as their home-- it was always a place Kalani had interest in when she needed a meal. She pumped her large wings, gaining lift as she teetered towards the distant hills where the tribal building stood.

Then she was struck. It all happened so fast.

A black mass. That's all she saw when she felt herself flung and falling from the sky, faster and faster as hundreds of feet were lost beneath her. Blood tattooed the air as she fell from it, streaming away from her broken wing. Confused and terrified, she slammed her eyes shut; painful attempts to flap her wings and gain some type of leverage were sadly futile. She hit the cold river with a large splash, the water's undertow dragging her into its shadowy rocky depths.

This was the end.

"Wake up, Kalani."

The voice was whispered, gentle, calm. It called out again, and Kalani opened her eyes-- or rather, came into realization that someone was talking to her.

"My eagle, Kalani." The voice said, in a whispered tone of pride.

Kalani's clarity wavered as the voice spoke; she didn't know where she was at-- it was as if she was in a grayscale, simple room. No details; just haze. When she looked down, she saw nothing. She was nothing. She had died.

"I have a deal for you, if you wish to live again." The voice called out from the haze, "Do you accept?"

After a moment of contemplation, she accepted with a confirming nod.

"Then you shall live once more. You will no longer soar-- you will be a mere scavenger of the earth, bound to the soil. Such humility is necessary for the task at hand, for you will be the guardian of two objects, that will be bound to your tail by a green ribbon. One item brings forth eternal blessings and joy, while the other harnesses the power of sin and death. Both feathers must be protected, for the time is not yet right for either to be used. Let these two items, feathers, be a pleasant reminder of the life you once had, and do not hesitate to live the life you have now chosen. If you ever wish to escape this life of responsibility and enter into death, you simply remove the ribbon."

The greyscale place suddenly turned blinding white, and as the voice talked, it was if she was being hurled through the light that surrounded her.

"Let the dog of death carry along with her the navy shades of night,

She'll wear them on her paws and underside, so she's forever above the sky,

If only in nostalgic memory and longing heart.

Give her autumnal shades and eyes that reflect the azure heavens above,

So she will never forget who she once was,

But let her neck be laced with crimson-- to remind her of death.

Bring a peacefulness to her heart, let her grow in mind and strength;

Bless her with the wisdom that only comes from such humility."

And then, the voice was gone. Kalani awoke in her novel form-- that of a side-striped jackal, thick, furry tail tied up with a green ribbon holding a beautiful alabaster feather, and a sleek ebony one right next to it. She was within the temple she had soared over so many times. The walls were covered in carvings and moss; remnants of pottery and tools scattered about in the corners. One wall portrayed a painted hunting scene, another showed a scene of battle, and yet another showed a canine and two feathers.

After finding her way out of the temple, she gazed up past the autumnal trees to the cliff she would never fly to again.

On the wind was an encouraging murmur, "It's time for you to believe--that is how you truly soar."

Need some more Kalani artwork? Check out this folder:
mischievousraven.deviantart.co…