Kainalu

[ Kainalu ]
"Ocean that billows."
[ Hawaiian Origin ]

You had been told of a mysterious wolf by his fellow pack members, where he could be found at the very far end of the Kohana Pack's territory. An estuary called Albemarle Sound, where the swamp the Kohana Pack lived in emptied into.

You walked quickly, the soft sand leaving paw prints behind you. By the shore, a large male wolf seemed to be running his paws through the salty water, as if searching for something. Retrieving a smooth shell from the water, he examined it. Deeming it unsatisfactory, he threw it back into the sea.

The peculiar wolf lifted his head, his jewelry jingling as he looked up towards you. A smile cracked on his muzzle, and he beckoned you closer. Putting his paw on a jar of shells, he looked you in the eyes, his black-and-white ones shining keenly. The wind blew gently as he spoke.

"My mother called me Kainalu the Seer. Care to see your future?"

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[ Family ]

Born to a she-wolf who would later abandon him in the desert, Kainalu was found by one of the pack's scouts, Kaleho. The wolf had recently taken a fox as his mate and the two were unable to bear pups of their own, so Kaleho eagerly adopted the peculiar pup.

Kainalu's mother, a vixen named Aisling, began to teach him the ways of being a seer. Many of the Kohana Pack members considered these predictions and dreams to be dubious, but that didn't hamper his desire to learn her ways.

Kainalu never had any siblings, but he didn't mind it. In fact, he rather liked it, considering his mother and father's near-constant doting on him. He had never taken a mate either, being generally disinterested in the idea of taking one.

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[ Personality ]

"I can read your future
I can change it 'round some, too
I'll look deep into your heart and soul
Make your wildest dreams come true!"
[ Friends On The Other Side ]

Kainalu is mysterious and cryptic, never giving straight answers. He's often vague, but whether it's because it's all he knows or is trying to keep his alleged visions as relevant as possible, nobody knows.

He also tends to go off by himself, preferring solitude to the company of others. Kainalu prefers to allow others to come to him: should they be seeking his purposes. He's sometimes away for days at a time, scavenging for shells he claim speak to him, a usual occurrence. Should one need to find him, they should follow Alligator River to Albemarle Sound, where he is wandering without a doubt.

Should one speak with him, he'll promise to read their future and what it entails for them. Should he be given a gift or something that catches his eye, Kainalu will intentionally "adjust their future for the better." Different wolves have different results: some say Kainalu is true, while others say he is a fake. Nobody quite knows.

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[ Biography ]

Kainalu was born to a she-wolf of a neighboring pack. She was the alphess of the pack, and was ecstatic to have her first litter of pups. The whole pack had rejoiced, clamoring gleefully while they awaited their birth. This pack was incredibly superstitious and held ceremonies and events that they believed would bless her.

When the time came, however, Kainalu's mother had complications with the birth. Much to the pack's dismay, in a litter of originally six pups, he was the only survivor. For the first two weeks he was cared for and doted upon, until he opened his eyes for the first time. The pack was taken aback and gave hushed whispers.

It was evident that the superstitious believed Kainalu was cursed, and that he had maybe even killed his siblings. His mother was hesitant to give him up, but inevitably did so, eventually believing that the pup was indeed cursed. Kainalu doesn't remember much of this; he was only 14 or so days old, and he was soon left to fend for himself in the Valley of Fire State Park, an unforgiving desert.

Thankfully, his mewling had not gone unheard. Even in the night, Kaleho soon found him, stuck in a ditch Kainalu was too small to climb out of. The lantern's soft glow lit up the pup's face, revealing two different colored eyes, but Kaleho wasn't phased.

"Poor little guy." He murmured softly. Kaleho set down his lantern and picked the pup up, taking him home with him.

Kainalu was soon taken to the Rust Ravine to recover. He adopted and was given ample food and water by a silver fox, Aisling. Kainalu began to associate her as his mother and Kaleho as his father, with a much better puphood under their care. The wolf and fox pair found Kainalu to be a blessing, as they could not bear their own children, and eagerly doted upon him.

As an adolescent, he tried being a scout like his father, but simply didn't fall in love with the idea. He found it to be too draining; and the relentless heat of the desert sun didn't encourage him at all. But he found himself drawn to Aisling's visions. He watched her in awe as she predicted things, and although they didn't always work, he was charmed by them.

His father encouraged him to follow his dreams, even if it wasn't a proper job in the pack. Kainalu was incredibly grateful for his parent's support, and was glad he wasn't disappointed by the fact he hadn't become a scout.

When he became an adult, he soon began to have his own predictions. Much like his mother's, they varied from being dubious to surprisingly accurate. While his mother claimed to receive them from dreams, Kainalu claimed that the shells spoke to him.

Unfortunately, Aisling had died during her sleep one night; she had become old and gray, but her death seemed mysterious, as she was in good health. This took a toll on Kaleho, and not long after, he too died. Kainalu was stricken with grief, and was only more burdened when he had a vision of a severe drought.

Kainalu told Kuparr of his predictions, but the alpha didn't quite believe him. However, Kainalu's predictions soon came true, and Kuparr, now elderly, immediately moved the pack eastwards. They didn't stop until they had reached the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, to which they finally settled back down-- Kuparr deeming the amount of water more than ample, allowing him to rest peacefully.

Kuparr apologized for not believing Kainalu, and many of the pack began to believe he indeed did possess the ability to see the future. While some remained skeptical, he was glad to finally be mostly appreciated. Kainalu found his spirits lifting, especially when he found his favorite spot in Albemarle Sound.

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[ Trivia ]

He has lived in the Desert and Swamp.

Contrary to popular belief, many of Kainalu's prophecies are just observations. Many wolves believe he can predict the weather, when in reality he is just the first to notice signs that a storm is brewing.

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[ Art ]

Kainalu Headshot by cats (#112230)

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[ Log ]

10/19/2022
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