OC October: Oct. 15: Nadia "Lionbiter," an African Painted Dog. Nadia is a fiercely proud painted dog. She is younger and less experienced than her brothers Jac and Domm, but she is a fierce fighter. In the painted dog society, pups are given one name at birth and a second name as adults, usually upon doing some brave or clever deed. Nadia was given the name "Lionbiter" by her pack's elders when she made a brave stand against the local lions in protecting her pack's hunting grounds. Painted dogs are led by an alpha male and female, but subordinate females in the pack may have pups - though all the pups are raised by the alpha female. Nadia was born to a subordinate female and pups born to subordinates usually rank low in pack hierarchy, but Nadia proved a brave fighter and good leader from the get-go, causing the aging pack alphas to choose her as successor. One duty Nadia has as successor is ambassador to the other species in the grasslands. During her time, Nadia is part of a radical experiment among the animals on the savanna - in which the different species come together to fight the tyraniccal rule of a lion pride male named Baba who, along with his pride, plans to wipe out all other predator species in the grasslands. Probably Nadia's biggest flaw is her pride. She believes painted dogs to be superior to all other species and, therefore, is condescending and suspicious of the other predators she must work with. She is also extremely dry - there wasn't much room for humor and fun (even for pups) in her society growing up. Character and art belong to me.