Tonlepel

Overview

A small to moderate sized six limbed reptile Gendirl that makes its home in the grasslands. Though they have four legs, they can easily stand on two, freeing their forelegs for performing tasks. Their weak wings can carry their own weight but not much else.

Characteristics

Despite their small size and resourcefulness, Tonlepelo are not the most plentiful species of Gendirl, and their numbers have always been small, even before humans arrived. They mostly live north of the Great Achton River in the grasslands.   Tonlepelo have a canine shaped body, somewhat mimicking the small wolves that live in parts of the mountains. The biggest differences between them and wolves are the more muscular chest needed to support and use their scaly wings, and the fish like scales that cover a Tonlepel's body. Males are bright pink and red, though their colors are the brightest in the spring and summer when food is more plentiful Females are smaller and completely brown. They are relatively small compared to many Gendirlo, just small enough that they cannot comfortably carry a human, though if they try to carry a human who is larger than a child, the strain may injure them.   While willing and capable of eating both plant and animal matter, Tonlepelo prefer eating meat, with fish being their favorite prey. Their agility in the water and their habit of living near bodies of water make them excellent aquatic hunters. During the hottest months, Tonlepelo spend more time in the water than on land, though they never venture into the ocean.   Part of the reason their population has never been large is because of the solitary nature of the Tonlepelo. They are friendly towards each other and to other Gendirlo and will happily help others if possible, but their nature is to roam and live alone. If not for encouragement by the Coloktialo, the Tonlepelo would not have any main clans with leaders. Those who choose to live in these clans are generally older Tonlepelo who are tired of their normal lifestyle and are willing to serve as a representative of their species so that others do not have to.   Females raise nests and young with little to no help from males. Tonlepelo do not mate for life, and a male will try to mate with as many females as possible. But females will only mate with males who thoroughly impress her with the brightness of their scales, their capacity to jump and dance, and the quality of their "courting song," a series of howls and barks that transcend language and attempt to show a female that a male is the ideal mate.