≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠-BIO-=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠ | Name - Baurali or Ali, for short, meaning 'bright wave' in the language of the ancient Sea-Dwellers | Gender - Male | Personality - Outgoing, friendly, and helpful. Tends to get himself too involved in the problems of others, and neglects his own until the last minute. Ali is easily hurt, but doesn't really let it show, which makes him angrily smash rocks with his powerful tail when he's alone | Fears - Cookie-Cutter sharks (he gets along with bigger ones, especially Nurse sharks), skeletons, deep trenches or ravines | Tendencies - Spends a lot of time at the surface of the water, gazing at the busy human city from the tropical bay where he lives | Current Home - Wakiki Bay, just off the coast of Honolulu, Hawaii. Ali lives with a pod of Sea-Dwellers, Mammal-Fish Hybrids, called Ke Kū o Ke Poʻo Hema, or Hema Nānā for short, meaning 'pod of the southern tip' | ≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠-STORY-=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠= The ocean was a hub of traffic, for it was midday, a favorite time of fish for soaking up the warm sun from beneath the crystal clear waves. Among these perfectly normal sea creatures was a very peculiar specimen. Some fish new to the area stared as they swam by, then turned to whisper to one another as they passed him. The local fish, however, seemed to detest this gossip when it happened and 'kindly' asked the fish to "Shut up, please! Y'know how rude that is?" The creature himself didn't seem to mind; he was used to it. His name was Baurali, or as everyone liked to call him, Ali. The reason for the staring and whispering was obvious: Ali was a Sea-Dweller, a hybrid of a Land-Dweller, or mammal, and a fish. Sea-Dwellers were quite strong, much stronger than the average dolphin, and most could swim through the water as fast as the Sky-Dwellers, their bird-mammal cousins, could fly through the sky. Ali, who was a Ka'īlio breed: half canine, half fish, was adept at skimming across the surface and riding the waves like his dolphin friends. He had just gone for a pleasant morning 'Ka Nalu' which was what the Hima Nānā pod called this surface-skimming, and was now heading to Kuleana o Ka Liona, a popular lounge den, for a rest and maybe a soaked coconut or two. "Ali, dear, are you there?" The young Ka'īlio turned around, his pale tan and white coat gleaming in the sunlit water. Behind him was Eun, a blind Ka'īlio, who was a pod elder. She was particularly fond of Ali, and he had become like a grandson to her, as she had none herself. "Yes, I'm right in front of you," he said gently, coming closer so that Eun could smell him, for her sense of smell had dwindled as well. "Oh, mahalo ke kai!" She exclaimed, "I very much need your help with something, if you don't mind." "Of course, Makua." He responded politely. As a member of the pod, Ali was required to obey and respect his Elders, so he really could not 'mind.' Eun, however, wasn't as demanding or crabby as the other Elders, and preferred to give Ali a choice. "Oh, no need to call me that, you know I'm not one for the formalities. Now follow me, this is a bit urgent, you know." The blind Ka'īlio turned and swam away, beckoning for him to follow with his ears, and Ali followed suit; Eun was paticularly fast for her age. 'I guess the coconuts will have to wait,' he thought, though really he didn't mind. (That's all the story I can muster for now, though I'm starting to get a reeeaally attached to Ali, ha... I'll be happy to add more if you want, though!) ≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠-CREDITS-=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠ Music - No music ATM Background - I'm not sure, but I got it from here: Art & Writing - ≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠=≠