Kikivuli is who I view my anthropomorphic self to be - when I think of who or what I would be if I was in animal/human hybrid form. I look at Kikivuli as my alter ego and as an extension of myself.

Kikivuli is a female anthro striped hyena. The fur on striped hyenas tend to vary a bit from silver with black markings to tan with brown markings, similar to the fur of spotted hyenas (although they are predominantly in the silver/black region). Kikivuli's fur is more of a rich honey tone with dark mahogany markings. There are two major deviations from typical species coloring on Kikivuli. The first is that she has intensely green eyes. The second is that she has sigils/glyphs all along her right-hand side that extend from shoulder to ankle.

She is a very competent fighter and has magic of a druidic nature. Kikivuli is curvy but athletic and she carries a primitive fighting staff and ceremonial dagger. She is tribal and primitive, and prefers the quiet of nature and the freedom from any civilized areas. Her favorite types of terrain are the slightly cooler and misty environment of a dense and wild-grown forest; and the dry and clear open sky of the desert where the stars are bright when the sun falls and seem to go on forever. She loves the sounds of wind, water, and a nice campfire crackle; and the chirrups of small critters and insects in the still of the night.

Kikivuli's sigils are cobalt blue and have been created to act as a focus and aid to her magic. Her glyphs, while along her right side, round over a little to her posterior and anterior and one glyph in particular reaches out to curve along and caress her right breast. Her sigils are rather Rorchach-like in the sense that they are not anchored or inert - the design changes and morphs depending upon her mood and her need. Thusly, any depictions of Kikivuli might have her represented with different sigils at different times. The shifting glyphs tickle and vibrate a bit but Kikivuli has become used to the sensation and can ignore it. The intensity of the color in her symbols will also glow or fade as her magic is being used. Her sigils are actually etched into her skin, like tattoos, however, the color and glow bleeds into her fur so that her fur appears dyed.

Kikivuli loves to travel and explore and she has a habit of collecting trinkets and mementos on her travels. Most of these she makes into jewelry and adornments and adds them to her accoutrements. She is rarely seen without at least three blue cobalt feathers stuck in her mane or braids. Her mane is that of a striped hyena, pluming out as if static electricity has taken hold, when she is agitated or enraged. Her mane is long and fluffy and puffs up from her head and then extends all the way down her back, stopping just short of her tail. She loves braiding bits of it and adding feathers, beads, and/or shells. Her view on adornments is the more, the better. She wears earrings, bracelets, arm bands, anklets, necklaces, waist and hair jewelry, and even adorns her tail and staff. She makes sure to always carry a pouch or two around for her collections. She really likes things that jingle, jangle, ring, and click, but does realize that sometimes in the wild, quiet is better so she can silence these noises when the need arises. Kikivuli doesn't have much in the way of modesty when alone or secluded with her mate(s) but she does wear a halter and long loincloth when she does come into contact with other anthros or humans because of their prudish sensitivities.

Kikivuli has a fierce and guarding nature. She is very protective of her loved ones and mates and takes extreme exception to safeguard and defend against any perceived threat or attack. Although savage, she is very nurturing and loving to those she cares for and cherishes. Kikivuli is very cautious when it comes to strangers and realizes that she might appear to be brusque as she's not particularly diplomatic or well-versed with the concept of societal etiquette. She's a very honest and candid soul and if others can see through her diffident exterior, they usually wind up to be true and loyal friends.

For relaxation and entertainment, Kikivuli plays a djembe - a skin-covered drum she plays with her bare paws. A djembe is usually played while resting either on the drummer's thigh or resting on the ground. Kikivuli's drum is decorated with a number of feathers that she has collected. Her drum was a gift bestowed upon her by her tribe's members as a means to summon her tribe together for gatherings. Kikivuli drums to accompany Utunu while he's playing his flute - enjoying Utunu's musical story-telling while basking in his adoration.

Kikivuli has met her match and found a soulmate in Utunu, an African wild dog. This joining has brought a unity to Kikivuli's and Utunu's tribes and although they prefer the company of each other these days, on occasion their hyena/wild dog alliance convenes for special occasions and times of crises. Kikivuli is also a rather sensual creature and believes there is immeasurable value in the gift of comfort and pleasure between good friends. Kikivuli has a number of other very dear and intimate mates to her heart and prefers the companionship of males.

'Kikivuli' means 'little shadow' in Swahili. The name came to me because as I created my character, that was an aspect that I was doing some personal work on at the time. Shadows being a term for aspects that we might not necessarily like about ourselves or try to hide but should recognize and accept because it allows us to be more compassionate and more understanding with ourselves and with others; and allows us to embrace our weaknesses and turn them into strengths.

Kikivuli's thumbnail is by Dark Ice Wolf.

Kikivuli's reference picture is by Eskiworks.