[mlkfaa] - GeminiGemelo's Album -> Ulaghai.png

[Gemini]

This is a character featured in my most popular fanfiction story, Trampled. I decided to make a drawing of him, as, to my knowledge, there are no African Wild Dogs seen anywhere in TLK (unless there are some in the presentation scenes or in one of the musical numbers, in which case I missed them xD). Since they seem to be relatively neglected in terms of fan characters, also, it seems only fair that I draw a dog TLK-style.

I drew this with GIMP. If you have any tips on how I can improve, or if you know how to use this program better than I do, please feel free to leave a note! All comments are welcome. <3

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His tail swished and he turned around; he turned around to ignore the barks and yips and angry cackles of the hyenas that echoed across the lake and were aimed at his back. His shaggy fur ruffled in the wind - his paws trudged through the moist mud that was quickly drying into rock-hard, dry patches under the sun. He looked indifferent. Careless.

On his face, however, was plastered the most malignant grin. The hyenas couldn't last much longer: it was either them or the dogs who would have to go. He couldn't let it be the former. And spirits curse him if he couldn't help his own people.

It was every animal for himself out here. He walked towards the still, crumpled body of the calf, still warm with the residuals of his body heat and not yet cold in death. Two dogs flanked their elder, looking around hungrily. As their leader, Ulaghai had made it clear that he was to eat their prey first. The rest would have to fight over the scraps later.

Quickly and instinctually he cut it along its midline with a claw, thrusting his nose into its belly with no further notice. There was a crunch, a smack - and when he withdrew his muzzle, it was soaked in blood. It reflected darkly on the corners of his lips when he smiled, revealing an array of grisly crimson teeth.

His packmates were greedy, and desperate. And who could blame them? Several stood closely, wide-eyed, staring listlessly at the meat as he snacked on it. They knew better than to crowd him in such anticipation, but today he didn't seem to notice. His mind was preoccupied elsewhere, on other things - dastardly, underhanded things.

"I 'ave a plan," he declared surreptitiously to no one in particular. "And 's long as my name be Ulaghai, those brutes'll do right t' remember it. Mark my words."

Several of the dogs pricked their ears in interest, still gazing at him and the meat almost unanimously. Their focus was entirely on him. Ulaghai bent down for another morsel of tender flesh off the carcass.

"W-what're we gonna do, then?"

One of them stammered quietly - a brave response for a gathering so suddenly timid. Ulaghai would have laughed, had he been able to. He swallowed quickly.

"What am I gonna do?" He repeated. "What am I gonna do?"

The dogs backed up, mistaking his excitement for anger. Several tucked their tails between their legs, and the one who spoke whined weakly in submission. None of them wanted him to berate them - and none wanted punishment. They were lucky that he was in high spirits, for in the end neither came.

"I'm gonna shake this kingdom to its core, and so help me if I'm through wit' it and they don't exile the hyenas for a thousan' years." He crouched down, his claws and teeth shown openly, his red irises glinting amongst spatters of blood with a latent ferocity. No, not just ferocity - hatred.

"Follow me, chaps. We're going t' make this our land."

They knew better than to mistake that grin. Malice shone in his eyes, a reflection of his soul. He would give them all something to remember.

And remember they would.

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