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XARAAN (pl. Xaraanis) - These tall birdlike reptiles are arguably one of the fastest land animals in Oba. Their speed comes from their long powerful legs and their horned hooked beaks are often used for fighting.
Difficulty || 13
Defense || 15
Intelligence || 18

Sanele sighed as she walked towards the training barn. Yet another day of trying to tame too wild of Xaraan. She knew she had to learn, but it would be so much easier if the stupid Juli actually gave advice instead of throwing her and Sabiyya in with no warnings or words of wisdom! The last time had ended up with her and Sabiyya not even able to approach.. not even with treats!

She was suspicious that those two Xaraan had been taken too young…. Their feet were far too large for their current size, which told her they were barely hitting their growths. Too young, frightened by the strange smells and people, and some how I’ve got to calm them down! Today she had a plan, do absolutely nothing! Just sit on one side, eating, and allow the creatures to get used to her… and then leave an item behind so they could smell it and come to realize she wasn’t a threat.

I doubt Juli will allow that though, she thought with a frown as she waited outside for her current teacher to arrive and begin the mornings evil work. But what else was she to do? That’s what they did with the young Xaraan that she helped raise… Let them get used to you first and then slowly approach, and eventually you teach them... usually by using the mother as an example. But a wild Xaraan was different, and Sanele was at a loss as where to start. She waved at her friend as Sabiyya approached.
“You look about the same as I feel.” She said with a half smile.

“It sucks! What we learned for the captivity born Xaraan just doesn’t work with these!” Sabiyya said with an exasperated sigh. Sanele nodded and heard the sound of the doors opening. She looked over to see a smirking Juli standing the doorway.

“You gonna teach us? Or are we gonna scare the poor things more today?” She asked.

“Aww… are you scared of the little Xaraan?” He mocked her back.

“No… just unwilling to risk injury trying techniques that obviously won’t work on the wild ones…. Trial and error is fine for some things… but not for taming.” She retorted, eyes hard. “All I’ll do is hurt them, ruin any chance of them actually being trained, or get myself hurt… none of which I want. So you actually going to try and teach today?” Sanele hated hurting the Xaraan…. They had feelings and, while not as intelligent as an earthling, did have a brain…. All she would end up doing is ruining any chance of working with the newly caught ones if she had to stumble about on her own.

“Don’t you sass me girl! Just because you’re Lan’s niece—”
“Means nothing. I can get fired like any other worker here. Ruining those Xaraan just so you can have a laugh at me is not what I’m here for. Teach me or don’t.. but don’t insist that I harm Xaraan or myself just for your amusement.”

Sabiyya didn’t support or deny either of them; she didn’t want to lose her job and wasn’t as aggressive as Sanele in someways.

“I am here to learn… not scare Xaraan.” Sanele ended her argument. “If you don’t want to teach I will return to my other duties and go outside the farm to learn what you won’t teach. Stop wasting my time, your time, and the Xaraan.”

She wanted to insult him more... but that would be going over the line and would get her fired... instead she settled for more civilized words.


“I don’t take sass from kids who don’t know how to do their jobs.” He growled, a thundercloud gathering about his eyes; “Get out of here!”

“Fine by me.” Sanele said as she turned and left. “At least this way I won't learn bad habits... like breaking Xaraan." She hated that word.. that phrase... The idea that you had to break something or someone to get them to learn.