Tracker Dogs

[Catsplat18]

I want to claim a Tracker Dog!
Username: Catsplat18
Tracker ID: #049
Dog's name: Ebateli
Who/what do they protect?

Specially created and trained to focus its hostility only on human-made threats, Ebateli (meaning "protector" in Lingala) currently works in Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of Congo.

While the park has several livestock guardian dogs, they do little to deter poachers. They are prone to making mistakes and sometimes act aggressively to the gorillas they are meant to protect. Worse, the poachers have no qualms shooting them on sight, or sending their own dogs after them. After demands from the local and international community to better protect its wildlife, the Congolese government partnered with an NGO to test the application of Tracker Dogs in environments very different from what they are used to at the Facility. While Tracker Dogs have been used in wilderness environments countless times, this is the first one to be tasked with protecting an entire national park. Ebateli was chosen for their remarkable empathy and intuition. They are able to tell the difference between park rangers, friendly soldiers, scientists, researchers, and tourists from criminal poachers, loggers, miners, and other dangers. The park is a refuge to very endangered animals like western lowland gorillas, bongos, and forest elephants, and it is absolutely vital that a tracker dog would get along with them. Ebateli is up to the task. They are even seen as the alpha by the park’s resident LGDs, and leads the group just like their own handlers lead them. This was an unexpected but welcome surprise.

Their coloring helps them blend in with the underbrush, and their fur is thick and coarse only in the areas that need the most protection from thorns or insects. Their extraordinary hearing, sense of smell, and echolocation allow them to navigate the many different terrains and habitats that the park encompasses, and hone in on their task without being distracted. Their sense of smell also allows them to detect Ebola-stricken gorillas long before researchers would be able to (a 2005 outbreak decimated the park’s population by 70-95%, and it has slowly been recovering), allowing for faster medical care and isolation of infected individuals. Although one would assume their large size is a disadvantage for moving around in the jungle, even larger animals such as forest elephants create natural pathways for other creatures to use; Ebateli patrols these with vigor. Additionally, their size allows them to encourage other animals to move to different areas, a type of herding ability that was trained into them at the Tracker Dog Facility. Their prehensile tongue also allows them to manipulate their environment in a way most animals cannot (including picking up trash and freeing animals from hunters’ traps), and they are often seen tongue-in-trunk with baby elephants, mimicking their behavior to provide comfort, especially to the orphans. Do not be fooled by this kindness, however — when faced with a threat, Ebateli will stop at nothing to eliminate it. Their teeth, size, and raw power is a terrifying sight to behold, but if you’re the one witnessing it, you’ve certainly done something atrocious and you deserve what you get. (Ebateli will first attempt to subdue an offender and bring them over to the nearest park ranger [another example of the herding training put to good use], but in life-or-death situations [including the potential death of an endangered animal], the Tracker Dog will not hesitate to use lethal force, though always with a warning growl and spine rattle.)

The success of Ebateli has inspired other countries to purchase Tracker Dogs to patrol their most treasured wilderness preserves, especially in remote areas.

[shenza]

I want to claim a Tracker Dog!
Username: shenza
Tracker ID: #50
Dog's name: Kyrk
Who/what do they protect? They were once the loyal protector of a wealthy family, but now stands guard over their graves

[Elri]

I want to claim a Tracker Dog!
Username: Elri
Tracker ID: #48
Dog's name: Lanius
Who do they protect?

Nefari, a young woman once on the street and homeless, with Lanius's help has scraped and fought to be a well-known bounty and treasure hunter. Known for getting herself into trouble, Lanius' brain began to keep time with his feet, doing his best to keep her alive and (mostly) whole. She hasn't made it easy though, causing the once quiet and loyal dog to find his voice and his spine more than most. He can often be heard snarling at his charge, even standing in front of her and barring her way if he thinks something that she's doing is particularly risky, causing others to think he may be defective. Nefari however, will dip down to him and argue in hushed tones with the dog who likely doesn't understand half of what she's saying.

[Fleatah]

I want to claim a Tracker Dog!
Username: FleaTea
Tracker ID: 47
Dog's name: Vey
Who do they protect?
Vey protects his owner!
Beas is Vey's owner. She is a pretty weird person, but in a good way! She takes pictures of herself posing with creepy makeup and fake blood for a hobby. Beas collects old 'princess' dresses and strange stickers and enamel pins. When she's out in public, she dresses a bit differently than the others. From long dresses to full on soldier outfit, Beas will go about. A lot of people find her peculiar, or even creepy, but she's a really interesting person. Sometimes she includes her Dog in pictures, as she finds his appearence fitting to her personality. Once a day, Beas takes Vey for a walk or drops him off at the training facility, where he gets in some exercise and learn to guard his owner. Beas and Vey have a really strong bond, to say the least!

[Fleatah]

The batch is so beautiful oh my gosh ^^ Had a diffecult time deciding x)

[a_dreemurr]

I want to claim a Tracker Dog!
Username: a_dreemurr
Tracker ID: #049
Dog's name: Flourite (Flo)
Who/what do they protect?

Flo is the guardian and loving shepherd of Viridian Acres, a sanctuary for all animals, though clearly whoever is in charge has a strong love for rescuing tracker dogs. Several various sort of livestock make up the bulk of the population, but there can also be found more wild and seemingly out of place animals such as those rescued from circuses, failing zoos, and illegal exotic owners, brought from all over for rehabilitation or a permanent home. It maintains the peaceful nature of the sanctuary, providing the direct communication with other animals its human owner cannot. Being one of the only trackers that actually "works" at the sanctuary makes it seem like the de facto leader of the group to those on the outside, but Flo sees the other trackers (and everything else on the sanctuary really) as its equal friends and family, always checking up on them and making sure that everyone else eats their fill before joining in. It's also incredibly popular as "the pointy doggy" to any children that pass through the sanctuary to learn about the animals, trotting along behind touring groups and making sure no stragglers get lost.

Despite being one of the gentlest giants to ever be, Flo will not hesitate to threaten or attack those that try to bring harm to its sanctuary. It's attitude can turn on a dime if it feels any threat, baring its teeth, snarling, and rattling their spines. Very rarely had Flo ever had to actually attack after this display, but in those circumstance it was a very fast victor due to its ferocity and size.

Flo's favorite activity when not actively being a guardian is flopping on its side and getting brushed and pat, followed closely by simply playing! It loves to run, chase, and be chased, and always wants to cuddle afterwards. You can find it post-play napping with any sort of baby animal clamoring over it and nestling into its fur, it seems to be the top preference of baby chicks and kittens.

[rentropy]

I want to claim a Tracker Dog!
Username: rentropy
Tracker ID: #046
Dog's name: Kishin

Kishin (鬼神, pronounced kee-sheen) surveys the ley lines (corpse roads) that connect to their home. About 5 times a year, Kishin and their master must venture out of their home to places where the ley lines have become fragile. During these times, Kishin stands guard as their master performs rituals to heal the ley lines and restore their power. Kishin defends both the ley lines and their master from evils that seek to use this weakness as a means to attack the ley lines and break into the mortal realm. Kishin was named for the eye-like shapes that mark their pelt, reminding their master of the all-seeing eyes of the wrathful spirits from his home.

One by one, pairs of feet passed by the lone creature standing guard at the stone gate. They stared ahead, unseeing as they walked. One by one, they were asked a question, and one by one, they answered.

What’s your name? Said the man who accompanied the creature here tonight.

And they would answer, and then step past the gate, past the creature, and vanish into the unknown.

Once a year, every year, Kishin stood guard at this very stone gate as their master asked the name of every soul who passed, writing them down dutifully in a notebook.

Once a year, every year, on Saint Mark’s Eve, the souls of all those who would come to pass in the next year walked on the corpse road closest to their place of death, and every year, Master asked them all their names. Kishin stood guard in silence as the souls they could barely sense passed in front of them, waiting for the day one would try to turn around.

That was the job in short, anyway. Kishin was commanded to protect the ley lines, the corpse roads, and on this day the biggest threat was the souls passing over them.

So Kishin stood, and Kishin waited, front feet touching the invisible line of energy that coursed through the ground beneath their feet. The ley line surged through them, allowing them to sense the enormity of it, allowing them to protect it.

More names were rattled off, and slowly the sun began to rise, lighting the dark sky. The last spirits passed by the barrier as Master hurriedly scribbled the names onto the last of his notebook paper. There was a sigh of relief from Master when the sun finally broke the horizon. Every year, this night felt longer and longer, it seemed to stretch so that it always allowed the souls enough time to share their names and pass, no matter how many there were.

As the sun rose, duty was concluded, and Kishin stretched their legs in a downward bow. Master turned to them and spoke, smile evident in his tone of voice. “Another St. Mark’s on the books,” he said, closing the book with a thump. “Happy death day, oh, patron saint of… Egypt? I think?” He shrugged to himself, it wasn’t as if Kishin had eyes to witness it. “Whatever, with all the souls, you’d think he was the patron saint of death. But that’s Michael, I think. Really pulling out my Catholic school knowledge, here,” he chuckled to himself. Master always spoke to Kishin as if they could communicate, maybe Master felt they could. Kishin always humored him, keeping their attention focused towards Master as he spoke, interacting when they felt like it.

Master went silent for a while after that, turning to watch the sun rise properly above the sea. He reached over to scratch Kishin between the ears, and they turned to look at him in turn. “It’s time to go, buddy. Occultum Silvam won’t wait for long.”

Kishin waited, still facing Master. They waited until Master sighed and started away from them. It was then that they padded forward until walking in time with Master, their shoulder at his hip. Master patted the side of their neck in a few firm thumps before leaving his hand to rest there. “Into the forest I go,” he murmured, talking solely to himself now, but Kishin still listened, “to lose my mind…”

He trailed off as they walked further down the ley line, down the corpse road. Occultum Silvam called to them both, impatient. Their return was overdue. Master always seemed so reluctant to return after their ventures up the lines, something Kishin never understood. Perhaps Master was unhappy in Occultum Silvam. After all, they were confined there for the better part of the year, only leaving for special days when the ley lines were threatened at places outside their home. Kishin didn’t mind, as long as they were with Master. Though their duty was to the ley lines, they thought that if Master left, they would follow him anywhere. In fact, they were sure of it.

[werepickle]

I want to claim a Tracker Dog!
Username: werepickle
Tracker ID: 047
Dog's name: Tutelary
Who/what do they protect?
here

[Pandora!]

I want to claim a Tracker Dog!
Username: Pandora!
Tracker ID: #050
Dog's name: Striga
Who/what do they protect?

Striga is guard dog at a history museum. Despite her fearsome, macabre appearance she is an absolute hit with the families and particularly the children that visit the museum. She is always eager to watch the children ooh and ahh at the enormous dinosaur skeletons or the gilded tombs of pharaohs. One glance at Striga lurking in the shadows in the dark of the night would send any potential intruder screaming and running for their life. Being a museum guard dog may seem very run of the mill, but that is exactly what the museum curators would like the general public to think because Striga's job of keeping people out is only the tip of the iceberg.

This was not any regular natural history museum after all. In fact, unbeknownst to the public, this museum secretly functions as the world's foremost supernatural history museum. Tucked away in the many, many underground floors inaccessible to the regular patron are housed some of the most haunted, hexed, and cursed objects that the world has ever known. Objects such as the Hope Diamond, Annabelle the Doll, the sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun, and the Dybbuk Box among other horrifying artifacts are kept under strict lock and key. Objects from throughout time that have brought great death and disease to humanity are quarantined in this secret section of the museum. During the day Striga is mainly concerned with keeping people out, but once the dark of the night falls Striga is more occupied by her job of keeping restless entities in...

[Aizaka]

I want to claim a Tracker Dog!
Username: Aizaka
Tracker ID: 46
Dog's name: Rufio
Who/what do they protect?
He protects his chosen family and the place he calls home. He has a big brother he looks up to, but hasn't seen in a long time.