Phetaka

:"Barely a scratch?! Ryder, what do you feed that thing?!" - Agent ? observing Phetaka absorbing a blast.
Phetaka is a creation of Moreau Ryder and charge of Tahcawin Ryder. The most heavily defensive of Ryder's charges, she is shy and reserved but capable of taking massive hits.
==Biology and Appearance==
A mixture of lizard, pangolin, armadillo and kangaroo, Phetaka is a reddish-brown bipedal creature partially covered in thick, ruddy scales. Her back is lined with heavy armoured plates. She has four arms with broad hands and sharp silver claws. Her back plates and forehead boast sharp spikes, and she has long, pointed ears.
A belt attaches around her waist and can be affixed with body harnesses for her 'rider', who is guarded by two hands while stationed at Phetaka's midriff. She is roughly thirteen feet tall and extremely heavy, with a line of scratches at her belly from a provoked fight between her and another of Ryder's creations.
==Behaviour and Abilities==
Anxious in temperament, Phetaka is wary of most humanoids and very shy. She is warm towards Ryder but not affectionate. Despite being very reserved, she will put herself between injured creatures and danger. She does not play or seek intense enrichment like the other Ryderidae, preferring to quietly explore or perform small tasks on her own. Of the five other charges, she mixes best with Akayake, with the others being a little too intense most times.
Although Phetaka's main ability is her natural armour plating, she has a unique skill known as kineconversion that allows her to absorb blasts and convert them into energy for herself; by locking her armour plating, any explosive blows to her back turn into vicious swipes and swings in return. Overall, she prioritises defense over offense, and is useful to Ryder when navigating literal minefields or places riddled with gunfire.
==History==
Phetaka was Moreau Ryder's second-to-last creation, and was half-formed when he was arrested. Because of this, she did not do much fighting when the other charges were struggling not to be captured by government agencies, instead trailing behind until the team reached the sanctuary of the UNWD's base. When situated in the habitat cavern, she bunkered down behind super-heated machinery to rest while the various habitats were being finished, and grew to her full size over the course of a few months.
Currently, she is aiding UNWD agents in navigating dangerous post-Zopran invasion areas, defending from still-active units or explosives. Due to high demand, she is not currently under the handling of Ryder, but is begrudgingly following the orders of other agents.
==Trivia==
* Her name comes from the Lakota words 'pheta', meaning fire, and 'wahacaka', meaning shield.
Category:Ryderidae
Category:Monsters