Akayake

:"Now now, princess. Akayake would nary hurt a fly, and she's cleaner than most horses, y'hear?” - Ryder chiding an apprehensive Cassandra Cobra on Akayake's ridability.
Akayake is a genetic anomaly created by Moreau Ryder, currently being taken care of by his daughter and UNWD agent Tahcawin Ryder. She is one of the six main creatures Agent Ryder uses for transport.
==Biology and Appearance==
Four feet high and 24 feet long, Akayake has a long fuzzy body with ten legs and pink broad paws for digging. She also has a number of parapodal claws along her body, assisting in moving quickly through the earth. Her back is covered in dark natural plating, each plate with a pink circle marking it.
She has a round head with large mandible-like tusks, smaller lower tusks and small fangs. Though she has no eyes, she can navigate clearly with her many fine whiskers and large star-shaped nose.
She can raise her back plating to form air pockets when travelling underground for her riders, but safety goggles and/or helmets are still recommended.
==Behaviour and Abilities==
The Akayake's temperament is similar to that of a domesticated dog, being eager to please and somewhat shy. She tends to hide underground when threatened and, when not on duty, enjoys tunnelling for hidden gifts buried around her large enclosure. As with all of Ryder's steeds, she is extremely loyal to her handler.
Her advantage as a steed is her remarkable ability to tunnel, climb and navigate in low visibility. With her huge paws, she can dig quickly through dirt, snow or sand, as well as scaling steep surfaces like cliff faces. She can also navigate without the use of sight, making her a good choice for traversing snowstorms, sandstorms or darkness.
==History==
Genetically engineered by the mad Moreau Ryder, she was one of the first created and first abandoned for new projects. As a result, she can be somewhat clingy and needs lots of attention from a handler or keeper to avoid becoming restless and depressed. She is also the creature that Ryder first bonded with, and the one that Ryder escaped on, escaping the desert underground while other creatures flew or ran until they could rendezvous miles away.
==Trivia==
* Her name comes from the Lakota word Akayake, meaning Ride.
Category:Monsters
Category:Ryderidae