Zephyra Tsurugi

(2011 - 2017; high school. 2023 - present; college)

Zephyra Tsurugi is a protector and main swordfighter of the Etheridge Collective. She is an Etheridgeon Blue Macaw with a decade of verbal and sword combat experience, paired together with an old partner named Lumi during her first year serving the Kingdom of Etheridge.

### Backstory

Zephyra Tsurugi hatched from an egg in an abandoned treehouse in Breezewood, a northern mountain town just south of Arcturus. While it was sunnier and received much less snow during the year, the mountains and close proximity to the cold regions kept the climate well below 50 degrees Fahrenheit year round. What she lacked in blood relatives, she made up in close friends who were also Etheridgeon Avians with the uncanny ability to shift into automotive forms of their own, yet lacking in Badges and magic seen in other automotive inhabitants.

She lived a double life between her home world and Earth for roughly ten years before becoming part of the EC; she went to school, attained a driver's license, and had to learn to live in a world of humans on her own while also keeping up with her partner, Lumi, who preferred to stay in their home world the most.

She eventually joined the EC when her eyes were opened to the cruel nature of the kingdom she blindly served after getting the news that her partner was imprisoned for overstaying their welcome as an adviser. She rescued Kodachi from the same fate after her brother retrieved her from Breezewood, and led most of the missions with Kodachi as her new partner. Today, she functions as a protector of her friends and has reestablished a friendship and partnership with a now freed Lumi, and what she lacked in blood relatives, she still makes up for with a tight knit group.

### Personality

Snarky, somewhat pessimistic, and quick to unsheath her sword, she's a four foot tall firecracker in avian form who is opinionated and isn't afraid to speak her mind. While years of life experience has softened her significantly, she hasn't lost her signature glare when someone crosses a boundary or two, but has since learned to be more diplomatic about confronting most conflicts. Underneath her hard exterior is a soft interior with a lot of love to give, as such, she's often put in charge of watching over Arashi and looking out for the best interests of her friends, even if old habits come back in the form of verbal confrontation.

In stark contrast to the Tsurugi triplets, she dislikes loud banter and often steps in when she believes they become overwhelming for everyone else, and prefers quiet spaces as loud sounds cause her a great deal of distress. Zephyra's birth comes after the fall of Graelenncia, becoming part of a kingdom that was rife with generational trauma, fueling her rage-fueled and hypervigilant personality. Since becoming part of the EC, she's mellowed except for when she needs to protect her friends, putting her defensive anger to appropriate use.. most of the time.

### Abilities

* Advanced Swordfighter - over a decade of experience with swordfighting to protect those closest to her has given the opportunity for her to come up with swordfighting techniques, such as spinning on her back while using her talons to hold her weaponry like a breakdancing warrior, or divebombing her enemies from the trees only using body slams when she needs to be nonlethal.
* Avian Physiology - Flies, climb trees with her talons, follows an avian diet, enhanced reflexes, and enhanced endurance
* Agility - While not faster than Kodachi's 7th Dimensional Phase Jump ability nor Talia's super speed, she's fast enough to confuse her opponents and take them down with minimal risk to herself.

### Interests

* Racing; she had an old dream to become a race car driver; although she's largely given up on it, you can count on her to drive a car like a race car
* Traveling
* Sword fighting
* Protecting her friends
* Rock music

### Trivia

* She is one of two members without magic or magically enhanced weaponry, the other being Lumi
* Zephyra gets her surname from becoming an honorary family member of the Tsurugi family earned through her contributions and friendship
* She adopted three half human, half avian children; Celeste, Hyacinth, and Nenon, all of which whom were lost in the struggle against Talia's old friend.
* Due to her experience in sword fighting, she has stronger and slightly bigger muscles in her wings. While she is a strong flyer, the extra, and yet subtle, muscular density makes it hard for her to fly for extended periods.