The Kaindra appear to be human-like with the exception of large non-feathered, bat-like wings that protrude from their backs. The protrusion area us often between the area where the shoulder blades are for the arms. The upper half of their rib cage is sheet of bone rather than human ribs. The wing arm sits in a rounded socket allowing a wide range of movement. The less depth the socket has the greater the chance the Kaindra can develop the strength to lift up from the ground. The wings start of small and close to the body at birth and grow large enough to wrap around the shoulders and body like a cape as an adult. Very few Kaindra ever develop the strength however to lift themselves from the ground in a standing position. Some can run and leap into the air allowing their wings to catch the air and lift them. Most need to climb a taller structure and then leap from there to glide on the air.
They are amazingly light weighted but not fragile. Their skin has a unique elasticity that prevents puncture and less sensitivity to temperature. Internally, they have a higher temperature than most humans do to keep them warm in the higher altitudes of flight. The skin on their wings also acts like a heat gathering source from sunlight. The skin on their wings tends to be black, gray, or dark brown. Occasionally there have been white winged Kaindra called Fom Lomin ("Night Flyer"). Fom Lomin have a nocturnal disposition where as most Kaindra are very active during daylight hours.
The Kaindra do not openly discuss their origin. They do teach it to their offspring and occasionally outsiders on holy days. Records of the Tedani that would verify this origin are not known to exist.
During the N'a Tuku ("First Morning" or beginning years of the Tedani) the Jenos ("Life Maker") saw that despite the wisdom given to the first 5 Faisi (see Tedani) the general populace needed additional guidance. There had been wars on how the varoius groups should live and eventually killing was introduced into the world (see Cha Ti). These wars continued with intermittent times of peace. During one of these wars, a collective vision given to the leaders of each of the N'el Majini ("5 Families", see Tedani) of the time they were given instructions to choose and send 2 children, a boy and girl from two of the Majini leaders' families, to the highest mountain as a sacrifice. The Majini leaders were to meet to discuss how they should move forward.
The Roksha, having recently suffered from a plague, refused and never came to the meeting. The Rian leader died by an accident on the way to the gathering. The Jo were delayed by severe weather. The day before the meeting only the Cymeri and Narah leaders, Nicles and Rah Gearon, had shown up. Nicles, the Cymeri leader, wanted to wait for the others to come to the meeting with the intention on fairness and following the exact words from the vision. The child of the Rah Gearon, Drah Gearon, spoke up and reminded them that the sacrifice required only two to go and that he had faith that the Jenos would direct them on what to do on the morrow. After the others that traveled with the leaders went to bed, the Cymeri and Narah leaders went in opposite directions to the surrounding wilderness to seek answers on how to make this choice. Each heard a voice that gave them directions on the ritual to perform but told them both that the sacrifice must be made on the following day and it must be a willing sacrifice of their own decision. Each leader stayed in the wilderness pondering on how to make this decision.
It was morning when both leaders returned and each family waited to hear them. Rah Gearon spoke first beginning to explain the ritual to be performed. Each child was to be made a new set of clothes. Loose fitting pants and a shirt that had the back exposed. On the back of each child the father and mother would place handprints with palms to the spine and fingers to the arms. The mother of the child would place hers first and the father's on top of the mother's. They were allowed no other clothing, food or belongings with them. When the children made it to a spot to be shown only them and the sacrifice excepted there would be a sign given to the families after their return to their people. He then offered his only son as the sacrifice. Nicles confirmed he heard the same words as Rah Gearon and that his daughter, Nire, would go. The families prepared and sent their children up the mountain by midday and left the following morning. After that day Nicles and Rah Gearon communicated frequently with each other and the other Majini leaders.
Almost 5 years had passed after the sacrifice was made when the same event happened to the Narah and Cyme separately. In the sky as the sun came up something in the distance approached the separate Cymeri and Narah main settlements from the sky. At first, the people were frightened but Nicles and Rah Gearon spoke happily to their peoples because they knew in their hearts that this was the sign that would be given them. As the mass in the sky approached it could be seen that it was a group of winged peoples. Some circled above while others glided to the ground. A leader from each group approached the leader of Cyme and Narah. To the Cyme the main winged person was the young woman and to the Narah a young man. The leaders of the Cyme and Narah immediately recognized them. It was their children, Drah Gearon and Nire.
They told their families about the trek up the mountain where they met the Jenos and how he taught them and provided for them. They told them that when they were given a great knowledge and a great task to guide and protect all the life of Tedas. In order to do that their bodies would be changed to enable them to watch over the world. The Jenos placed his hands on the marks on their backs and they slumbered. When they awoke they had great wings. They were also not alone. While they slumbered the Jenos pricked each of their fingers and from the drops of blood he created this new people. The Jenos met with them one last time and ask them what to name the new people of Tedas. Drah and Nire both agreed the people should be called the Kaindra, meaning guiding people.
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