Name:
Bakari Gamal
Nickname:
None
Age:
25 years
Gender:
Male
Sexuality:
Straight
Role in Society:
Second in Command
Shifter or Human:
Shifter
What type of Shifter:
Prized, Golden Eagle
Personality:
Bakari is perhaps on the quieter side of things, he isn't as loud as some people are, and he won't chatter on and on to someone. While he will respond when asked a question by his leader or other people, he tends to have succinct manner of speaking, and he will not go on and on with his responses. That, compared to his more quiet nature, can make him appear to be unfriendly or even cold in some cases. However, just because he seems to be a way, does not mean that he actually is; and so this doesn't mean that he is uncaring or unfriendly, although he has had to harden his heart in regards to the first.
From the fact that he is the second in command to the head of the shifter trade, the very thing that works to enslave his own kind, one would assume that he hates other shifters. After all, he is a shifter himself, a prized one no less; and if he is outed, then he has no doubts that any allies he has made will turn as quick as a falcon diving for prey. But he really doesn't hate others of his kind, but the whole thing is a complicated matter; but he sees the profession as the safest thing for him, ironically. Because while it is dangerous for him to harbor this secret, other people will not look at him and even suspect that he is a shifter himself. With this in mind, it can be gathered that Bakari is someone who is very good at keeping secrets, keeping things private among other people; otherwise he would not have lasted this long. He knows better than pretty much anyone, what it is to live a life of deception and how to act; he lives a fragile life of lies and the slightest misstep will make everything come tumbling down.
He has not had the ideal life, and he has had to become more jaded in response to his line of work, it doesn't mean that he is cruel. He does not have to be unnecessarily unkind to the shifters that he hunts and captures, and while he does not dare help the shifters escape or run the risk of being a tad too nice to them, he tries to help in small ways. Perhaps in slipping a little more food while they're waiting for a buyer, or sneaking a little more water on particularly sweltering days. These may seem like small kindnesses, if one would even call them that, but he wouldn't be able to stop himself from doing it even if he wanted to. He knows those little things will never pardon him from the wrongs he has committed, for turning a blind eye to things and for enslaving his kind, but he still tries to help.
Bakari is an observant man, and not much gets by him without his notice. He is often on the look out for any threats or strange happenings, both on the ground and in the air. He knows better than to believe no one will decide to come after him some day, perhaps a relative of a shifter he captured or for some other reason, and even then, that is only a small part of the reason for keeping a keen eye and ear out for anything. Perhaps it is simply because he is vigilant by nature, maybe he would have been that way even as a human; or maybe it is a trait from his shifter side, the eagle.
He is a smart person most of the time, arguably joining up with the shifter trade people was not the cleverest choice to make as a shifter himself. But even that could be construed as a cunning decision as well, for not many would think of looking for shifters among those who capture and sell shifters. Either way, he is not a stupid man, that is for sure, even though he doesn't know how to get out of the web he has created.
Appearance:
(Credits to EdgedFeather on Deviantart)In terms of height, Bakari comes in at five feet, six inches (5"6) tall. Years of being exposed to the sun as a part of daily life has darkened fair skin to a darker tan. He has dark black hair and brown eyes that are so dark that they usually appear black as well, unless the sun is strong and slightly shining into his eyes, which reveal the brown hue. He is a man who has a more slender build, more built for speed and agility rather than strength; but he is not weak, and he has lithe muscling that is perhaps like that of a cat, sleeker and strong. His eyes are sharp, alert and watching for anything off, for threats or just watching for the sake of it; much like his animal form
His shifted form is one of the 'prized' ones, a golden eagle. As with most raptors such as the eagles, this form is majestic and powerful in appearance. The color carried upon the plumage is the typical dark brown as a base, with a pale gold on the back of the head and neck and gray on the inner wings and tail feathers; under the light of the sun, the gold tones are much more apparent on the body and wings. In the light his shifted form is less dark brown but more lighter colored with pale gold, especially on the top of the wings, which have a mixture of darker brown and the lighter yellowish tone on the feathers, creating an interesting effect.
His size as a golden eagle is not one to be underestimated, after all, normal eagles of the variety are exellent hunters and rank among the fastest birds of prey, and when turned against humans and even other animals, they can be formidable. His shifted form is about two and a half feet tall, from the top of his head to the toes, with a wingspan of six feet seven inches when fully spread, and weighing in at a good eight pounds. Of course, the long sharp beak and wickedly pointed talons can inflict quite a bit of damage close up. In other words, while not able to be quite as lethal as a wolf or dog or horse, his shifted form is not to be passed off as harmless.
(Credits to EdgedFeather on Deviantart)Hidden Talents:-
-Medicinal plants: his mother had taught him how to recognize plants that have a medicinal quality to them, and while a good many of them are not found naturally out in the area, the knowledge of this is a boon. This includes very dangerous plants, ones that can and will kill.
-As an eagle he has an innate sense for the direction he's going, such as in a dive, how close he is to the ground, in a way that is different from simply seeing and measuring if he needs to pull out of the dive.
Fears:-Being found out as a shifter: this is his main fear, and it is highly understandable considering everything.
-Falling to his death: it isn't really so much as the death part that scares him, but more so the falling; he likes the freedom that his shifted form brings, and the sky and heights. But he knows that if his wing were to be injured or give out due to injury while in the air, it would be a long fall. And something about that just spooks him.
-Being grounded: he has grown up with flight, by this time the sky is a part of him as if he were a true creature of the air. The thought of not being able to touch the sky again scares him.
Strengths:-Speed: he is very quick on his feet, and while more suited to sprints rather than a more endurance based chase, he is suited to feet and agility and uses his natural strength to his advantage.
-Flight: if he need to and is out of range of other hunters, he can shift into his other form and take to the skies, either for escape or to scout out things or to search for someone or something. Seeing as golden eagles are among the fastest birds in the world, he can travel quite far in a decent amount of time.
-Knives: especially in terms of throwing knives, he is quite adept with the blades in general. He does not care too much for the swords or scimitars or other related weapons, but he does like having something to defend himself. And he is pretty accurate when he has to throw a knife.
Weaknesses:
-Shifter: while there are aspects to being a shifter that are strengths, for him, it only weighs him down. The stress and wariness that come with being a hidden shifter in the shifter trade are heavy.
-Swimming: he hasn't learned how to swim before, and he doesn't really have a inclination to learn how to do so. The most he would be able to do is doggy paddle.
-Brute Strength: sure, he is strong for his appearance, but he is not the strongest person around. He can be overpowered quickly if confronted in a close combat type fight in someone in a line of work requiring strength or is naturally bigger and stronger than he
Anything else you want to share:
-
Relationship Status:
Single
Relations:
-His family: parents, two brothers, and his grandparents
Other:
"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." -Leonardo Da Vinci
Fall 
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