Yai, son of Xaasa

(LP2.3) Name means: "A focused leader" named by Quohau'ru (older sister)

Plans for him: Explain the dreamland and how he gets stronger in his sleep (wolf version of cocker rage syndrome?), develop his queer-platonic relationship with Fhua, write his breakdown after Eyarq gets a radio collar only to be shot by poachers (who comforts him?)

Year of birth: (Shortly after his birth, Xaasa was taken ill, and he is now being raised by Quo'hauru and her mate.) A reserved puppy, not often found playing. He appears outwardly confident, and is content to do his own thing. Yai seems to crave the praise of adults in the pack, desperately trying to avoid looking 'puppish' in front of anyone. When alone he practices hard to take down prey, and terrorizes other species' young by challenging them to mock battles.

Year Three/Four: Yai was raised by his older siblings after his mother was left brain-damaged by the high fever. He feels immense pressure to be a perfect and impartial leader, putting on a reserved yet dedicated attitude towards his family and packmates. Ourkan sees through this, but he considers his father to be old and boring, underestimating his intelligence.

Coal Valley's young leader is unsure about his position, only having been placed in the role of leader by virtue of an informal test of strength held on the day of his mother's death. Since he had never been close to his mother, he could not understand how much his family were grieving at the time, and still doesn't realise how that may have given him the upper hand during fights.

Yai is often plagued by bad dreams and bouts of intense paranoia, certain his siblings only pretended to be beaten, or that he isn't his parents son, and that at any moment the pack will see through his façade and realise he isn't the rightful leader. He deals with this alone by leaving for days at a time, not wanting to burden his family.

Yai's "Mate" is Fhua, a wolf of approx. the same age, who's mother he impressed whilst out roaming. He has no idea how to woo her, only knowing that falling in love is something all young wolves are supposed to do, and that having a mate helps the pack survive... somehow.

Year 5/6:
- Yai starts to settle down, no longer looking for fights to test his strength after years of battles and the scars to show for them. He is proud of his strength, but knows his limits.
- Towards the end of Year 5 he stops fishing, actually spending time with his packmates. He finds a few new faces amongst his family, and realises he hasn't been a true leader, just like he feared.
- After spending more time at home he finds that Fhua has bonded with a new packmate, J'Laeni, mate of his grand-nephew. She no longer wants to leave, but relishes the freedom in her role as scout.
- Yai apologises to Fhua for his ignorance early into Year 5, but starts really spending time with her in Year 6. They agree to have pups, but Fhua doesn't bond with them, and Yai struggles to overcome that. She tells him she feels powerless, as if she cannot truly teach them to be ideal packmates when she herself never really felt loved. Yai responds with a surprising amount of sympathy, and they agree to let the pups be adopted into other packs.
(Time skip in which they Fhua agrees to have two litters who will be raised by other members of the pack but still be eligible as heirs, as a compromise between her love of her family and friends vs her emotional difficulties)
In year 9 Yai, whilst on a routine check of their desert home, comes across a seemingly weak old stag. Thinking to take it down and present it as a gift for his mate, he launches an attack.
All it takes is one lucky blow from the hooves of a desperate animal and half his world goes red, and then black. A surge of adrenaline allows him to drag his prey down, but once the animal is dead, pain overwhelms him.
Yai manages, through sheer determination, to drag the carcass home, but once at the den he calls out before finally collapsing.

After his recovery Yai no longer fights strong looking opponents (none over level 15) and is tired and forgetful. As he gets older he becomes friendlier to wolves but more wary of other animals, and sometimes needs help eating. His great-nephew Yaafsai is calm and cold-hearted as he waits for his ever-nearing opportunity to lead the pack.