#forest-dweller

I've had this doodle and the accompanying lore in mind for a good lil while now,, :]c

Meet this unnamed Northern Forest-Dweller! He's a dancer, prepared to partake in a local celebration! Oh, and it looks like someone's caught his eye...! Or, someone's about to catch his teeth?

As lore goes, Northern Forest-Dwellers live among trees made pale with lichen covering their trunks, and their fur is patterned to better blend in with it!

These clothes, all shades of reds and orange, are a sacred set, red especially! They represent fire, which is heavily associated with a deific figure of theirs, the Forest Mother! She's the historic mother of all Forest-Dwellers, said to have been impregnated with the founders of all the Forest Bands by a floating flame (or something, I'm still working on it). Whichever celebration this is, it is one to honor their Mother! For like fire, she has quite the temper, and they think it best to keep themselves in her good graces.

Considering the post, I kept thinking this: Northern Forest-Dweller males (if not all Forest-Dweller males, if not all Land-Dweller males) will show their hips or legs like this to say one of two things:

Hey! Look at me! I'm strong and healthy! I like you; you should come with me so we can hook up!

or

Hey! Look at me! I'm strong and healthy! I don't like you; you should back off before I beat your ass!

Determining which it is mostly depends on context clues and inference.

Tail wraps are a common part of Forest-Dweller dress; living in the trees, they often use their tail as a third - er, a fifth arm! Having it covered like this can aid in keeping it from injury or becoming dirty. And certain kinds can act as a predation safety device in a pinch! They have firmly wound inner part and a looser, more flowing outer sleeve - that way if a Forest-Dweller is caught by the tail, they have a better chance of being able to slip out of it and keep running away!