Rangi’ukungu cannot see color. Due to this, he is journeying on a quest for color, hoping to find a way to see even a glimpse of the spectrum. He is usually friendly though very easily intimidated and most likely to run away. His mind also seems to make up scenarios and jump to conclusions, boiling up a fear from practically nothing. Rangi is awful at hunting and isn’t particularly big, even for a wild dog.

Rangi’ukungu was born in a world of black, white, and gray. Of course, he didn’t know these colors were what he saw; he knew of certain colors as a certain shade. Clouds were a little bit lighter than the sky. Except when there was an overcast, then there was a slight texture. Leaves were lighter than bark. There were many exceptions to this and the largest one was night time. Even with proper firelight to cast shadows on things, everything held what everyone called a reddish tint. Yet, he could not distinguish objects and people. Without the aid of light and only the moon for guidance, he is completely useless. The shades too alike to properly see anything. Therefore, Rangi had learned to settle way before sunset.

His eyesight not only affected his night vision. It also had a huge impact on hunting. He had to rely on his ears and nose in order to track down a prey and, most of the time, Rangi could spend a full day looking for a single meal. So, naturally, he would search for his breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the general direction he was heading. And, also very naturally, he would sometimes have to settle for berries. He had become quite a pro at distinguishing berries from each other. Those that looked too similar to poisonous ones were avoided all together.

Seeing underwater wasn’t an option, either. Everything had a tint to it, a sort of veil. Water, of course. Making it too murky to be able to make out his own nose. The deeper he got, the blinder he was. Occasionally, he could catch a brightly colored fish that swam up towards the surface. But he had less luck with fishing than he did with hunting. If he had to choose which he would prefer, it would be fish. He loved fish. But as it was, fish was a rarity in his life.

He didn’t know he couldn’t see color for the longest time. As a pup, the dots just didn’t connect. Rangi couldn’t see his own markings but he had always assumed they were just enough behind his back to where he just couldn’t see it. It was when they were physically pointed out that he admitted he couldn’t see it. And even then, the realization didn’t click. Several more small and impromptu tests occurred over the month before an elderly wild dog declared that he was color blind. That all the colors he was seeing and could be named? Was just many shades of a single color.

The now known handicap had sunk into Rangi heavily over the next few days. He had been an adolescent when he had discovered that the way he saw the world wasn’t the same as what everyone else saw. At first, he grew moody, blaming his failures and short comings on the condition. He felt less, like he had been cheated by life and given a dysfunctional body. It was unfair and he hated the world for his adolescent years. He had become very sensitive at even the mention of color or things he couldn’t see, sending sour looks and stomping away.

But with maturity came understanding. Of course, it wasn’t just growing up that allowed him to accept and understand his condition. It took the support and counseling of others to encourage him to love how he was. But eventually, he understood that he could still do things, albeit sometimes at a disadvantage. And it made him unique. Despite knowing and accepting this and becoming a happier canine altogether, however, Rangi decided that the moment he was officially an adult, he’d set out to see color. Perhaps, maybe, he’ll find a miracle and for a few blissful moments, see the spectrum that has been shunned from his life.

When he first started out on his journey, it was rough. He was unused to hunting on his own or even living on his own. It was nerve wrecking and he didn’t quite know which direction he should go or what he should expect. He had also decided to leave during a large storm, which didn’t help much. Rangi had to spend several days in the cage, eating the last rations of his berries, before the storm suddenly stopped. Three days wasted. He wouldn’t have been able to continue travelling within the rain. The constant sheet of water blinded him and he would have easily tumbled over a cliff.


It was within a certain passing pack that he heard a rumor. He would need to visit a god in order to be granted color. Which god seemed to differ from pack member to pack member. And even more so between different societies. Everything pointed to a god. But no one knew how to find one. A seer, they would shrug and say. There was always one nearby. And with great frustration, Rangi found out that each seer worked in a different way. He didn’t quite understand; he wasn’t even sure if he believed in a seer’s capabilities. It all sounded too farfetched. But the canine had to believe it.

His journey continued with that goal in mind. Find a seer to find a god. Find a god to find color. He had already met several companions along the way. A lion who got helplessly lost and seemed all too suspicious. And another lion who was overly interested in his condition and was rather… rude. All in all, his journey had just begun and he couldn’t imagine it is going to be an easy one.