Sand Dune

By MyLittlePonyTales

• April 16, 2013

Age: Teen

Gender: Female

Species: Non-Pony

Appearance: Her eyes are a soft brown, while her coat is a dusty/sandy color. Bulky as buffalo go, just starting to grow into her larger adult body. She has a sturdy [url=http://greenjeanie.smugmug.com/Animals/BURKE-MUSEUM-UNIV-OF-WASH/P1000835/411018953_oX8Vv-L-1.jpg]snowy owl[/url] feather resting behind her right ear. The strap of Sand Dune's satchel is actually made from the skin of a rattle snake, which might be intimidating to anyone that first meets her.

Personality: Sand Dune is a jewelry maker, often making things to sell from trinkets she picks up along her journey from town to town. Whether it's some interesting stones, some dried out bones, or maybe some woven reeds, every time she comes to town you can be sure she'll have something new.<br /><br />She definitely has a streak of wanderlust, wanting to seek out her fortune in the world instead of staying with her herd. One day she'll return, but for now, the open road couldn't suit her more.

Backstory: Born in the Buffalo territories of the Saddleveil Plains, Sand Dune was named for the first thing her father laid his eyes on when he left the tent after her birth. It may not be the best of names, but she certainly didn't get made fun of it among her fellow Buffalo. The naming ritual was one that many others of the tribe shared, so it was common for names to not always make sense. Of course, with Sand Dune's sandy colored coat, the name does seem to suit her just fine.<br /><br />Also true to her name, Sandy was a wanderer. She liked to go out and explore the vast desert, often straying far from home. All Buffalo have a tendency to roam, which is why the herd moves every so often. But Sand Dune was frequently too curious for her own good, running into rattle snakes and scorpions as she dug her head or hooves into a shadowy nook.<br /><br />However, in her search, she also came across many interesting treasures. Rocks, sticks, plants, and even some rattles from dead snakes. From these objects, she made jewelry or little toys, which she would often trade to her fellow herd members, mostly the children that were her own age. As she grew, her expeditions into the desert and plains grew longer, her jewelry became more refined, and her products worth more in a trade.<br /><br />When she was old enough, Sand Dune expressed an interest in going out to explore the wide world. Her parents, though reluctant to let her leave the tribe and her heritage, realized that Sand Dune needed to make her own way in life. So it was that she set out with a satchel slung over her back, and a promise to return once she'd gotten her fill of Equestria.