D'nal MacAulay : Candidate : Male

CHARACTER PROFILE
Name: D'nal MacAulay

Age: 16, month 4

Gender: Male

Distinguishing features: deep, big, warm brown eyes, a bit of a scruff on his cheeks since puberty hit.

Hair Color:medium brown

Eye Color: deep brown

Description: At 5’8” Donal is not even close to done with growing, most likely to end up around 5’11” or so. Don still looks like a weedy kid, though he’s certainly been gaining muscle as he’s matured on Pern. Frankly, he doesn’t have muscled pectorals, but his arms and abdomen show potential for the strong man he’ll grow to be. Don’s brown hair is cut a bit long, falling in a fringe across his forehead with thick brows to match. Since he hit puberty, there has been something of a perpetual five o’clock shadow on his cheeks and chin, belying Donal’s young age and baby face.

Personality: Donal was never struck with the insecurities many young teens go through when their bodies start to change on them. He’s quite self-assured without being cocky about his abilities. He knows what he is capable of and is eager to learn how to do things that he isn’t capable of. He’s an eager learner and a capable teacher. One of the things this young lad loves best is sharing new ideas for games or useful inventions with his peers, but especially his best friend Chatan.

Donal is understanding and compassionate to those in need, most especially since he has two older sisters. Luckily, he also has an older brother and his father still living to keep him from getting too in touch with his feminine side, as his intensely Scottish family would say. And this Scottish heritage is very important to Donal, especially since the MacAulay clan were Highland warriors way back when.

Attributable to Donal’s MacAualy heritage is the familial of “danger is sweet” and his fearlessness in the face of any danger he has faced thus far on Pern. In this same vein, while Don is willing to face danger bravely and unflinchingly, he’s not an idiot. He will not purposely go looking for ways to maim or kill himself, as that really isn’t in his agenda.

In relation to his family and friends, Donal is loyal and caring, willing and ready to defend them if they call. And then again, even if they don’t call he’ll leap to their defense, verbally or with his fists. He’s also a reasonably responsible boy, what with three siblings younger than himself and several younger cousins to babysit.

History: When Donal was just five years old, his parents were recruited to come to Pern, his mother to be a vet and his father a horse breeder. Accompanying Ahearn and Rossalyn, besides Donal, were the rest of their children and some of their extended family. When they arrived on Pern, Donal was understandably overwhelmed by the new world and the commotion of everyone building Landing. Therefore, when the young boy met the first child his own age, they became instant friends.

As children, the boys were happily allowed to go off and get into whatever scrapes or mud puddles they wanted, just as long as they didn’t wander off into the jungles of the Southern Continent. When Donal got older, he was given babysitting duty for his three younger siblings, two of whom had been born on Pern. In reward for Don and Chatan’s patience in dealing with the younger children, Ahearn gifted his son with a handsome black Eriskay Pony and Chatan with a bay, bred from his finest stock.

When Thread first fell, Donal was thirteen and was completely shocked when Chatan’s father died. He hadn’t been outside and hadn’t seen what had happened to those who were caught in the fall, but he wasn’t frightened by this new terror on Pern. Earth had certainly held dangers and there really wasn’t much they could do about the dangers on this world, either. Still, Donal never let Chatan forget that he had a friend, and a whole other family if he needed time for loving and caring by the MacAulay clan.

When the riders from the future came back, Donal didn’t think much of it, other than the awesomeness of time travel. And then, one day while walking around with Chatan as he was wont to do, the two lads met a Searchrider and his dragon. Conversation was struck up and bam, both Don and Chatan were inducted into candidacy. Donal knows that horses aren’t very fond of dragons and he’ll be sad to face a different career than his father’s, but at least he’ll get to keep his beloved mounts.

Family:
Ahearn MacAulay – father, 51
Rossalyn MacAulay – mother, 49
Kenzie MacAulay – sister, 24
Morgan MacAulay – brother, 21
Rhona MacAulay – sister, 19
>>Donal MacAulay<<
Giorsala MacAulay – sister, 14
Keith MacAulay – brother, 11
Alastrina MacAulay – sister, 9

Pets
Name: Angus
Species: horse
Breed: Eriskay Pony
Age: 7
Description: black stallion with pangare (gray around his nose, stockings, and eyes)
Personality: Steady and level headed, Angus is still a stallion and takes an assertive rider to gain his respect and trust. He's quite affectionate and will lip, not bite, at his rider or family members. Once Donal got to big for him, Angus was passed on to Alastrina, another assertive horseperson, whereas for first time ponies Giorsala and Keith would have needed less temperamental horses.

Name: Donnchadh
Species: horse
Breed: Highland Pony
Age: 5
Description: bay dun gelding
Personality: Before he was gelded, Donnchadh was often very sneaky which ended up being mean. Now however, he's still tricky and playful, but doesn't bite or kick out as much.

Name: Gavina
Species: horse
Breed: Clydesdale
Age: 1 1/2
Description: skewbald chestnut
Personality: Gavina is still a filly and as such, is very energetic and playful. She is not aware of all the strength she has, which can lend itself to hilarious escapades of poor stableboys being dragged around by her lead. She doesn't do it on purpose at all. Considering her name means 'white hawk' it is indeed a very apt name, as Gavina loves to frolick, play, and jump fences. She's quite intelligent and must be amused so that she won't inadvertently cause trouble with her curiosity.