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Description
Most derived of the Kaimeran terror birds is the harkundi, the sprinting menace of the prairie. When rhea came from the same Miocene harvest and populated the prairies scattered throughout the open forests, a species of smaller terror bird followed them. Most terror birds are ambush hunters with minimal distance running capabilities. Fast over short distance to be sure, and better at pursuit than an ambushing mammal due to their unidirectional breathing, but not built to run. The harkundi flips this trend on its head, being among the fastest animals on the prairie and possessing remarkable endurance as well. They support all their weight on a single hooflike toe, aiding in efficiency, and their legs are bare. The feathers they retain are sparse, mostly serving to provide camouflage and shade from the sun.

While they still hunt rhea, harkundi also hunt pronghorns, camels, and other ungulates which are now the dominant herbivores of the houze prairie as it has been for the past million years or so. As uktan remain with their parents and do not hunt on their own until late adolescence, the harkundi enjoys exclusive access to the rank of vassal hunter of the prairie, a role at which they excel. The scavenger king, a large dromaeosaur, is larger and sometimes displaces them from a kill, as do mobs of cockatrices and hyenas, but the harkundi will hunt in groups to hold their own, especially in the dry season when small game becomes scarce and they must bring down and defend larger game.

Harkundi are a particular menace to riders, as they can often outpace a horse with rider even if unburdened horses are more swift. While they sometimes target the burdened steed, they instead will snatch riders off their horses. Ssometimes they dismount riders even without being hungry, just in response to an instinct to chase. Unfortunately riders rarely survive these hunts of boredom.

A video on my process redesigning the harkundi: www.youtube.com/watch?app=desk…

Description
Most derived of the Kaimeran terror birds is the harkundi, the sprinting menace of the prairie. When rhea came from the same Miocene harvest and populated the prairies scattered throughout the open forests, a species of smaller terror bird followed them. Most terror birds are ambush hunters with minimal distance running capabilities. Fast over short distance to be sure, and better at pursuit than an ambushing mammal due to their unidirectional breathing, but not built to run. The harkundi flips this trend on its head, being among the fastest animals on the prairie and possessing remarkable endurance as well. They support all their weight on a single hooflike toe, aiding in efficiency, and their legs are bare. The feathers they retain are sparse, mostly serving to provide camouflage and shade from the sun.

While they still hunt rhea, harkundi also hunt pronghorns, camels, and other ungulates which are now the dominant herbivores of the houze prairie as it has been for the past million years or so. As uktan remain with their parents and do not hunt on their own until late adolescence, the harkundi enjoys exclusive access to the rank of vassal hunter of the prairie, a role at which they excel. The scavenger king, a large dromaeosaur, is larger and sometimes displaces them from a kill, as do mobs of cockatrices and hyenas, but the harkundi will hunt in groups to hold their own, especially in the dry season when small game becomes scarce and they must bring down and defend larger game.

Harkundi are a particular menace to riders, as they can often outpace a horse with rider even if unburdened horses are more swift. While they sometimes target the burdened steed, they instead will snatch riders off their horses. Ssometimes they dismount riders even without being hungry, just in response to an instinct to chase. Unfortunately riders rarely survive these hunts of boredom.

A video on my process redesigning the harkundi: www.youtube.com/watch?app=desk…