Talin Kanami

"I am a Striker for Mara, the last free nation on this side of the sea. We are legendary bringers of death, assassins of monsters. And the only thing standing between our home and our annihilation."

- Skyhunter

Talin Kanami, a refugee and Striker, is the main character and protagonist of the Skyhunter duology.

Early Life
After the Federation had taken over Basea, Talin and her mother escape the nation, fleeing too Mara. While fleeing to Mara from the now overrun Basea, Talin's vocal chords were permanently damaged, rendering her mute for the rest of her life.

Summary (spoilers)
Talin Kanami. Skyhunter, Striker, and friend to Corian, Adena, and Jeran. Trained to be a Striker since age 12, Talin is one of the best on the force. When her Shield, Corian, is bitten by a Ghost laggard during a routine patrol of the Warfront, Talin is forced to end his life to prevent him from transforming into a Ghost.

When a prisoner from the Warfront is brought to the Striker arena for interrogation and likely execution, Talin notices that the prisoner seems willing to die. She also notices something very precise about his movements, which do not match the movements of an ordinary Federation solider (quote needed). Talin saves the prisoner's life, challenging the Firstblade, Aramin. As punishment for her impulsive actions, Aramin assigns the prisoner to be Talin's Shield, a bond that will last until death.

Talin returns home to her mother in the Outer City and confesses how she stopped Red's execution. Her mother comforts her, telling her that she saved someone's life and that's nothing to be ashamed of. She counters, reminding her mother that he [the prisoner] is a Karensan, to which her mother instead asks why she chose to save him. She answers that he's someone important to the Federation, but her mother doubts that's why she really saved him. Talin answers that it doesn't matter and they move to the subject of her father and then to when Talin saved a butterfly chrysalis from a storm. They make small talk some more before Talin has to leave for the mess hall.

At the mess hall, Talin learns the name of her Shield: Red. He saves her life at the Warfront, though, which leads to him revealing himself as a Skyhunter. She pulls Red out of his deadly trance, which saves the lives of other Strikers. When he snaps out of it, he links himself to her and passes out.

After he recovers, Talin and Red are brought to the Speaker of Mara to prove the existence of their bond and to show Red's wings.

They demonstrate Talin's understanding of Red's Karenese and Red's understanding of Maran. After the event, they return to their apartment in the Inner City, and Red begins to tell Talin more about his past, bringing the pair closer together.

Near the end of the novel, Talin, Red, Adena, and Jeran go on a risky and ill-advised mission to the Federation. The plan is thus: Red pretends to be caught and distracts the Federation while Talin and the others neutralize the Ghosts' bonds with Red's blood. Things quickly go downhill, and Red is forced to lead the group to safety.

Talin realizes she has begun to develop feelings for Red at the end, and she soon learns that her feelings for him are mutual when they share an imagined kiss. However, when the Federation breaks through the Inner City's double walls, Red is forced to abandon Talin when she is captured.

Talin agrees to become the Premier's personal Skyhunter after he threatens her mother's life, which is what he had intended for Red before he escaped.

Appearance
Talin has light brown skin and hair so black it looks blue. Her eyes are bright green and she is agile and strong.

Quotes (WIP)
"Red says nothing as I go, but when I exist the bathhouse, I feel something shift in our bond. I can't quite put my finger on it, but as I head to our apartment, I find myself lingering on what has changed between us, and why I keep trying to picture his face there in the dimness, the air around him still haloed in light." -Talin thinking about Red.

"I know they think this is suicide, they may be right. But he had saved me, back by the ruins, where I thought all might be lost. I am sworn to protect him, to lay down my life for him. I continue on, my hands empty of weapons. "Talin." I sign, pointing at myself, using the signs I once taught him, "Talin. Red. Friend." His eyes narrow, he looks like he's about to attack. I take a knee before him, I take off my glove and put my hand over his closed fist, his skin feels hot enough to burn. I look up at him. "You can come back now," I sign. He blinks, and his posture loosens, his wings retract back into themselves, the light of rage fades from his eyes and for the first time I notice that they're deep blue, slashed with sliver grey. He blinks once, twice. Then he meets my gaze directly. He recognizes me. suddenly his hands come up to my face. Before I can stop him, he presses his palms on the side of my face and pulls me to him. I struggle against him, but I'm locked tight in his unbreakable grip. Our foreheads touch, then a searing brightness engulfs everything. I wince and shut my eyes." -Talin, pulling Red out of his trance and bonding with him