Tasmin Thylacine

Identifying features (Anthro): Emerald eyes, wild spiky hair, star-shaped eye markings, a forward facing abdominal pouch (feral pouch opening faces back), nickel-sized ear gauges with hollow plugs, left eyebrow and labret piercings. Build is stocky, somewhat muscular.

Feral Tasmin's biology is comparable with that of the typical female thylacine in art and literature.

Tasmin is the keeper of secrets. She has always represented the unknown in my life. Tasmin came to me at a crossroads in my life as a young adult. The thylacine frequently appeared in my dreams before I understood what it was. A couple nights after the dreams ended, I was alone in front of the television and caught a nature documentary about the "tasmanian wolf". Isolated from others and struggling with depression, I identified with footage of the last thylacine pacing in its enclosure. I spent weeks researching and learning about the species. This set off a chain of events that led me to meet the woman I would eventually marry and leave the bleak situation I was trapped in at the time. None of this would have happened had I not created Tasmin, my first roleplaying character. Although Tasmin helped restore my confidence, she also taught me how to slip into the shadows and embrace solitude as a necessary state for healing.

Tasmin's personality is non-binary but she does accept female pronouns. In some art, Tasmin is depicted as completely male. She loves to dress in masculine attire and isn't fond of very feminine clothing. Her demeanor is quiet around strangers until she gets to know them. With good friends she's loud and outgoing, sometimes to the point of being cocky and brash. Tasmin is impulsive and in-the-moment which often leads to regretful decisions. In spite of these flaws, her generosity is unmatched and she is receptive to the concerns of others. For her dearest friends, she offers handmade gifts such as bone jewelry or leather pouches.

Tasmin feels more at home in nature than urban areas, preferring deep, secluded forests. She lives for the moment, always on the move. As a nomad, Tasmin makes her temporary quarters inside a dry, shallow cave or stone den which she decorates with poppy pods. She arises just before dusk to hunt or forage for fresh roadkill. Tasmin is cautious and goes out of her way to avoid humans. Her species has witnessed firsthand how destructive humanity can be.

Thylacines are an apex predator in their natural habitat. Tasmin carries an arrow quiver constructed from kangaroo hide and brushtail possum fur. Frequently worn attire include light tops, shorts with big pockets, steel-toed hiking boots and, in cold weather, a suede jacket with fur trim. She tans her own leather garments from hunted prey and salvaged roadkill. She hates to see natural resources go to waste.

Quick on her feet with legs built like solid tree trunks, Tasmin pursues her prey by foot. A master archer, she possesses incredible upper body strength. When her prey is cornered or exhausted, she delivers a vital shot with her bow. Meat is cut into thick strips and wrapped in leafy packages which can be baked or stored in a cool place. Favorite meals include kangaroo steaks, kabobs, smoked rabbit and roasted duck. Hides and fur pelts are carefully fleshed and tanned with bark or brain. After the tanning, Tasmin pulls the hide over a large rock or stretcher until it is pliable and soft. Finally, the finished hide is cut and sewn into garments or bags.

I'm going to share a bit of information about marsupial pouches. It's a discussion that comes up a lot and is often accompanied by misinformation. A marsupial's pouch is elastic and covers a large area of the abdomen. The lining is smooth with little to no hair and stays as warm as the animal's internal temperature. Inside the pouch are the female's nipples. A day before the mother gives birth she starts to lactate. This is when the pouch becomes damp. Young marsupials attach onto a nipple to nurse until they grow large enough to leave the pouch. In Tasmanian Devils, a close relative of the thylacine, the young stay in the pouch developing for 16 weeks. After 16 weeks, the young have grown enough to walk around and explore the big world outside. They rely less on the mother's milk until they are completely weaned.

Unless the female is in the process of nursing or birthing joeys, her pouch will be dry inside. In Tasmin's case, this allows her to safely tuck away items within her pouch. As she will never breed, her pouch will only be used as a built-in pocket for stashing away personal items. Her pouch is used to store a zippo lighter, cigarette case, the occasional dimebag and a hand towel. For this purpose, she is meticulous in keeping her pouch clean.

Tasmin grew up alone in the woods believing that she was the very last living thylacine. Her hobbies include mastering archery, tracking and hunting. She knew no others like her which left her feeling isolated and unable to make friends. Tas loved being in the spotlight when she was younger, but often confused the attention with safety and immunity. As she grew into adolescence, she learned that many of her friendships were one-sided and slowly withdrew from society.

When her very last good friend betrayed her trust, Tas ran off to the big city for a change of pace. Perhaps she'd be able to meet some other thylacines there, or at the very least find companionship. This backfired when she realized that urban life was the exact opposite of what she wanted. Tasmin sunk into a deep depression and remained this way until she returned to her familiar woods.

Slowly, Tasmin learned that it was in fact possible to be happy on her own. Over the years she came to realize why there were no other thylacines where she grew up. Their native lands were destroyed and any remaining thylacines had moved or died out long ago. These days, Tasmin fights to protect her homeland from loggers and poachers. She may not be the last thylacine, but Tasmin is certainly the last to defend the home of her ancestors.

More information about Thylacinus cynocephalus, the creature Tasmin is based off of, can be found at The Thylacine Museum.