The River Tiger

The River Tiger is the last of its kind. Bigger than a Siberian Tiger, the River Tiger is the largest and beefiest tiger species to exist—and also the least talked about. In its world, unfortunately the “element” species have been hunted to extinction—except our dear River Tiger. It’s home is a dense rainforest with many rivers coursing through it (like a more intense Amazon if possible), and like mentioned in the name this species of tiger is semi aquatic. Its eyes, unlike normal tigers, are able to see underwater like a crocodile. Other aquatic features unique to this species are the webbed toes, and pluggable ears like otters, and special cartilage tail that help it swim better in the water. Its vertebrae are also built stronger to house powerful muscles that not only help the tiger climb trees but also swim against river currents. 

Extra: Elemental animals were rare species essentially considered the gods within their genus. But these animals were wiped out over time by them being hunted down by rich families/governments to control the Indigenous communities that held these animals as their gods and protectors. 100 years ago, a city in the clouds was built over the rainforest of the River Tigers and over time not only were they hunted but their entire environment was slowly being killed and stripped away for the city. Now, a young girl crashed into the forest when trying to escape the city, straight into the river where the Tiger found her and saved her before she drowned. Since then, the two have been connected. Feeling determined to bring back the River Tiger species, the girl gathers scraps that fell from the sky over time to build “мама,” a mechanical tiger that can float on the water and fly for a short period of time. What the girl didn't expect was for an ancient spirit of the forest to possess the mech and essentially be alive. And so we have the ragtag group of a young troublemaker girl, a River Tiger, and a mechanical tiger possessed by a powerful elemental spirit.