Yurg

Name:	Yurg
Species:	Tiger
Gender:	Male
Age:	3yo at the end of OWC
Specialties:	Hunting, Tracking, Combat
Alliances:	Simon's Team

Yurg is a tiger that is also a TEL (although he is mistakenly identified as a biomechanoid for most of the journey), with the intellect and intelligence of a human being. He was originally created by Maul Ratinar with the goal to insert himself, through the deception that he'd been sent to kill Birash, into Simon's team in order to protect them, and guide them on their journey. He does this by becoming captured by bandits, and placed in the same camp as Birash, where he's later rescued by Simon and the others. He then attaches himself to their team by claiming that he owes many life debts to Birash for saving him, and must repay those debts before he can be free. However, in the course of his travels with Birash and Simon's team, he eventually grows to love them, and even becomes best friends with Birash.

On several occasions he demonstrates this love for his team with displays of unswerving bravery and tenacity, even to the point of suffering severe, debilitating injuries in the process, nearly to the point of dying. Later on in the course, after fully acclimating himself into the team, he takes on the role of advisor, often providing them with very valuable insights into the world they're traveling through, and much more. He also become a primary food supplier, a guide, a tracker, and many other things, all done willingly to aid the team. By the end of the race, upon Black Mountain, Yurg goes that last extra mile to ensure that, at the very least, one of his team gets to the finish line, once again suffering critical injuries in the process, which he is later healed of by Caleb in gratitude for his efforts.

After Simon's team returns to Earth, Yurg becomes lonely, having become such good friends with them that their departure leaves him empty. So, as a gift to Yurg for his incredibly successful efforts, to get his team to the end of the race, Maul gives him access to a holographic communication system that permits him to go to Earth, even if only in holographic form, to visit his friends, for which Yurg is very grateful as he gets to see everyone again.