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, and a native to the planet of Offworld who is 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 of inserting him, via the ruse, into Simon's team by claiming that he'd been sent to kill Birash. The purpose of this was to add Yurg to the team in order to protect them, and guide them on their journey, without drawing suspicion from the controllers. He then successfully attaches himself to their team by claiming that he owes many life debts to Birash for saving him, which he must repay before he can be free. However, in the course of his travels with Simon's team, he grows to love them, and even becomes best friends with Birash.

On several occasions he demonstrates this love with displays of unswerving bravery and tenacity, even to the point of suffering severe, debilitating, and nearly fatal injuries on several occasions. Later on in the course, 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. Along the way, realizing the benefits of doing so, he joins them during bible memorization drills, and eventually memorizes the entire bible from cover to cover, being able to quote it verbatim as needed.

It's not that he becomes a believer or anything. He does this primarily to bond with the team, and increase his benefits as an advisor to the team by quoting scripture to them in times of need, which always seem to be exactly what's needed at the moment. (God gives him the verse, and he merely quotes it back to the team) At 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 at all costs. Due to this he, once again, suffers critical injuries which are later healed by Caleb in gratitude for his efforts.

After Offworld

After Simon's team returns to Earth, having become such good friends with them, that Yurg becomes incredibly lonely, as he misses them greatly. So, as a gift to Yurg for his incredibly successful efforts in getting 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, which he continues to do, as often as he can, for the rest of his life.