Deep in an untouched corner of the jungle, a secretive tribe of big cats thrives under the watchful eye of their leader, the great Chief Tembe.

As the tallest, strongest and most intelligent among his fellow felines, Tembe is a natural leader. A gentle giant possessing great wisdom, he treats his followers with respect and affection - and, in turn, is beloved by all of them.

Life in Tembe's tribe is not always so peaceful however. Intrusions from outsiders and attacks from rival tribes have called upon Tembe to act in defence of his people, stopping at nothing to ensure their safety. Earning his reputation during his younger years as a superior hunter and a powerful warrior, the chief is more than capable of breaking from his usual gentle temperament and striking with lethal force. Aided by the services of a tribal sorceror, he is also known to call upon dark forces where required to assist in his endeavours.

Such moments offer very little pleasure for Tembe. But with great power comes great responsibilty.

Tribal themes have long been of interest to me within a furry context, but it was not until 2011 that I sought to design my own character through which to explore them. Emerging as one of three new original characters for my collection in June 2011, Tembe (pronounced tem-bay) represents many aspects of my attraction towards such primitive culture, as well as becoming the first feline to appear within the group.

Despite relatively little use owing to his recent inception, Tembe has fast become one of my favourite characters. Unlike many of the dominant types in my cast, Tembe is a much more caring, gentle figure of authority while still maintaining a reserve of dangerous power whenever required.

It can also be said that the chief has the most complex design compared with the other members of my collection. Truthfully knowing little about tribal costume, I improvised much of his dress and styling in my first visualisation of him, though this has somewhat served to complicate every subsequent image I have drawn of him. Even so, he is nothing if not distinctive.