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“By now, the kavkema are well adapted for high-altitude life – especially the temperatures. They'll have many more feathers than you may remember them having.” A Thread Between The Stars: Satellites
kavkema (singular kavkem) are a sapient Nekenalosan species (“nyaqena”) evolved from Cretaceous Deinonychosaurs. Unlike the Nayabaru, they have barely physically changed since the Cretaceous.
Their name likely etymologically stems from the word kavama (which to them now means hatchling capable of speech).
History
The kavkema on Nekenalos have been in steady decline ever since Terenyira entered the picture, helping the Nayabaru with the “de-facto genocide”1) of the kavkema.
Biology
See also: kavkem colour vision
Kavkema are bipedal, with their spine held horizontally, leading into balancing tail. They have long, flexible forearms that they can use to walk quadrupedally, the additional support of which they prefer when low on energy. When running, they prefer bipedal locomotion, tucking their arms against their chests, partly to streamline themselves and partly to prevent wrist damage, since their wrists are not designed to bear the increased associated forces. Their tail is rudder-like as that of their ancestors, assisting with rapid changes of direction during a run.
While fast, they're sprinters and ambushers and can claim no notable endurance.
Body language
Apology is denoted with a significant dip of the muzzle. A confirmation is given with a raised muzzle's side to side swerve; the gesture can range from very subtle to an enthused shake of the head, but there is always a sway or twist to the motion. Negation is expressed with a single upward flick of the muzzle, with intensity conveyed by the distance covered by the tip of the muzzle.