Yousik

Yousik leads her flock of tendrilled soarers in the colonies of Tierra del Fuego. These beautiful creatures inhabit remote places where mountains meet the sea. They live in close association with albatross species in the high latitudes of the southern hemisphere. As the albatrosses glide from isolated islands to coastal mountain ranges, Yousik hitches a ride to visit other colonies on different continents, never lingering in one place for too long.

The indigenous Selk’nam people tell tales of encounters when they crossed the straits. Today, sightings are much less frequent, attributed to the sensitive nature of the soarers. With heads adorned with five pairs of antennae, they are thought to possess some of the most complex sensory systems in the animal kingdom. This sensitivity keeps them away from human interaction, allowing their populations to remain isolated and well-hidden. Their communal life is characterized by strong connections, making them highly attuned to each other. They not only sense their environment but also each other’s feelings and intentions, making their communication almost invisible. Yousik plays an agricultural role in the community, tending and harvesting crops with her sickle. In their world, they live fiercely and play often to strengthen their bonds. They will fly into the air and cross their swords to test their agility and responsiveness.

The tendrilled soarers are considered a single population, as their genetic makeup indicates a single gene pool. This suggests high rates of travel by albatros between colonies in South America, South Africa, New Zealand, and the rocky islands in between.