Here's the crane.. he's fishing with a little chunk of tofu.
Here's the bear. I wasn't particularly told how these particular additional critters I'm supposed to draw fit into the Jadeclaw world, so I'm just winging it. They aren't nobles because they aren't among the species in the Chinese zodiac. I'm just going by other cues for how critters would fit into the society. I've drawn the crane already as sort of a wandering happy-go-lucky bum type, and tend to see the birds as fairly 'flighty' and carefree, particularly since they can always fly up and away if things get too bad where they are, etc. and not needing much in the way of food, protection, that sort of thing. Bears, as big and strong and often beligerant, often highly protective (especially in the females) seem ideal as critters generally put to use as soldiers, mercenaries, bouncers, bodyguards, nannies, bill collectors, that sort of thing. This fellow has lucked into guard duty for some noble or another. Here he is barring the way through a door. His clothing is his uniform. It's supposed to be flashy and ostentatious, perhaps a little clownish, especially on a bear.
A young 'pine is learning from his elder, perhaps his mother or grandmother, how to administer quills in the ways of accupuncture. He is practicing on a rather relaxed and willing subject, a young male dog noble. The dalmation may be his friend who, in some odd social quirk, enjoys visiting his relatively lower class buddy and assisting in this way, or he may just be a jaded noble, indulging in mild masochisim at the hands of the novice. Or something like that. Whatever the dog's motivations, the spotty fellow is incidental to the real meat of the picture. What I wanted to highlight is the nature of the porcupines as simple, curious and thoughtful creatures. They are unperturbed by the presence of a Noble in their home and are instead interested more in art of their craft, of learning to make use of their own natural abilities to help others. They aren't predators, the quills aren't martial tools. I see them as stumpy little salt of the earth folk who like to find ways to make use of their special attributes as piercers, tattooists, accupuncturists(sp?) helping others actualize and decorate their bodies and possibly having some sort of spiritual perspective to it, in a quasi-clerical way. I'm not sure how many folks are familiar with eastern concepts of body modification, and the purpose of tattoos, etc. But there is a tradition of protection and healing to be found in the skillful administration of pain through tattoos and piercings and stimulating pressure points in the body. To me, porcupines would just naturally be interested in the study of this and yoga and mastery of the body as dwarves would be in mining and gems in the fantasy tradition. A natural aptitude for the workings of the flesh and very much a "touchy feely" type people, particularly since they are generally unable to be touched casually themselves. I wanted to show the different stages of knowledge, growth, and interest in this art with the different ages shown in the picture. Hopefully this goes well with the Horse Noble picture.