Cyriana au Tanus, better known by her nickname Thistle, was a Bonerider serving under The Jackal. She was a fellow housemate and ally of Darrow in The Institute, as well as a former Howler under Sevro. She was one of the lowDrafts (dregs) of House Mars.
Appearance[]
She is described of being a darkfaced girl.
Involvement[]
Red Rising[]
Darrow asks Thistle to bait Lea into a cat fight to toughen Lea up: it works. Thistle is one of the six OG Howlers along with Sevro, Screwface, Clown, Pebble and Weed. She's also one of the original DeadHorses during the taking of House Minerva.
When Darrow disappears, Sevro leads the other original Howlers to kill the Jackal in the mountains. They're unsuccessful but Thistle starts collecting scalps of House Pluto students that they ran into. After the Howlers unite with Darrow's new army, Thistle's collection draws affection from Tactus and Thistle allows Tactus to touch her. Thistle and Tactus also bond by carving slingblades into flesh to spread the legend of the Reaper. Thistle, along with Mustang and Pebble, are the ones who chase down the last Apollo girl who tries to escape with the Apollo standard.
Later during the Jackal's interrogation, Thistle asks a question that prompts the Jackal to reveal that the Boneriders call the Howlers "Toadstools for Reaper and Goblin to squat on." The Jackal offers Thistle and those in the room a deal with the ArchGovernor for Darrow's head. Sevro squints at Thistle but Thistle stands firm. After the Jackal escapes and Darrow kills Proctor Apollo, Thistle is given Apollo's gravBoots to fetch reinforcements as Darrow and the Howlers streak to Olympus.
Golden Son[]
During Darrow's infiltration of Agea in Golden Son, when Thistle sees Ragnar holding a razor, she demands that he drop it, calling him a slave. Darrow and Sevro defend Ragnar, and Thistle begrudgingly accepts it.
Like Roque au Fabii, Thistle began to doubt Darrow's leadership as a fleet commander when he made strategic mistakes that caused the deaths of many of her friends. She, along with Roque, defected to The Society's side during Darrow's Triumph and downfall.
Morning Star[]
Thistle subsequently entered The Jackal's service as a Bonerider. She was captured and imprisoned along with Antonia au Severus–Julii during the Battle of the Jovian moons. She expressed guilt at the sight of her captors and former friends, and pleaded to reveal strategic information about The Society in exchange for freedom, but was murdered by Antonia before being able to do so. Sevro and the other Howlers were saddened by her death.
Gallery[]
Quotes[]
- "Daddy gonna have to cut up your meat for you too?" - Red Rising, Ch. 23: Fracture