Kai the Horseclaw

Kai the Horseclaw is a giant flightless bird who serves as Nausicaa's faithful mount in the manga Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind created by Hayao Miyazaki. In the first volume, Yupa gives Kai to Nausicaa as a present. The girl and the bird are already good friends. In volume 3 of the manga, Kai is shot down by Dorok soldiers, and the Princess is surrounded by the enemy. Kai suddenly revives, makes a giant leap and using the last of his strength carries Nausicaa to safety. Then he dies, and Nausicaa laments the passing away of her faithful friend. Kai is buried with full military honors, rather than being butchered for provisions as military mounts might otherwise be.