This is Sandwalker, previously known as Duskfur, and the main character from my NaNoWriMo story. He's a creature known as a Wirrsa - a canine/feline hybrid. In this case, he is a lion/jackal mix.
Duskfur was exiled from his pack after events covered in the beginning of the story, and becomes a desert wanderer. His journey leads him to meet other types of Wirrsa and get the new name Sandwalker.
Telling much more would give the rest away though!