Scaether

Feathers where their barbecues are solid plates, made of thick keratin. At the base, their afterfeathers are one solid plate, more akin to a scale than a feather. What keeps the scaether's barbs together, aside from their rigidity, is how they form. On the side to face outside there are tiny crevices that curve inward and hooks on the underside that latch into those holes. The hooks are fairly rigid, to keep hold, but are flexible enough to bend out when pulled out so as to not break.

Down Scaethers are more as feathers, with flexible barbs, but a thicker and wider rachis.