Chatapasha {Brightfur} (/çʌta"pʌʃa/)

Written by Galixi

The Chatapasha¹ is a mythical creature presumed to live past the Ba Odtipakékizhesh² (Far Mountains). Conclusive evidence of life has never been presented, and so not many things are known about the animal.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Not much is known about this elusive creature, but many believe it has bright lavender fur and eyes that glow yellow in the dark. It stands hunched with 2 legs and 2 arms. The back legs are thought to flex backwards like an ostrich, but the arms are thought to be more like humans, having one elbow joint and four long claws. The Chatapasha's arms reach all the way to the ground when standing, allowing for easy reach.
It has a 'crown' of fur that points to the sky like horns or antlers. It has white spikes down its spine and a body that reaches only shortly past its back legs. No tail.

Ecology and Habitats

It is unknown where the Chatapasha really lives, and many rumors have surfaced on it's whereabouts. Some believe it lives in the woodlands north of the delta, while others believe it resides in the marshlands to the south, but the primary rumor is it lives past the mountains. No one has been able to cross the mountains successfully and therefore not a soul knows what's on the other side.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The Chatapasha is presumed to be a carnivorous creature, brutally killing and tearing apart its prey. No one has ever actually seen the creature hunt, but many have encountered brutally mauled carcasses while away from town. It eats mostly medium to large size mammals and eats at the spot of the kill, leaving huge pools of blood and internal organs.
Some farmers have even woken up to find their Biřiazhagésh slaughtered, showing that at night, the Chatapasha is willing to venture into the town for food.

Behaviour

According to tales, the Chatapasha appears to be able to pick up on, sense, and feed off of emotions felt by those who encountered it at the time. No one has provided evidence to these claims yet, but many believe them.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Chatapasha's are widely used as a way to gain notoriety and quick fame. People claim to sell coats made out of Chatapasha fur which is really just Akishi³ fur that's been cheaply died white. People also kill wild animals and mutilate them in attempt to make them look like a Chatapasha in order to gain fame.
There's also an idiom commonly used: iřappa ek Chatapasha⁴, meaning "searching for a Brightfur". This means that someone is attempting something in vain or trying for something that will never happen.

Average Intelligence

People believe one of two things: the Chatapasha is a highly intelligent, possibly even sapient creature, or that it is a rabid beast that deserves death.
Both claims have some evidence behind them but no one has proven it either way.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The Chatapasha is thought to be able to smell prey from over 10 miles (16 km) away, and can see in the dark.
People who claimed to have encountered the beast believe it is an empath, able to sense and feed off of certain emotions. People who were calm during their encounters reported the Chatapasha acting curious and even friendly towards them. On the other hand, people who were afraid usually reported the Chatapasha to be defensive and agitated. While of course people who went out looking to slay the beast never came back.

^{1: Pronounciation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iyfu3EXeOdfwlXzZoZcjVaQoLwo2SMss/view 2: Pronounciation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N3Q78QRaLK6kOfl6l6Dc8xrLyJ1AqYnk/view 3: Pronounciation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MuQ96nT8jWy0uIxCdLtKDxGuWZf3os-B/view 4: Pronounciation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1urUD-QBZUnM0lr8MkVgWgMFnw6Ykeb2o/view}

Lifespan

Unknown

Conservation Status

Presumed extinct: no conclusive evidence of life has ever been presented.

Average Height

5'0"–5'6" (1.5–1.7 m) hunched, 5'6"–6'4" (1.7–1.9 m) reared.

Average Weight

220-250 lbs (100 - 113 kg)