Ayyur Fox

A dry wind rakes across the dunes, wisps of stray sand drifting in the moonlight. As this hot desert breath recedes, two oversized ears pop up and sweep for even the slightest sound. To the ordinary ear, these desolate sands are silent all for the distant call of a jackal. Yet these ears swivel suddenly, honing in on the slightest subterranean skitter. The fox stalks forward with the gentlest of steps, its movements painstakingly slow. Then, all at once, it bounds into the air before plunging its paws into the sand with claws translucent like glass and rapidly tosses the sand aside.

The loose sand presses into glass at the fox's touch until an al-Mawt Scorpion shuffles up from the glassy bowl in confusion. The fox is quick and nimble, ever in motion as it nips at and dodges the scorpion's tail. It chips away at the end of it, bit by bit, and even tosses the befuddled scorpion into the air—all the while emitting soft, silverine moonlight. The scorpion moves slower and slower as the fox bounds about it until, finally, its movements cease altogether and the clever fox clips off its venom bulb, claiming it's meal with a final crunch.

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Racial Magic

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Ilnid's Craft

Able to craft, move or mold sand, quartz and glass by paw with great detail. They are skilled diggers in sandy soil and are unharmed by sharp glass or being buried in sand.

Sylthari's Aura

Able to generate or summon moonlight or starlight. They can also lace mesmerizing, sedative, charming or hypnotic magic into the light. It is rumored to be able to generate prophecies or divinations but this hasn't been confirmed.

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These are the smallest species of fox in Emynea, recognizable by their unusually large ears which dissipate heat and grant them impeccable hearing. These ears are used for tracking down prey such as the al-Mawt Scorpion and the Qafz Jerboa which hide beneath the sand. Their fur, paws and kidneys are especially adapted for their arid desert habitat but like most beasts of Sahra Shamsi they are crepuscular, hunting at dawn and dusk.

Watching these little hunters in action is in a word, adorable. They hunt alone, using their enlarged ears to listen for prey beneath the sand or in scrub. They stalk very carefully up to their prey before digging them up or pouncing on them, leaping up to three feet in the air with a standing jump. Ayyur Fox are extremely agile and nimble, able to catch and eat even al-Mawt Scorpion. They dig it out of the sand with their Craft ability and are clever enough to repeatedly nip off its tail before going in for the kill. It isn't uncommon for the scorpion to flee back into the sand but these fox are relentless in stalking after them again and again. Sometimes, they can even kill prey larger than themselves like the Sahra Hare.

Sylthari's Aura is used for self defense and for lulling prey to sleep but it also grants them resistance to radiant energy. They are able to emit celestial light, useful for bright flashes or for mesmerizing or sedating those that see it. However, it is a gentle effect which builds over time. It uses Ilnid's Craft for both digging up prey and digging out their burrows.

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Anatomy

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Original Ancestor

Vulpes zerda,
Fennec Fox

Lifespan

10-14 years

Coloration

Sand colored fur which reflects sunlight but also keeps them warm at night. Has a black nose and a tail which tapers at the end with a black tip. In its magic form, its fur turns white and it's paws appear glassy, their claws translucent.

Size

Body length

34.5-39.5 cm (14 in-15.5 in)

Ear length

9-10 cm(3.5-4 in)

Weight

1-1.9 kg (2.2-4.2 lbs)

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Ecology

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The Ayyur fox is a secondary predator, playing the role of both predator and prey. They are omnivorous, frequently eating insects like grasshoppers and locust, small mammals, birds, eggs, lizards, dates, leaves, roots and tubers. Meanwhile, they might become the prey of Pharaoh Eagle-Owl, Wata Jackal, Manid Hyena, ǁKo Wild Dog and Cheetah.

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Life Cycle

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Ayyur fox are also a social species, digging out complex dens inside sand dunes. Burrows are usually 1300 sq. ft (120m²) and may adjoin to burrows of other families. They can create 32 ft tunnels, each burrow possessing about 15 entrances in case of invasion. Utilizing Ilnid's Craft, they solidify the finished walls into glass or quartz to keep the sand in place. Up to ten individuals will live in a single burrow.

These fox are monogamous, mating between January and April. Pregnancy lasts from 50-63 days, the male becoming aggressive in protecting and feeding his mate. They have 1-4 pups whose eyes open in 8-11 days. Both parents care for pups, communicating with each other using barks, purrs, yapping and squeaks. At 61-70 days they are weaned but many stay with the family or adjoin their own burrows to that of their parents.

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Mythology

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In local mythology, ayyur fox are seen as symbols of good luck and fortune. Locals believe they can hear spirits with their large ears and that their light banishes evil spirits. Like many fox, they are seen as a cunning and clever tricksters, possessing stealth and wisdom. They are a sacred animal to the Masryeen and also an omen of good luck. There are folktales which feature these fox appearing to those lost in the desert and leading them to safety. Killing them is considered bad luck.