Artipine
Thorny Heart Florabeast
In the olden days, when people were still exploring the uses of all the plants that grew near them, a bright purple flower with finger-length thorns looked much less appealing than a juicy, red fruit on a tree. But some brave soul decided to peel away the aggressive exterior and found a tasty source of food. Right about this same time, someone else decided that the prickly Artipine was a good choice for a companion.
Artipines are fearsome to behold, with green scale-like leaves covering their bodies, and very long thorn-quills all pointed toward their rear. When defending their own, they can bristle up and fan out these quills, making it nearly impossible for a foe to get by them without catching several. Thorns break off easily, but re-grow within a day or so. Even just brushing up against one without actually getting stuck can still prove painful, from the tiny sharp hairs that coat their legs and flanks. Despite popular rumor, Artipines cannot launch their thorn-quills at range like an arrow from a bow.
In spite of their ferocity, these Florabeasts are actually quite tender and gentle, much preferring to spend a day strolling through the woods than fighting off enemies. All Artipines have a large purple flower atop their heads, being one of the Florabeasts that has no appreciable division between males and females. They will only open this flower in the presence of a human that they trust very well, and within this flower is a soft mass of vegetable matter that is very sensitive. Zoobotanists consider it to be their heart, making its display a real act of affection.
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