Tatzel (TAT-zil)

"Get! Get I say! Before I bash all your stinky little heads in with my pan!"

— Frustrated restaurant owner, chasing a hoard of tatzels away from his trash

Tatzels are small, fur-covered mammals with dragon wings. They are scavenger opportunists, and take special interest in digging through the trash of sapient settlements. Wild tatzels are considered annoying pests, but domesticated tatzels are known to make adorable home companions.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Tatzels are quite small and lean and rarely weigh more than six pounds. They have long, thin snouts with needle-like teeth, and large pointy ears. They are quadrupedal and digitigrade. Their front paws have three toes and an opposable thumb, and their back paws have four toes.

They have short fur covering most of their body, save for their snouts, ears, paws, and tails, which are scaley. The scales fade away on the palms of their paws. The lack of fur on these areas makes it easier for the tatzel to keep clean.

Tatzel Anatomy by Aster Blackwell

At the transition between their neck and their chest, they have a much fluffier area of fur called the "scarf". The purpose of the scarf isn't certain. It could protect the tatzel from attacks to the neck, shield the starting point of their wing slits, attract mates, keep them warm during cold nights, or all of the above.

They have V-shaped wing slits, and their wings are short and wide, which optimizes them for short but speedy flights. Since they are so small, they can generate their wings very quickly, which comes in handy when fleeing from predators.

Wild tatzels come in a variety of neutral colors, such as brown, black, gray, and cream. Their skin and scales are always darker than their fur, which helps protect them from sunburn. They have dark eyes with slitted pupils.

Glow

Young tatzel defending a donut by Aster Blackwell

Tatzels are of Sao's Luminosity, and have celestial cores. They use their Glow to form their wings and for self defense.

As a threat display, they will open their jaws wide, showing off their brightly glowing mouths. If further provoked, they will deliver a "spark bite", where they discharge a flash of Glow into their bite, powerful enough to cause 2nd degree burns in some cases.

A tatzel's spark bite is searingly painful and has a knack for getting infected. If the tatzel misses and instead clamps onto a fold of clothing, they can blacken the fabric or even set it on fire!

Luckily, tatzels don't spark bite often, preferring to save their Glow in case they need to fly away. This doesn't mean their normal bites are much better!

Genetics and Reproduction

Tatzels have a gestation period of about 42 weeks, and give birth to a litter of three to seven "kitzels". The kitzels are weaned after about 8 weeks, reach sexual maturity after about 6 months.

Mother tatzels like to find dark, secure places to give birth in. This could be an abandoned rabbit den, a tipped-over trashcan, or someone's basement. They will build a nest out of whatever soft, warm materials they can find. They are very protective of their babies and are aggressive to anything they deem as a threat, even if it outweighs them by several hundred pounds.

Male tatzels have no interest in raising young and would rather chase the females around all day.

Ecology and Habitats

Tatzels used to live in the steppes, scrublands, and forests of Auzera. Now, they're more frequently found in cities. They thrive amongst the ample food, shelter, and lack of predators.

They are crepuscular, and sleep for most of the hot day. They like to find shaded, elevated areas to sleep in. This is usually a tree, the west side of a balcony, or a rocky outcropping. Sometimes it's someone's attic.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Tatzels are omnivorous and can eat just about anything. As opportunists, they will just as quickly gobble up a beetle as dig up someone's backyard vegetables.

Tatzel eating a piece of lettuce by Aster Blackwell

Their stomachs are quite strong and they are resistant to many diseases, so tatzels often have no problem eating rotting food and carrion. But while tatzels are hardy, they aren't invincible. Large amounts of chocolate, garlic, onions, or certain powerful spices are toxic to tatzels. They often aren't wise enough to avoid these foods, and so sometimes end up ill or worse after a trashcan raid.

They have a reputation for always being hungry and are very defensive over their food. They will sometimes spend so much time fighting other tatzels over a morsel that they don't actually get to eat it.

They will hide bits of food in hard-to-reach locations for later. Some tatzels that are too lazy to make their own stash will instead follow another tatzel to theirs and steal it.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Tatzels often gather in hoards that can be as numerous as 25 individuals. They usually group together for safety in numbers and for mating purposes and rarely form tight bonds with each other. They will often squabble with each other over food or mates.

Male tatzels like to claim small areas of territory and a certain number of females for themselves. Whether or not their claims are respected varies from region to region. Males are very aggressive to other males and are the most likely to start fights.

Females are a little calmer on average, and will sometimes form small sororities where they all work together to care for their young. Kitzels will play with each other to practice fighting and flying.

Domestication

Even if they are a nuisance, tatzels are undeniably adorable. Domesticated tatzels are kept as pets all over Auzera. These domesticated variants have calmer temperaments, are a bit bigger, and come in a huge range of colors and patterns.

Colorations

Name	Description	Image
Russet/Normal	Brown, reddish, or tan fur with darker brown markings and black or brown skin and scales.	Wildtype Tatzel Coloration by Aster Blackwell
Midnight	Completely black with amber eyes.	Midnight Tatzel by Aster Blackwell
Smoky	Gray fur with black markings and black skin and scales.	Smoky Tatzel by Aster Blackwell
Albino	White with orange markings, orange skin and scales, and ruby colored eyes.	Albino Tatzel by Aster Blackwell
Blue	Bluish gray fur with pale markings and pale gray scales and skin.	Blue Tatzel by Aster Blackwell
Ruby	Rusty colored fur with dark brown or black markings and black or brown skin and scales.	Ruby Tatzel by Aster Blackwell

Patterns

Name	Description	Image
Normal/Wildtype	Two lateral stripes that travel down either side of the body along the wing slits. The scales and skin are patternless.	Wildtype Tatzel Pattern by Aster Blackwell
Mottled/Tortoiseshell	Splotchy or freckled patterned fur. The scales and skin are patternless.	by Aster Blackwell
Ring-tailed	Patternless fur with stripes ringing the tail and sometimes legs.	Ring-tailed Tatzel Pattern by Aster Blackwell
Spotted	Large spots of secondary color on the fur. Some variants also have spots on the skin and scales.	Spotted Tatzel Pattern by Aster Blackwell
Patternless	No distinct markings on the fur, skin, or scales.	Patternless Tatzel by Aster Blackwell

Breeds and Variants

Name	Description	Image
Normal	The normal appearance of a tatzel, with fur covering their midsection and bare tails, feet, snouts, and ears.	Normal Tatzel by Aster Blackwell
Mouse-eared	Rounder, wider ears than normal.	Albino Mouse-eared Tatzel by Aster Blackwell
Hairless	Very little or no fur; bare skinned.	Hairless Tatzel by Aster Blackwell
Long-haired	Much longer, thicker fur than normal, and the fur covers a higher percentage of the body.	Longhair Tatzel by Aster Blackwell

Any combination of pattern, color, and special variant are possible. Some of the colorations might look very different when combined with a fur variant. For example, hairless albino tatzels are completely orange.

Blue Mottled Longhair by Aster Blackwell

A pet tatzel is a medium to high maintenance pet and requires a lot of space and toys to let out its energy. They love to climb and perch as well as burrow, so specially crafted "tatzel trees" that have lots of platforms, tunnels, and perches, are a must-have. They love being outside and are very curious. To keep them well exercised and from getting bored, they should be walked for at least an hour a day, though the more time spent, the better.

Lots of tatzel owners will be charmed by the cuteness of a kitzel and impulse-buy one, only to quickly learn that tatzels--especially young ones--can be extremely destructive if they are not given the proper enrichment. Indeed, they can even start house fires if they're not properly trained to contain their spark bites! Be advised to never purchase any pet until you have done the required research and prepared the required supplies.

Show Business

Some tatzels are bred specifically for aesthetic purposes and shown off at pet shows. Show tatzels often have striking markings, silky fur, and blazing wings. They are slightly less energetic than their "lower class" cousins, but require frequent grooming to keep them looking sharp.

Unfortunately, the shrinking gene pool amongst show tatzels is resulting in many genetic defects and diseases among purebreds. Show tatzels that aren't from a reputable breeder may have drastically shorter lifespans thanks to these conditions. Some activist groups are even fighting to end tatzel-showing altogether, arguing that the toll it takes on the animals is much too high to justify using them for sapient enjoyment.

Wing Sealing

Some breeders will seal up a tatzel's wing slits, thereby removing their ability to fly. While this makes them easier to keep track of and less likely to get lost, it's horribly detrimental to the animal's physical and mental health. Sealed tatzels have lifespans half as long, and are often anxious, aggressive, and unpredictable.

The practice is widely regarded as unspeakably cruel, but some backyard breeders still perform it for uneducated or heartless buyers. The surgery can sometimes be reversed if it has been recent enough, but most tatzels aren't so lucky.

The lackluster animal cruelty laws in most Auzeran countries don't help the matter. Those that perform the surgery are rarely held accountable.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Like all Glowfauna, tatzels are a source of edylium. They also have celestial cores, though they are quite tiny.

A tiny core must be better than no core, though, according to some Auratech inventors. The cores of dead tatzels either found on the streets or sold by pest control technicians are rapidly increasing in value. Some people are already making a job out of clearing out entire hoards of tatzels in order to sell their cores. If this practice continues to increase, their numbers might start to dwindle.

"I can't imagine how they sleep at night, knowing what they do. Do they really think that murdering hundreds of innocent creatures is right? It makes me sick. Something has to be done."

— Animal rights activist

Sao Symbol simplified (color) by Aster Blackwell

Luminosity

Hot; Sao

Lifespan

5 to 8 years; up to 15 domesticated

Average Weight

4.5 lb

Average Length

2.5 ft

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Reds, browns, and tans in the wild, but a vast assortment of patterns and colors exist in the domesticated variants

Facial Characteristics and Features

Dark eyes with slitted pupils; scaley, pointed snouts; tiny, needle-sharp teeth

Geographic Distribution

• Auzera
• Khetzala
• Shef Razid

Average Intelligence

Tatzels are very clever, evasive, and learn quickly. They can solve complex puzzles, disarm traps, or even unlock simple locks. They have a sharp memory, and once they've solved a problem once, they will have no issues doing it again.

Tatzel Shopping List and FAQs

If you want to own a tatzel for yourself, here is a comprehensive list of all that you'll need!

1. Tatzel harness and leash
• If you are starting with a kitzel, you'll need to replace the harness as it grows bigger or buy an adjustable harness
• You should NEVER attach the leash to your tatzel's collar!
2. Collar (optional)
• In the event your tatzel gets lost, it will be easier to find if it has a collar, so it is not mistaken for a feral tatzel or stolen by somebody else
• Some tatzels absolutely refuse to wear collars. You should never force your pet to wear anything it doesn't want to
3. Tatzel tree
• Get one that matches your budget
• A kitzel might prefer a smaller tree than an adult
• You can never have too many!
4. Toys!
• Shiny things
• Things that make noise or crinkle, like bells
• Feathers
• Ropes; many tatzels love to play tug-of-war
• Chew toys
• If you don't give your tatzel something to chew, they'll choose your shoes!
5. Food
• Many pet stores sell tatzel pellets, but be sure to eduate yourself on what ingredients are in them before deciding on a type
• Tatzels need a varied diet with lots of meat, fruit, and vegetables
• You should NEVER feed your tatzel chocolate, garlic, onion, spicy peppers, or any other strong spice
• Consider feeding your tatzel by scattering food in their tatzel tree instead of in a bowl! This mimicks their natural foraging behaviors
• Some tatzels have special dietary needs or allergies, so be sure to talk to a veterinarian about your pet's needs
6. Water
• Tatzels are not too picky about their water and will drink it from a bowl just fine
• Sometimes they like to jump in and take a bath! Make sure not to put the bowl near anything that can't get wet
7. Long term love and affection
• Domesticated tatzels can live as long as twelve years! Make sure you're ready to commit to loving and caring for your tatzel before you bring a kitzel home.

"Can I have more than one tatzel?"

Yes! Tatzels do great with company, especially if you aren't home all the time to keep them entertained. However, it does take some time for two tatzels to get used to each other and develop a friendship. If you are planning on getting multiple tatzels, you might want to get siblings as they will already be used to each other. It is much easier to get more than one tatzel if they are all female, as males tend to fight!

"Can I have other pets?"

Probably not. Male tatzels are especially difficult to acclimate to other animals. In addition, their spark bites can be fatal to another pet if they're not treated properly! You should certainly never own any small rodents, like hamsters, because your tatzel will just view them as a fresh snack!

"What do I do if I get spark bit?"

Treat it like a regular burn and run it under cold water for several minutes. Rinsing it will also help clean it. Gently apply ointments that combat infection and help with burns. Do not apply anything other than medication to the wound, and do not put bandages directly on blisters. If after 48 hours it hasn't improved, has turned a strange color, or is oozing, you should find a doctor as soon as possible.

Tatzels don't spark bite unless they feel extremely threatened. If your tatzel spark bites you, it means you must have made it feel cornered and in danger. If you treat your tatzel well and pay attention to its mood, you will never get spark bit.

Anti Wing-sealing Poster by Aster Blackwel