Forest Griffin
In the grand forest of Kael Thalori lives a small predator that has captured the hearts of many of the inhabitants of the area. Both feathered and furry, with a personality you'd either hate or love, they were primarily used as pest control before they made their way into the homes and hearts of numerous families in Enarion.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Just as their cousins the plains griffins, the forest variant of griffin has the head, front legs and wings of a bird and hind legs of a cat. In contrast to their much larger cousins, the forest griffin is a combination of owl and wildcat. The coloration is a speckled combination of various shades of brown, perfect to blend in among the dark brown tree trunks of the forests they live in.
Despite their rather wide wingspan, the forest griffins are proficient fliers, skilled in flying between tree trunks by timing their wing flapping to the exact right moment.
Ecology and Habitats
Small and silent, the forest griffins spend most of their lives up in the trees of Kael Thalori. The only time they land on the ground is when they catch a ground living prey. As they're vurnerable down on the ground, they won't stay there for any longer than they have to.
The only natural predator of the forest griffins are the forest cats, but then again, the forest cats hunt anything smaller than themselves - which is every other creature in Kael Thalori.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The diet of a wild forest griffin is anything that is smaller than it, which is mostly small rodents, birds and the occasional fish. They aren't against the idea of nibbling on the leftovers after a forest cat kill, but this usually means they have to spend time on the ground. This is dangerous for these small predators as it puts them in perfect biting height for a passing forest cat.
Pet forest griffins can thrive on any type of meat, though it is wise to watch how much they're fed, as a lifetime indoors doesn't usually give them enough exercise compared to how much they want to eat.
Additional Information
Domestication
As the forest griffins are small and eat rodents, the Enari soon saw the positive aspects of having them around. However, if it was the Enari who domesticated the forest griffins or the forest griffins who domesticated themselves is unknown. One thing is sure, however - most food stores in Kael Thalori are protected from small food-stealing pests by at least one forest griffin by now.
Silent as the night, sailing between the trees of the forest, hunting their unsuspecting prey in the night...
Yet, as soon as it gets close to feeding time, they wail like sirens until they are fed.
Not all domesticated forest griffins are just for utility, though. Apparently they are quite pleasant as pure pets as well. Just don't let any meat you intend to eat lie around unguarded, since they are opportunistic little creatures and will eat it.
As a pet, the forest griffin will soon claim the house as its own, and its inhabitants as its personal staff. Almost painfully curious, they will investigate everything their owners are doing (in case it includes food somehow), and often try to "help" in the most unhelpful way possible. Many scribes with forest griffin companions will tell stories about quills being stolen from their hands while in use, followed by a wild chase through the house to get it back.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
The forest griffins are highly specialized predators adapted to live among the tall trees of Kael Thalori. You might encounter one or two wild forest griffins outside the vast forest, but these individuals are more often than not lost, and probably on their way back to their home as soon as they can.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Like the owls they look like, the forest griffins have excellent night vision. Even at the middle of the night, when only a tiny bit of starlight manage to break through the canopy, these small hunters can see movement at a distance. Their sense of hearing is sharp enough to hear the rustle of leaves almost a kilometer away if the rest of their surroundings are quiet, though the more realistic distance with normal forest sounds is about half a kilometer.
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