The Great Squirrel

No one knows the origin of the Great Squirrel, or which realm they came from, but every realm has stories of them. They inhabit the World Tree, often visiting the various realms attached.

Appearance

The great squirrel is twice as large as any regular squirrels, possibly due to a genetic mutation, or accident between the realms. They are mostly red, with a huge bushy tail turning grey on the ends.
They are alert, taking note of the situation around them. Their tail is expressive, indicating to others what they are thinking. They are always looking for new places to visit and explore, not staying in any one place for long.

History

Stories about a squirrel living at the heart of the worlds exist since records began. They turn up in important moments in most realms. While these are assumed to be the same squirrel, this isn't necessarily the case as they don't let anyone get close to them. No one has ever seen two of them together, so the stories are all woven together to create the narrative of a single being.
They are seen as the protector of the realms. Their presence is seen as a blessing, and they act to ensure the health of the world tree itself. They have the ability to jump between realms, not needing a gate or portal to do so. This allows them to explore all the realms, not just those connected to the World Tree. When they make the jump between the same two realms multiple times, the possibility of a more permanent connection is created. For reasons unknown to anyone else, they make the decision whether or not to create a gate for others to use.
When they connect a new realm to the World Tree, they designate one race, or group, to act as the guardians of the realm and the gate. This is why each realm has a dominant species. They are given a seed of the World Tree to plant and nurture. This golden tree maintains the connection between the realms and acts as a focus for its powers to filter through into the connected realm. Any damage to the golden trees affects both the World Tree itself and the magic available in the secondary realm.

Home

Their primary drey is halfway up the World Tree, high off the ground at about the level of the tops of most other trees. It is nestled into the trunk of the tree, lined with wisps of fur and leaves. This is where they maintain most of their food stores, and the place they return to the most.
They also have a number of secondary dreys, both higher in the world tree, and in other realms. They rarely stay in any one place for more than a few days at a time.

Relationships

Stories of their deeds are passed down between Guardians as a warning and guide on how to treat them. Miriem is fond of the squirrel and leaves nuts out for them, though her predecessor barely tolerated their residence at the World Tree.
They are thought to be an avatar for the consciousness of the World Tree, which is why they've formed their primary drey there.

Divine Classification

Considered immortal

Realm

World Tree

Age

Unknown

Pronouns

They/Them

Sex

Uncertain

Gender

Uncertain

Eyes

Black

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

orangey-red turning grey at the ends of the tail