Zephyrfox

How could something so cute and fluffy have teeth? Ow!

— Prospective Zephyrfox owner

Zephyrfoxes are popular pets among the halflings. They are typically seen as a luxury pet and can only be found on the Flying Islands. Though originally wild animals, they have since been domesticated. They are known for their thick fluffy coats, soft ears, and charming personalities.

Physical Description

Zephyrfoxes are medium sized fluffy white foxes with thick, soft fur. They typically have blue or amber eyes with wet, black noses, and soft triangular ears. They are known for their long fluffy tails. They are extremely huggable and fun to pet. They also have very squishy cheeks. Their paws are tiny grinch feet. The fox cubs are smaller with softer features and even more adorable fluff. The worst part of them is that they are shedding machines and will leave bundles of love absolutely everywhere they go. They are not recommended for people with fur allergies.
The foxes naturally have a diet rich with levitation crystals which gives them buouancy and allows them to jump higher than normal and to appear to float for a moment before coming back down to the ground. They jump more normally when they don't digest the crystals.

Diet

The foxes are primarily carnivorous but will eat fruits and vegetables if available. They also enjoy chewing on wood and dirt, but those are not healthy parts of their diet. Lantern Lilies are poisonous to Zephyrfoxes. Some people describe them as extremely picky eaters and will suddenly turn up their noses to food unless given a proper balanced diet.

Behavior

Even though there are many examples of cuddly Zephyrfoxes, most are fairly aloof and enjoy being around people without interacting with them. Some are especially averse to being picked up and petted which is typically extremely unfortunate for their owners. The cubs are known to be mouthy and will bite anything that gets close to their mouths. Fingers beware.

Domestication

The foxes were first domesticated several centuries ago by halflings who hunted them for their warm pelts. They started taking fox cubs out of their dens and raising them to make it easier to harvest their fur later rather than the more dangerous route of searching for them in the woods. Over time, they began selectively breeding them for the softest and densest pelts which sold the best. They also selected for friendlier foxes which were easier to raise. It didn't take long for people to enjoy the company of the foxes as they became more used to halflings and tolerant of living with them. Soon, there was a growing demand for the foxes themselves, and their fluffy coats and slight independence made them ideal companions to have in a home.
In the Southern Isles, they became a status symbol, and the foxes with the whitest and most beautiful coats were selected as the prized companions of many aristocrats. Breeding foxes also became an art form in itself with several breeders being known for excellence in temperament, health, and personality. This allowed the Zephyrfoxes to be even more refined as domesticated pets and increased the friendliness of them. Owning fox fur became taboo because no one could bear the thought of harming such adorable creatures. They are well loved as pets now with the foxes only being able to survive on the flying islands. They remain one of the unique pets in the area.

Look at how cute they are!

by Elizabread with Midjourney

Basket of cubs

by Elizabread with Midjourney

Sleeping on a chair

by Elizabread with Midjourney

Oil painting of a fox

Entry into Mochimanoban's Species Challenge

by Elizabread with Midjourney

Lifespan

15 years

Average Height

10 in

Average Weight

6-7 lb

Average Length

Head-body: 20 in
Tail: 12in

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

White

Geographic Distribution

• Flying Islands

by Elizabread with Midjourney