Feliscyllidae

Introduction

TThe trees of Arborea harbor many predators - among them the burrowing Dendrophagos and the deceptive Melivorago. Yet none are so feared, nor so swift in the execution of their hunt, as the Feliscyllidae: a lithe and deadly nocturnal prowler that haunts the outskirts of the Peoples' settlements, seizing any unwary creature - be it Person or beast - that chance leaves exposed. Even those who take to the air are not beyond its reach, for it is said to unman its prey with a telepathic cry so dreadful that, for several seconds, the victim is left frozen, mind and limb alike struck senseless. It is a creature of shadows and ambush, emerging from the gloom of the lower branches to snatch its prey, and vanishing into darkness before any defender can respond.

Long, Lithe, and Lean

The Feliscyllid is a formidable predator, its body often exceeding four spans in length, complemented by a powerful tail nearly equal in extent. This tail is partially prehensile, and serves effectively as a seventh limb when navigating the arboreal labyrinth. Juveniles may suspend themselves entirely by it, though such behavior diminishes as they reach maturity.

The head of the Feliscyllid is broad and square, equipped with exceedingly strong jaws capable of fracturing bone with ease. Its body is sheathed in smooth, reflective scales, black in hue and streaked with white markings that render it nearly invisible in shadowed recesses. Six muscular limbs, each terminating in rigid, non-retractile claws, provide remarkable climbing and striking ability.

Its movements through the branches are astonishingly precise, and it can leap across considerable distances, aided by membranes stretched between its limbs which allow brief, controlled glides. The Feliscyllid is an extraordinary climber; its ankles rotate through an arc exceeding one hundred and eighty degrees, permitting it to grasp branches of any orientation and even descend headfirst along the trunks of the great trees.

The females of the species are furnished with a pouch upon the abdomen, within which they carry and protect their young - sometimes as many as four at once. Upon examining a specimen slain after an attack upon a livestock pen in Highmarket, I observed that the young are affixed to nipples within the pouch, and so distended are their mouths in attachment that they cannot disengage themselves. It would seem they remain thus until they have grown sufficiently large to force their jaws free, at which time they begin to venture upon short excursions, returning to their mother's side until fully independent. My inquiries into their habits proved, alas, largely unavailing - for the People devote little study to the Feliscyllidae save in matters concerning the prevention of its depredations. Nevertheless, I learned that they are, by all accounts, solitary hunters, and I infer that the young must depart from their dam soon after leaving the pouch.

A Creature of Shadows

The Feliscyllidae prefer to hunt beneath the veil of darkness and are most frequently encountered among the lower boughs of the Trees, where the light is weakest. Yet when night descends upon Arborea, these hunters ascend, seeking prey that dwell higher among the branches. Their sense of smell is keen, and they possess an uncanny aptitude for telepathic detection - while at the same time demonstrating remarkable skill in masking their own psychic presence. They move through the near-total darkness of the Arborean night with effortless grace, unseen and unfelt until it is far too late.

They are deliberate hunters, possessed of an unnerving patience. Often, a Feliscyllid will prowl the fringes of a settlement, waiting silently until a tempting victim strays just far enough from the safety of the community to be taken without great risk. The children of the People are well warned never to wander from their homes after dark, for to do so is to invite the Feliscyllid's grasp.

Their assault is heralded by a telepathic scream - a psychic shriek that rends the mind and leaves the victim momentarily insensible. Few possess the fortitude to resist such an onslaught and a few moments of paralysis are all the Feliscyllid requires. The psychic cry is swiftly followed by the creature's pounce, as it seizes its prey in tooth and claw - sometimes even plucking its victim from the air, provided it can still catch hold of a branch or trunk to arrest its fall. The scream resounds through the surrounding woods, summoning defenders to arms - but by the time they arrive, both predator and prey have vanished, slipping down into the shrouded depths where the Feliscyllid makes its lair.