Rusalka

Teodor Spassky was the first person to encounter a Rusalka. He had gone fishing on the rocks of the then northern beaches. He spotted someone in the distance. A solitary nude figure seemingly brushing it's long black mane. From a distance it appeared to be a woman yet with a cold wind blowing off the Tethys Ocean he found it bizarre that someone would be nude bathing. He placed his fishing rod and bucket down then tried to move around to get a better look. Perhaps this figure was a native? He eventually discovered the 'woman' had facial features that were a cross between a canid and otter. Her legs were long and with webbed feet while her hands had five fingers and an opposable thumb. She hissed as she saw Spassky and then dived off the rock and into the water.

Spassky went back to grab his fishing rod and bucket and returned post haste back to Dig Zero. He told authorities of what he had seen and drone recon units were dispatched to watch the area. Apparently this creature was not unique. Even more disturbing was the fact that others had been spotted swimming in the river that ran through the settlement.

Kropotkin dubbed these creatures Rusalka, as they vaguely resembled the legendary water spirits of pre revolutionary Slavic mythology. It also became apparent that they could lure in victims with their singing. Rusalka often sing to draw prey down to the water where they are in order to entice them so that they can then pounce on them and eviscerate them with their dewclaws. They only do this along the coastal areas. No Rusalka has ever attempted this in the Borodin.

Of course they also prey on the various fishes and other aquatic animals found within the river and on the continental fringe of the Tethys Ocean. While they are known for their ethereal singing voices it is unknown if Rusalka can actually speak. If they do no one has ever heard one talking. Also they rarely group together in groups larger than three. Most of the time Rusalka are solitary creatures who prefer their own company rather than that of others.

It is unknown how they reproduce as it seems that all Rusalka appear to be female though none have been captured. And as with the Voydanoi no one has come upon the remains of a deceased Rusalka. So specifics of their biology, mating habits etc are at best guesses based on hearsay and little concrete data.