ARCTURUS

A mix and match of known creatures, it was found amongst the likes of griffins, dragons, and unicorns.

Open Species, Fantasy

Discovery

Its been said while hunting, the old great kings took to the local rivers and lakes to rest. While all manner of beast rest near these waters, one in particular caught their eye. The creature would dive from the clouds, as tall as their horses and looking between that of a griffin and a drake, and would catch the local fish with ease in the grimey deep. Many attempts to tame the beasts were for naught, wild and strange they could only be briefly allied before escaping away to the dense deciduous trees. Not one has seen their nests, or even seen any alive up close without being known to exaggerate the details, but all is for certain. They are un-tamable.

Image: Arcturus "Layelle" owned by HeyRei

Description

Arcturus is a creature mixed between that of a horse and bird, with very odd features like depictions of medieval dragons on tapestries. Their tail curls and swirls, bird talons on all feet make them walk with high steps, and their tongue is forked with teeth that poke out from the bottom. Typically they have mane-like crests of feathers, going all down their back to the base of their tail with a lion-like tail tip with more. However, some have been seen sporting fine feathers or even fins and scales in certain climates, typically those of tropical origin. Despite being so large, they strictly eat water-life and the occasional large rodent, but don't risk going after horses, people, or mustelids. Being naturally skittish, they have yet to be tamed by any kingdom, though they certainly have tried.

Common Traits

Feathers
Horse-like Fur
Upright Ears
Feathered Wings
Talons on all feet
Forked Tongue

Uncommon Traits

Webbing
Seal-like Skin
Penguin-like Feathers
Full-Body Feathers

Rare Traits

Beak
Scales/Plates
No Feathers
Folded/Droopy Ears

Mutated Traits

Longer Fur
No wings
Circle Pupils
Longer Teeth
Paws
Completely Fur-less and Feather-less
Gills

Genetics?

This species does not have any specific genetics outside of some traits occurring more often than others. They can be any color, have any markings, take after any creature (bird or not) etc.

Mates, Offspring, and Growth

Arcturus, similarly to birds of many species, have a hard time distinguishing between male and female, and some even start to take on the traits of the opposite sex or are born intersex. Regardless of biological sex, they take mates based on their ability to provide and build a safe nest/den for a clutch, and do so for life!

Offspring are hatched with down-feathers, blind, and deaf, and greatly rely on their parents to help them survive and be protected. For the first several months of their life they grow quickly and are given regurgitated meals, until they can handle small rodents and small fish. After at least a month of being able to have larger meals as their appetites grow, they are brought to hunting grounds to witness their parents catch their food and be able to safely attempt to catch their own.

About half the size of their parents, they are demonstrate safe flying, are taken to their larger hunting ground, and are expected to start attempting to hunt for themselves. Typically this is the most dangerous part of their life as they learn when they can take risks or cannot.

Once they reach young adulthood, they break off from their parents to find their own small territories, and most pairs return to the same nesting grounds each year to lay their clutches unless a large danger has moved in.

Nests and Territories

Typically Arcturus take residence in deciduous forests, sticking close to nearby fields and rivers/lakes that contain fish populations for their reliable prey sources and nest building materials. Some, however, have been found along beachsides, in rainforests, and in coniferous forests, varying in appearance to better suit their climates.

Their nests are crafted from branches, mud, leaves and grasses, occasionally some dried viscera or bones from found carcasses, and are most often on the ground though some have taken to cliffsides or in trees that are close enough to be safely supporting such a large nest.