Southern Mountain Cat
The Southern Mountain Cat is a large feline predator inhabiting the high slopes of the Rigos Mountains, the Ankle, the Great Eastern Mountains, the Scorpion's Tail Range, the Cascade Range, and as far north as the Great Southern Range north of Sudland. It primarily preys on large herbivores, like deer, mountain antelope, mountain goats, and so on. The Southern Mountain Cat is known for its thick, luxurious, off-white and black spotted fur. Cloaks and capes made from the pelts of the Southern Mountain Cat are extremely rare, and are highly valued for their warmth and durability. They are very expensive if they can be found on the open market. Most are owned by royalty. Queen Tatsu Tachibana Larssen is known to have an especially finely-made, almost pure white, floor-length cloak made from the pelts of the Southern Mountain Cat.
Southern Mountain Cats have keen senses. Their eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell are as good as any known in the animal kingdom. They are also swift runners, with their large paws giving them excellent traction and stability on loose rock, snowfields, and even on ice. Their long tail helps them maintain balance on difficult surfaces. Though they are swift and agile, they are primarily ambush hunters; their mottled coat provides them excellent camouflage among the rocks and snow of the high mountains. Their coat changes color seasonally; during the summer, it darkens from white to a light tan color with black spots, and during the winter, it becomes nearly pure white. Pelts taken during the winter white phase are especially valued; however, hunting them on the high mountain slopes during winter is next to impossible.
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