Naeko (N-Ay-koh)
Very few beasts that call the Hworen Plains their home can let a Naeko pass by without so much as a glance. These callous feline hunters stalk their prey for miles before attacking, some even waiting days before making their move, knowing that patience is their greatest weapon. Naekos are known to hunt in packs, small families of three to five, with strong builds and blinding land speed. It is no wonder the Varsi Kithine have made them fine mounts. If ever an adventurer or a traveler finds themselves alone on the road in the plains, they should be warry of the scoff of a Naeko.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The Naeko is a quadrupedal feline creature which resembles a cross between a Hyena and a Cheetah. Their build is strong an agile, their front cavity a good deal larger than their back, with a tall neck that does not necessitate a sloping maw of a scavenger. They are not large beasts, standing less than four feet tall, but they pack quite a bit of versatility and power in their forms.
A Naeko's head appear very feline, with tall fur tipped ears, that widen towards the base. Their necks are thicker, but never appearing disproportionate. As the neck travels from the base of the skull to the shoulder haunches, it appears as though the head of the Naeko is the head of a speeding projectile, the ears it's fletching. It's haunches are broad, sloping down towards a tight hind. The Legs of the Naeko are toned, the back legs, despite their slighter haunches are actually thicker than their front legs. This is reasoned to be on account of the Naeko using it's hind legs for explosive sprints and the front legs for directional control on account of the larger front paws. Their tails are longer, like that of a cats, but the ends are barbed with a turf of long fur that the Naeko also uses for control while in full sprint.
The body and build of the Naeko assumes that the creature is built for little else than speed and endurance in a chase or hunt. Truly, an apex predator in it's own way, but it's diet does not support these lofty goals. Their eyes are set forward on their faces, their mouth adorned with a series of sharp teeth with a strong jaw that does not easily let go when clamped shut.
Genetics and Reproduction
Naeko are mammalian creatures. They observe a sexual reproduction between a male and female and give birth to live offspring. Usually, a parent duo will have been apart of the same pack or family for a time before breeding their own litter, which they will then raise into adolescence. Most female Naeko will leave their parents quicker than males to join their own packs.
Growth Rate & Stages
Naeko start life as a pup, then grow into a cub, where they will stay for the first five to six years of their life. After which, they will mature into adults very rapidly, requiring a great deal of nourishment to maintain their growth. If given an ample amount of nourishment, a Naeko will grow to just above four feet tall. These are few and far between in the wild.
Ecology and Habitats
Naeko are native to the dry heat of the plains, preferring dry heat over wet heat any day. They will make their homes in places they can find shade to escape the scorching heat, but not restrict their movement too much to pin them in a corner. Often times, they can be found lounging about stone mesas or slight elevations with trees nearby.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The Naeko are carnivorous, but can be rather picky eaters. They sometimes go days on end without eating on account of their particular taste, which is freshly slain, not so far gone, cadavers. This appetite has led to wild naeko being rather few in number, and far more deadly and ravenous or territorial.
Naeko have been observed to stalk their prey, run it down and leave it to bleed out and die for a day or so before returning to it for a meal. This practice does lead to a tidy living space since very little, if any game will be dragged back to their dens.
Additional Information
Domestication
The people of the Varsi province, central west of the plains have taken to domesticating these creatures for use as mounts. Particularly, the slighter statured Kithine. As mounts, both the rider and the naeko can be a horrifying menace in a confrontation, for even if the rider is slain, the beast will continue to fight for promise of a hardy meal.
Domesticated naeko are characteristically larger than their wild brethren. This has led to a number of encounters and sightings of bred naeko running off into the wild and becoming strong pack leaders of considerable size, or their riders earning their own pseudo pack from wild naeko who cling to their mount as a source of power and steady feed.
Facial characteristics
Naeko generally have a feline face, but share their identifying marks of their Cheetah cousins, that being their tear marks that run down from their eyes to the corners of their jaws.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The Naeko has one pair of predatory eyes on it's heed and whiskers that assist in spatial awareness when navigating tight spaces. It's ears alow for a great deal of precision when listening out for disturbances in their range, as well as tracking prey. Their sense of smell is on par with that of most hunting dogs found in the Highlands.
Lifespan
20 years
Average Height
3'-8"
Average Weight
140 lbs
Average Length
5'-0"
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Naeko are generally a golden tan, to a lighter brown coloring. In the hot sun, there can even be seen a touch of red in their fur. Most carry spots or stripes or a combination of the two, but only cubs are usually seen to have neither, as they are a sign of maturation in the naeko.
Geographic Distribution
