Yokaren

A yokaren is a type of wild animal found in the forests that surround the Kynhaymian Kingdom and also found in the western continent's forests. They are a cautious bunch of creatures that tend to stay away from human civilisations for the sake of their own survival, as they often get hunted for their furs, horns and feathers.
However, should one manage to keep cautious contact with one, they'd find that the yokaren are a race of very warm and amicable creatures who make extremely great companions, as they themselves tend to live quite long.

Basic Information

Anatomy

It looks and has the general build of a wolf, but is around 3 to 4 times bigger and they have 6 legs: 4 hind ones and 2 front ones, having developed in such a way where they can both hunt and carry heavy loads for long travels. They have two small horns protruding from their foreheads and a pair of wings from their backs. Though it can fly, it can’t stay airborne for longer than 5 hours.
They're a race of creatures that have adapted strangely in comparison to what they have evolved from, being able to carry weights and gaining extra limbs due to this. Though it is uncertain as to why, scholars have theorised that they used to have to travel long distances from place to place in order to find food and survive, and have adapted the ability to carry some hunts with them to help them on the journey.

Biological Traits

Yokaren, like other magical creatures, have elemental abilities which they use to aid them when hunting or trying to escape from bigger and stronger hunters than themselves. Yokaren are ones who can use both wind and earth to aid them in their day to day lives, and have a set of abilities that have been found to be consistent for the entire race.
Wind: Wind Shield, Air Cutter, Smoke Bomb

• Wind Shield: A defensive wall of swirling air that deflects any incoming attacks.
• Air Cutter: A sword-like slash of air that can injure opponents. While not necessarily strong enough to cut through people or other creatures, it can still be deadly when used right.
• Smoke Bomb: Gathers the air into a tight ball that explodes and creates a smoke screen through which yokaren have an advantage by using their heightened senses, allowing them to attack while concealed.

Earth: Earth Wall, Clay Prison, Earthquake, Nature’s Grasp

• Earth Wall: Another defensive spell, they use the earth below them to create a defensive wall in front of them that would aid in deflecting incoming attacks.
• Clay Prison: A trap made of clay, the prison is a clay dome that encompasses enemies. While it's not particularly threatening, it gives yokaren time to flee out of the area and into hiding should they want to avoid fighting or are injured.
• Earthquakes: As the name suggest, it creates a number of smaller earthquakes centred around the yokaren that shake the earth around them in a 200 abal radius.
• Nature's Grasp: Creates a large number of thick vines from the ground that grasp the enemy in a tight grip and holds them in place.

Genetics and Reproduction

They reproduce just like normal wolves do. However, due to the slight change in their physique, females are usually pregnant for around 13 - 15 weeks instead, the wings taking a little bit more to develop than the rest of the body.

Growth Rate & Stages

As yokaren tend to live quite long, cubs are still considered as such until they reach around 5 years old, at which point they are considered adolescents and young adults. During this stage until they reach adulthood, they start to follow their older counterparts to learn what they're supposed to do once they become adults.
The younger males start following around their fathers, taking care of any younger siblings and learning to defend their home should anything require it. Younger females start following around their mothers, learning how to hunt and provide for the family. Regardless of gender, young yokaren start also learning how to use the abilities they have in order to help them out with their respective jobs.
Males tend to reach adulthood around 8 years old, but usually still follow around until they're 9 when they then go off to find a mate and start their own families. Female yokaren tend to reach adulthood the second they can consistently hunt deer and other food for their family. After 5 successful solo hunts where their mothers only observe them, they are considered an adult and can go off on their own to start a family.

Ecology and Habitats

Yokaren live in forests in small packs of around half a dozen to a dozen, usually consisting of only one family and their relatives. Mostly live deep in the forests, staying away from humans and hunting prey in the vicinity (rabbits and deer).

Dietary Needs and Habits

Yokaren are a carnivorous race, tending to eat the rabbits, deer and other wild game they can find around the forest. They try to hunt for both big game and small game when going out however, so that their cubs can learn how to eat an animal for themselves while they also eat their share.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Yokaren mothers tend to be the ones who go out hunting for food while the male takes care of the cubs, despite the female still being the one to give birth to them. They (females) tend to have a slighter larger build, which is why they’re the ones who go out and do the hunting while the males stay behind to protect their cubs. They only have one partner for life, a “mate” of sorts, though they choose who they wish.
On that note, they do have similar behaviours to wolves:

• Stay away from people unless threatened and have to defend themselves
• When in packs, all the males take care of all the cubs (one big family essentially) when the females go hunting (they go together)
• Alphas are just the oldest yokaren pair who takes care of everyone in the pack

Geographic Origin and Distribution

On the eastern continent, yokaren can only be found in the forests of the Kynhaymian Kingdom, as all of the other climates are too temperamental for them to live in compared to what they're used to. Though they can live anywhere as long as they have meat, they do tend to be found in more temperate climates, residing deep inside forests and away from humans.
On the western continent however, that is more lush and filled with both forest and with a much more temperate climate, they're found quite often and are a common race around the continent. They're not only found inside forests, but can also be found in wildlands filled with wild horses and plains' lizards, and even some mountains where they've adapted to hunting bears and some of the other animals that inhabit the lands.

Average Intelligence

Though they are beasts, they are highly intelligent creatures, similar to that of humans. Yokaren are even able to intelligently have a conversation with people should they manage to form a link with one, or have one tamed under your care.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Yokaren have an extraordinary sense of smell and hearing, with a good sense of sight as well. They use their senses of smell and hearing to hunt down any close and nearby prospective prey, and then use their eyesight to try and make sure there's no one else nearby to steal their prey and plan out their hunt. However, they also use their sense of hearing and smell to avoid coming in contact with humans whenever possible, disliking them and tending to stay deep inside the forest and away from human eye.

Trivia Fact

In the "Beyond Duology" books, Turaki is shown as being one of these creatures. She is a companion to Yakry and a close friend of hers, and can be seen travelling to different parts of the eastern continent and surviving there.
While Turaki is an anomaly in terms of the yokaren found on that continent, it isn't all that unusual for them to adapt to many different environments as long as they have smaller prey they can hunt for food.
Notable Yokaren: Turaki (Beyond Duology), Jarl (Kayl'alt & the Fal'taryr Family), Fa'hri (Born to the Wildlands)
Similar Existing Animals: Wolves

Scientific Name

Canidae

Lifespan

60 - 75 years

Average Height

16 abals (av. fem adult) and about 13 abals (av. male adult)

Average Weight

315 toruls (av. fem adult) and about 280 toruls (av. male adult) and
Yokaren are surprisingly strong in terms of carrying weight, though most humans within the Kynhaymian Kingdom haven’t figured that out due to their thinking that they’re inherently dangerous. Adult yokaren can carry up to about 160 toruls, though if necessary can go up to just below their body weight.~ Unknown

Average Length

18 abals in length and 65 abals is the average wing span