Stony Anoa

Looking across the rocky peaks of the Kethendian range, one can see with close observation small shapes flitting across steep cliffs and rockfalls. These are the stony anoa, a relative of cattle and an endemic species of Kethendia. The small buffalo-like creatures live in undisturbed area on the mountains, while their cousins the basin anoa live deep in the forested valleys between mountains.

Stony anoa are typically wild, but the Shieldbreaker Clan has domesticated several herds of the species, using them for meat, milk, and wool.

Habitat

Both the stony and basin anoa are endemic to the island of Kethendia. Stony anoa live in high elevations, typically above the snow line, during the summer and then move downhill to lower elevations and a warmer climate during the winter. They feed on mountain grasses and shrubs, digging through snow if necessary to access the plants. Stony anoa also show high preference to wild carrots and other root vegetables, using their hooves to dig through the soil and pull the plants up. This diet is supplemented for domesticated stony anoa with hay and occasional fruit during the winter. Stony anoa are preyed upon by large carnivores such as bears or mountain lions, and the young can be carried off by birds of prey if unsupervised. Their rich, tender meat is a favorite among mountain carnivores.

Morphology

Stony anoa share many physical characteristics with their bovine relatives, especially water buffalo. At birth, these anoa are a light grey color and covered with a downy fur coat. With age, this coat darkens to dark grey or even black and can be mottled to blend in more easily with the surrounding rocks. Both males and females grow a pair of horns, typically a long, straight set protruding from the back of the top of the skull. Small ears below the base of the horns swivel constantly as the anoa stays alert for potential threats. Stony anoa have long, thick fur similar to that of sheep which is highly praised for its warmth and softness. Underneath this fur, the stony anoa grows a very thick hide protecting it from scrapes and cuts caused by loose rocks or stony ledges. The stony anoa's cloven hooves are well suited for climbing steep cliffs and rock piles, able to spread apart to provide better grip. The hooves are equipped with inner pads to create traction and sharp dewclaws to prevent falls.

Anoa cows give birth in late spring to usually one but occasionally two calves.

Husbandry

Although stony anoa are a wild species, the Shieldbreaker clan of Kethendia has managed to domesticate some of them for its own use. Herds are kept during the winter in barns, and led to pasture in early spring. When the herds are out to pasture, they are rotated around the valley outside Zorrinn's Citadel. The sweet grass on the slopes of each peak makes for excellent food for the anoa. In late fall, the herds are brought back down to the barns and kept inside during the harsh mountain winters.

In mid spring, the anoa are brought down from the hillsides for shearing. In this process, the hundreds of anoa are corralled, then washed and dried before being sheared and returned to the slopes. Anoa wool is woven into yarn and warm cloth, dyed in intricate patterns, and sold to the merchants who make their way up the mountain in early summer. These products are of high value because of the wool's quality and the difficulty which merchants go to in order to access it.

The herdkeepers who accompany the anoa around the valley also have the daily task of milking each female and collecting the rich milk. With each keeper's herd containing about twenty or so cows, this task is time consuming but results in a valuable product. This milk can be used to make cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products, or drunk straight from the bottle. Calves are fed either with leftover milk or from their mothers directly, depending on the herdkeeper.

In late autumn, when the herds are brought back from the slopes, butchering time begins. Herdkeepers select around five individuals, typically adult males, for butchering. It is a humane process, and the waste-not policy of the Shieldbreaker clan ensures that no anoa is butchered without need. The clan chieftain keeps careful record of how many anoa are butchered each year and how much meat was used by the next butchering time so as to have the optimal amount without wasting anything. Herdkeepers must pay a fine if they are discovered to have butchered too many. The meat is dried, frozen, or otherwise stored for later use. Anoa meat can be sold to merchants but typically is not, as such a practice is believed to encourage greed and wasteful butchering.