Deno

For those seeking companionship, it is hard to find a better one than a deno. These medium-sized quadrupeds, from a distance, may be mistaken for wolves - a mistake not so easily made once close. Although the lower part of it's body is similarly covered in fur, it's entire back is covered in a set of small armour plates. Typically they have very short tails, although some deno are bred specifically for longer ones. The exact origin of this species is unknown, with many debating whether they are their own unique evolution, or if they are some variation of wolves and some other long-dead ancestor.



Deno are extremely intelligent, and can be trained for complex tasks easily. This makes them ideal herding animals, and are typically owned by farmers on the outskirts of Aedan.



Additionally, deno have a very strong sense of community, and form bonds with not just members of their own species, but also members of others. There have been many stories of babies getting lost in the woods only for them to be found in a den, with a deno protectively curled around them. This sense of community makes them extremely protective of their community, and can become extremely aggressive when those they consider family. Typically the older a dero is, the quicker these bonds form, and the stronger these bonds become.



Because of their popularity with many Aedians, the deno have been adopted as the symbol for the Aedian Royal Family. In particular, a white-furred deno with red streaks, reminiscent of Aegis, Solannis' Guardian. This in turn has also increased the popularity of the deno with wealthly, metropolitan Aedians. Rather than use these dogs as herding animals, deno in the city are typically owned for recreational purposes, are bred for show, or are trained as caretakers for young children.