Creatures of Aralon

Haeratchin [View] [Hear]

The four-legged haeratchin looks somewhat like hyena with coarse fur, a thick mane along its neck and back, and a short tasseled tail. They stand about 3 feet at the shoulder, and weigh up to 180 pounds. Their usual habitat is semi-arid regions and grasslands, where they hunt or scavenge at night.

Haeratchins live together in packs where the female is at the top of the hierarchy. Mating can take place at any time of the year, and there is surprisingly little fighting among males for a female in season. Usually, a male tries to impress a female and if she is interested, then she'll accept; if not, then she'll ignore him. Gestation lasts about three months, and the usual litter size is two.

Ratchin [View]

A ratchin looks somewhat like a dog or hyena with coarse fur, a mane along its neck and back, and a short tasseled tail. It walks upright and stands about 4 feet tall. Their usual habitat is rocky, semi-arid regions, where they spend the hot part of the day holed up in their dens. Their favorite food is small rodents, hares, and lizards.

The mating season starts when winter does. Several males may fight for an unmated female, but once bonded, a male and female ratchin may stay together for life, both helping in the rearing of the young. Three to five cubs are born after a gestation of three months, in the beginning of spring. Parent ratchins are fiercely territorial and protective of their young, sometimes attacking creatures up to twice their size.

Rynx [View] [Hear]

A rynx looks somewhat like a pale leopard with a long muzzle. They are muscular, four-legged animals that stand about 2 1/2 feet at the shoulder and weigh about 100-150 pounds. They live in tropical woodlands, spending much of their time in the trees. Their preferred prey is birds, frogs, and snakes.

Mating can take place at any time of the year. The dominant male in an area has rights to all females whose territories overlap his. After a gestation of eighty days, the female gives birth to two or three cubs, whom she alone rears for the next two years.

Yaergden [View] [Hear]

A yaergden is a bear-like animal with a bad additude. They are large, standing about 4 1/2 feet at the shoulder (when on all fours) and weighing up to 800 pounds. Their preferred habitat is deciduous and coniferous forests with grassy meadows nearby. They are omnivorous, feeding on plants and berries as well as animals.

During the autumn months, yaergden are busy fattening up for their long winter sleep. Mating also takes place in autumn. Yaergden are polygamous, with females usually picking the older and more experienced males to mate with. In the winter in the seclusion of her den, after a gestation of four months, the female gives birth to two or three cubs, whom she alone rears for the next two years.