Phoenix

The Phoenix are much misunderstood beasts. Most Xarians believe they are a myth. This is easily understood, because they are so rarely seen and often witnesses do not survive the destruction they reek. Those humans who do know of them, view Phoenix as horribly calamitous, like wild fire, or as some noble benevolent force like Unicorns. Some believe they created the deserts, while others believe they created the sun.
In reality, they are a balancing force of nature. They have the ability to start large fires, burning out dead wood leaving behind fertile soil so that life can began anew. Fires may also be started to control the population of any living thing that has become a threat to natures equilibrium. They defy the conventional notions of good and evil, serving instead a higher more elusive purpose.
Older and more nature oriented, elves seem to understand this. They also know that a finite number of these animals exist, probably only 2 or 3 in all of Xaria. Each animal represents a single blood line. When they die their bodies are consumed by flame leaving behind a single egg that will hatch birthing the next Ph nix in that line. If one is destroyed, it cannot be replaced. For this reason the elven community and the fey try to protect them, especially when they are young and defenseless.