Animals owned by Jiahen Qeelsia

Milawic records about the life of Jiahen Qeelsia often mention the animals he kept as pets, working animals and livestock. Although the exact number is unknown, the mentioned animals number 24 in total, which was 3 cats, 2 dogs, 8 chickens, 2 cows, 1 donkey, 3 rats, 4 goats and one horse. Jiahen named all his animals, and Milawic records mention the individual animals by name.

## List of animals

At the time of his death in 25 AJ, all his animals mentioned in the records were alive, except for one of his cats, who died while Jiahen was waging the Battle of Qeelsia. The animals were given to various Milawic converts, all veterans of the Battle of Qeelsia. During the Battle of Qeelsia, older converts would house some of Jiahen's animals in their home. Specifically, Giyub Sideyn Qeelsia, an 87 year old woman in 25 AJ, took care of Jiahen's cats and dogs. Jiahen's "favorite" cat, Enku, birthed a litter of kittens a year after his death, and one of them, Edus, was adopted by Ulavin Qeelsia, starting an ongoing tradition of Avyanic cats.

### Enku

Enku, a red and white cat, is the animal most often mentioned in Milawic records, and has been called the "favorite animal" of Jiahen Qeelsia. Sources indicate that Jiahen adopted Enku from the street in his youth, and kept her in his home as a mostly indoor cat. Milawic biographer Samaqvir an-Tesnurvin writes about Enku that "she was a very needy cat, and would usually sit on the Avyas lap, on his feet, or on his stomach if he was lying down. When the Avya was in his home, Enku was never more than a stretched arm away from him. The Avya was always ready to rub her cheeks, or stroke her back, or pat her head, and would often kiss her. The Avya slept in a bed with his wife, Marun, and Enku in-between them, with Adsu and Biro by their feet, and the dogs, Samut and Zeket on the floor next to the bed."

### Adsu and Biro

Adsu and Biro, both black cats, were adopted by Jiahen and Marun a few years after adopting Enku. They were from the same litter. Samaqvir also describes a loving relationship between Jiahen and these cats, and adds that Marun was also very fond of Adsu and Biro. Adsu died of unknown causes during the Battle of Qeelsia.

### Samut and Zeket

Samut and Zeket were hunting dogs from the same litter, purchased by Jiahen in 22 AJ for the primary purpose of hunting desert wolves, to protect Jiahen's livestock. In the Milaw, Jiahen tells his followers that they should "be like the canine; always loyal, always strong, willing to tear the neck out of the wolf if it threatens you, but when the sun sets, always mild and sweet to even the smallest of creatures." Samut and Zeket were adopted by Anza Qeelsia, and died somewhere around 30 AJ.

### Fetser

Fetser was a donkey, purchased by Jiahen to transport goods. Fetser was described by Samaqvir as "stubborn and dumb, but otherwise sweet." Another part of Samaqvir's biography mentions a joke told by Jiahen, "My beloved donkey Fetser is sometimes so dumb I have considered re-naming him Anza," told in jest to an audience including Anza, who laughed. Fetsers fate is unknown, as no sources indicate him being adopted following the death of Jiahen.

### 8 chickens

Jiahen and Marun had a chicken coop of 8 chickens, which were mainly used to collect eggs. Samaqvir gives a list of names, "There was Delis, Kunoyob, Aisben, Muzhey, Dudu, Obay, Wenkey and Ubso."

### Guhus and Smaisa

Jiahen purchased two dairy cows around 23 AJ in exchange for a bag of lemons and an ingot of bronze, who he named Guhus and Smaisa. Milawic records state that Jiahen would milk the cows daily, and would often serve fresh milk to guests. He also produced non-aged soft cheese, which was curdled with lemons from his garden, butter and cottage cheese, which he and Marun would often eat on bread for dinner.

### Bid, Sib and Dir

Jiahen kept three tame rats named Bid, Sib and Dir, who according to Samaqvir lived in a woven basket. One scene in the Samaqvir biography describes Jiahen petting all three rats, and letting them crawl on him. According to Samaqvir, Jiahen's cats and dogs did not seem to be bothered by the rats.

### Duher, Diun, Kokous and Sintaj

Jiahen owned four goats, two of which were pack goats. It is common for Livians to bring goats with them into the markets, to carry bags of purchased goods. The remaining two goats, both females, would produce goat milk, which Marun enjoyed drinking, but Jiahen did not. According to Samaqvir, Jiahen would donate a lot of his goat milk to the local sick house, as underweight patients would often be served goat milk as meal alternatives.