Kelusine

### Distinctions

Saber teeth, thumb-like appendage in place of dewclaw, mane growth in both sexes

## Sociocultural Characteristics

### Diet

Carnivore

The planetary symbol of Kelusia (with their paw print being used on the Kelusian Flag), Kelusines are a diverse species of felines with five subspecies occupying a wide range of habitats from humid tropical islands to frigid ice sheets.

# Biology

## Description

Immense felines, they are quite similar to the big cats of Earth aside from their strong saber teeth (which range from 4-8 inches) and thumb-like appendages in place of their dew claws. Males have lion-like manes whereas the females sport a short mane along the nape of their neck. In certain subspecies that reside in colder regions (Mountaineers and Wastelanders), the females’ manes may extend to their shoulders and belly.

### Colors

*Standard:*

1. Black
2. Grey
3. Silver
4. Brown
5. Light Brown
6. Tundra
7. Chocolate
8. Lilac
9. Fawn
10. Brown Ash
11. Golden
12. Tawny
13. Cream
14. Orange
15. Peach
16. Green Ash
17. Yellow Ash
18. Russet
19. Russet Brown
20. Cinnamon
21. Red
22. Strawberry
23. Red Ash
24. Blue
25. Blue-Grey
26. Chinchilla
27. Moonstone
28. Blizzard

*Modifiers:*

* **Colorpoint**: Dilutes the base while leaving the extremities (face/tail/paws) normal
* **Reversal**: Switches the color of the base coat and markings (ex: black with white stripes)
* **Light**: Turns the inner marking of rosette/smeared/clouded/snow spot lighter than the base coat
* **Pied**: White covers 25%-90% of the beast in solid patches
* **Splatter**: White “paint splatters” cover 10%-50% of the beast
* **Tortoiseshell** (Female only): The “red” gene is active and causes discoloration in patches.

### Patterns

Common

Uncommon

Rare

*Pattern Mutations*

* Chimera (Two different base colors and markings)
* Split (Two marking types)
* Albino (White with ghost markings)
* Melanistic (Black with ghost markings)
* Fallen Snow (Sabino along dorsal side)
* Drift (Sabino along ventral side)
* Glitch (Markings are broken and missing in some places)
* Mist (Markings fade towards dorsal side)
* Fog (Markings fade towards ventral side)
* Storm (Markings in thin vertical bands)

### Physical Mutations

*Mane*:

* Razorback (mane continues to tail)
* Rimmed (mane along forelimb and back limb undersides)
* Curtain (long fur resemble horse mane)
* Static (Long and stiff along spinal area)
* Scruff (Longer chin fur)

*Tail*:

* Bobtail (Stump)
* Angel (longer silky fur)
* Short (Akin to a wolf; standard for Wastelanders)

*Ears*:

* Pointed (triangular rather than semi-circle)
* Tufted (Lynx-like;)
* Horned (Curl backwards)
* Folded (Folded downwards)

## Subspecies

There are five subspecies; Islanders, Plainers, Foresters, Mountaineers, and finally Wastelanders. Islanders are the smallest and considered to be the most human friendly whereas Wastelanders are more aggressive and hostile towards human. Not quite an official subspecies, there is a subgroup of Kelusines who live in cities. These Keluisnes, City Dwellers, are smaller, thinner, and are the most likely to be man-eaters due to the lack of food.

Certain colors, mutations, and patterns are more common in different subtypes.
*Islander*:

* Common Fur Colors- Golden, Brown, Brown Ash, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Black
* Common Color Modifiers- Light, Tortieshell
* Common Patterns- Rosette, Smeared Spot, Wild, and Clouded
* Common Pattern Mutations- Melanistic, Glitch, Chimera
* Common Physical Mutations- Razorback Mane, Folded Ears, Angel Tail

*Plainer*:

* Common Fur Colors- Tawny, Cream, Strawberry, Golden, Peach, Fawn, Green Ash, Yellow Ash
* Common Color Modifiers- Light, Colorpoint
* Common Patterns-Tabby, Plain Spot, Sand Spot, Mesh, Double Dose, Colorpoint, Brindle.
* Common Pattern Mutations- Chimera, Storm, Split
* Common Physical Mutations- Pointed Ears, Horned Ears, Static Mane

*Forester*:

* Common Fur Colors- Brown, Golden, Orange, Russet, Russet Brown, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Red, Black, Red Ash
* Common Color Modifiers- Reversal, Light, Tortieshell
* Common Fur Patterns- Tabby, Tortoiseshell, Marbled, Rosette (Leopard), Wild, Brindle, Double Dose
* Common Pattern Mutations- Chimera, Storm, Glitch
* Common Physical Mutations- Short Tail, Angel Tail, Curtain Mane

*Mountaineer* :

* Common Fur Colors- Grey, White, Light Brown, Tundra, Lilac, Fawn, Blue, Blue-Grey, Chinchilla, Moonstone, Blizzard
* Common Color Modifiers- Splatter, Pied
* Common Fur Patterns- Tabby, Torbie, Calico, Colorpoint, Snow Spot, Plain Spot, Brindle, Mesh, Dusting
* Common Pattern Mutations- Split, Drift, Mist
* Common Physical Mutations- Rimmed Mane, Horned Ears, Static Mane

Wastelander:

* Common Fur Colors- Grey, White, Lilac, Fawn, Blue, Blue Grey, Moonstone, Blizzard
* Common Color Modifiers- Colorpoint, Reversal
* Common Fur Patterns- Wild Stripe, Smeared Spot, Brindle, Double Dose
* Common Pattern Mutations- Albino, Fallen Snow, Fog
* Common Physical Mutations-Bobtail, Scruff Mane, Tufted Ears, Razorback Mane

## Diet

Hypercarnivores, Kelusines require meat. They are not picky when it comes to meat, although shy away from carrion or cannibalism and a vast majority will not eat humans. One exception is the Wastelander subspecies, who will eat whatever prey they can catch. And humans are easy prey; dumb and slow.

## Habitat

Thanks to the abundance of specialized subspecies, Kelusines are one of the most diverse species in terms of location. They can be found almost everywhere apart from the far poles, deserts, and swamps. Large carnivores, they require an area rich in prey and thus control large swaths of territory either as a clan or as individuals.

## Life Cycle

Kelusine females carry for 9-10 months. There are 2-4 cubs in a litter, on rare occasions 5. The cubs are born helpless and cannot see or hear a week after birth. It is not uncommon for an expectant mother who resides alone to seek out a clan who will let her stay with them the first week or so after her cubs’ birth. She does this to ensure that her cubs are not killed by a rival or possibly a jealous male.

At two weeks, Kelusine cubs are stumbling around on stubby, unsteady legs. By now they can hear and see. They resemble fluffballs on sticks, their fur soft as down feathers. At three weeks, they can walk on their own without trouble and are play fighting with littermates or cubs near the same age if there are any. Around two months they are introduced to solid food. However, they continue to nurse until they are 9 months. At two years they begin to learn how to hunt for their own prey. They are usually taken out by both their mother and father if in a clan. If not, the mother or an older sibling will take them.

Kelusines are considered cubs until year four. By that time they are the size of a teenage tiger or lion. From year four to twelve they are considered adolescents.  By now they are about the size of an adult lion or tiger. During the teenage years, Kelusines’ manes begin to grow. Their saber teeth also grow longer and stronger. Unless they grow up as rouges or loners, Kelusines begin to learn the basics of fighting at age twelve. If they were born outside of a clan, Kelusines often learn to fight sooner.

At sixteen years, Kelusines can make it on their own with no extra help. However, they are not considered full adults until age twenty. Females mature, both sexually and mentally, faster than males. They are considered mature at eighteen, while it takes males until year twenty. After a Kelusine reaches age twenty, they may leave to explore or may look for a job as a mount.

Kelusines are a unique species in that they are biologically immortal. The oldest Kelusine on record, a Forester by the name of Powerful Huntress of the Mountain Pass Pride, reached 220 Kelusian Years. However, most Kelusines only make it to 100-120 KY due to an oddity within their genes that becomes active around that age and produces similar symptoms to the viral infection rabies. Instead of intense fear, the Kelusine will become extremely aggressive, attacking anyone and anything in sight. This is not contagious, as it is not an infection, but there is also no cure for the affliction referred to as “Old Age Rage”. The only way to stop an OAR Kelusine is, unfortunately, to kill the beast.

## Senses

Kelusines have incredible hearing but are also sensitive to higher pitches. They possess an amazing sense of smell, but, like the tigers of Earth, do not use it for hunting purposes. Instead, the primary use of this sense if for identification and mating purposes. They can see almost perfectly in near-complete darkness; however, bright light can be disorienting to them, so they mainly sleep during the height of the day and hunt at dusk, night, and dawn. Much like the felines of earth, Kelusines cannot taste sweetness as they lack the taste receptors to do so.

# Behavior

## Intelligence

Kelusines are one of the most intelligent animals of Kelusia, shy of dragons of course. Like most creatures, they can speak Basic. However, they are one of the few species that can learn languages other than their own and Basic. Kelusines are also one of the few that can operate high level technology. Some actually possess a Communication Watch on their wrists. Able to comprehend advanced math and science, Kelusines still prefer subjects that deal with history, natural science, and technology.

## Social Life

Social creatures, wild Kelusines often live in small prides that consist of 5-7 individuals. However, sometimes to expand their territory, prides will join and make larger groups, or clans, of around 10-20 individuals, depending on the amount of prey available. When in clans, Kelusines have a ranking system to help things flow smoothly within the clan. The “head” positions are the Leader, Medic, and Deputy. Below that is the bulk of the clan, divided further into equal subgroups: Scouts, Operators (tech), Hunters, Guards, Milk Givers, and Elders. Below that rank the Trainees, who are the Kelusines ages 4-12 years, and finally come the Cubs, or Kelusines under the age of 4.

### Clan Naming System

Generally, Kelusines follow an Adjective-Noun naming system. Kelusine younger than four will have Little in place of the Adjective (Little Huntress, Little Comet, Little Heart) and Kelsuines ages four to twelve will have Young in place of the adjective (Young Huntress, Young Comet, Young Heart). Once they have reached adulthood and proven themselves a capable Kelusine, they will finally add the Adjective portion to their name (Powerful Huntress, Blazing Comet, Amber Heart).

## Vocalizations and Body Language

As said earlier, Kelusines have a unique ability to learn other languages such as Ragera. However, when they talk it is noticeably more guttural and rough compared to human speech. Aside from being able to speak “civilized” languages, Kelusines can make a wide variety of feral sounds. They have the ability to roar, snarl, growl, chuff, cough, groan, and hiss. Younger Kelusines can purr, but they do not have the ability to roar until age 5. Islanders and Plainers cannot roar no matter their age, but instead, like cheetahs, can purr through adulthood.

Kelusines are also heavily reliant on body language. Their body language heavily mimics the tigers of Earth. A calm Kelusine has a relaxed body posture, and the tail hangs languidly. When curious, their tail will be raised high in the air and their ears will be forward in interest. An aggressive Kelusine will bare its teeth, widen its mouth, enlarge its pupils, and flatten its ears while lashing its tail.

## Common Jobs

Kelusines, when not in a clan-like group, will often find a non-Kelusine group to attach themselves to for a living since most Kelusines crave a community. When working with humanoid species (Alphians,  Rageryans,  Relks, ect), Kelusines usually serve as mounts and carry their companions around as they are more adept to the terrain. When working with a greater community, they serve as guards and patrol the territory for threats. Aside from mounts and guards, Kelusines often take jobs as game wardens or nature guides since they know their territory very well and know the places were prey is likely to be found.

# Ridability

Very human-like in their intelligence and readily available, Kelusines are perhaps the most common mount as living with riders ensures a constant, easy food source while also making sure they get their exercise. That being said it is crucial for riders to understand Kelusines are not pets. Rather, they are companions who have agreed to carry the rider on their back. It is also important to keep in mind that, while Kelusines do have the intellectual capabilities of a human or higher creature, they are still highly dangerous predators who can turn on you if they so please. So treat them well.

# Notable Kelusines

* Blazing Comet
* Powerful Huntress
* Amber Heart

# Trivia

* Despite their size, Plainer Kelusines can reach speeds of nearly 70 mph. Foresters are a close second, coming in around 50 mph at full speed.