I decided I needed shape shifters that could fly for the short story I'm working on. One of the restrictions in my setting is that theriantropes (fancy word for werewolves and all other were-animals) can only have predatory mammals as their animal aspect. I could go with were-bats, but that didn't feel right and since there are no other flying mammals I had to invent something of my own:
Wind Bear
The wind bear (ursus optera) is, like the bat, one of only a few mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Wind bears are generally found at high altitude in mountainous regions and while some species have a wingspan of less than a foot most are significantly larger. The largest of the species, the windkaiser, has a wingspan of at least 21 feet, but individuals with wingspans of up to 33 feet have been reported.
The wind bear has a large body, a round bear-like head and short hind legs. The wings of the wind bear also function as arms and have strong clawed paws at their ends. It is generally covered in thick fur, but a few hairless species in the deep south are the exception to the rule.
The fur on the underside of the wind bear is usually dark or bright depending on if the species is nocturnal or active during the day. Smaller species may need to hide from larger predators and have overside coloration matching the ground of the region they make their home in.
The larger species have few, if any, natural enemies and their overside fur is often bright and colorful. Red, brown, green, yellow and orange are common colors, but a few purple, blue, black and gold variants exist.
All wind bears are predatory but most are able to digest fruits and berries when needed. Wind bears primarily hunt flying prey, but will occasionally take creatures climbing on cliff sides or on top of ridges or large rocks. The long unwieldy wings and the short hind legs of the wind bear make them clumsy and vulnerable on flat ground.
The body mass of a wind bear is huge and most species are unable to take off from even ground and require a ledge or other elevated point to throw themselves from. Fortunately they are good climbers with the their long winged arms giving them a good reach.
The overside fur of the larger wind bears is a prized trophy for big game hunters and many of the larger species have been hunted to near extinction. Those that still exist tend to live in regions, or at altitudes, too hostile for most hunters.
Attempts have been made to domesticate wind bears to use as flying mounts. Several species are large and strong enough to be able to carry the weight of a grown man both in the air and on the ground. Unfortunately the species do not react well to domestication and no successful cases of anyone managing to tame a wind bear have been recorded. There are several legends of mountain dwellers who have managed it and there are stories of wind bears who have carried stranded climbers to safety.
Wind bear have some innate magical abilities. These are mainly related to navigation to help the wind bear find its way back to its lair through low visibility situations such as fogs or snowstorms. Some species flying and hunting at high altitude are able to use magical abilities to home in on prey which would otherwise be out of sight.
Questions?
Wind Bear
The wind bear (ursus optera) is, like the bat, one of only a few mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Wind bears are generally found at high altitude in mountainous regions and while some species have a wingspan of less than a foot most are significantly larger. The largest of the species, the windkaiser, has a wingspan of at least 21 feet, but individuals with wingspans of up to 33 feet have been reported.
The wind bear has a large body, a round bear-like head and short hind legs. The wings of the wind bear also function as arms and have strong clawed paws at their ends. It is generally covered in thick fur, but a few hairless species in the deep south are the exception to the rule.
The fur on the underside of the wind bear is usually dark or bright depending on if the species is nocturnal or active during the day. Smaller species may need to hide from larger predators and have overside coloration matching the ground of the region they make their home in.
The larger species have few, if any, natural enemies and their overside fur is often bright and colorful. Red, brown, green, yellow and orange are common colors, but a few purple, blue, black and gold variants exist.
All wind bears are predatory but most are able to digest fruits and berries when needed. Wind bears primarily hunt flying prey, but will occasionally take creatures climbing on cliff sides or on top of ridges or large rocks. The long unwieldy wings and the short hind legs of the wind bear make them clumsy and vulnerable on flat ground.
The body mass of a wind bear is huge and most species are unable to take off from even ground and require a ledge or other elevated point to throw themselves from. Fortunately they are good climbers with the their long winged arms giving them a good reach.
The overside fur of the larger wind bears is a prized trophy for big game hunters and many of the larger species have been hunted to near extinction. Those that still exist tend to live in regions, or at altitudes, too hostile for most hunters.
Attempts have been made to domesticate wind bears to use as flying mounts. Several species are large and strong enough to be able to carry the weight of a grown man both in the air and on the ground. Unfortunately the species do not react well to domestication and no successful cases of anyone managing to tame a wind bear have been recorded. There are several legends of mountain dwellers who have managed it and there are stories of wind bears who have carried stranded climbers to safety.
Wind bear have some innate magical abilities. These are mainly related to navigation to help the wind bear find its way back to its lair through low visibility situations such as fogs or snowstorms. Some species flying and hunting at high altitude are able to use magical abilities to home in on prey which would otherwise be out of sight.
Questions?
Troubadour
I would never go on a plane again.
Maester
Auror
Dreamer
