2. Excerpt From “A Human’s Guide to Understanding Otherfolk”
EXCERPT FROM “A HUMAN’S GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING OTHERFOLK”
by Syr Hippolyta Duke, PhD
ORDER: LEOPARDOPTERA FAMILY: AVEFAUNA SPECIES: OWL-BEAR
There are two major types of leopardopterans. For those who are unfamiliar with the mundane (AKA human) sciences, “Lepidoptera” is the Order which includes butterflies and moths. A leopardopteran is any mammalian otherfolk with wings.
“True” leopardopterans have butterfly/moth-like features, including membranous wings and antennae.
These include, for example, the monarctic fox (which resembles an Arctic fox with monarch butterfly wings), the crimson rhinocerose (which resembles a rhinoceros with crimson rose butterfly wings), and the honey locust badger (which resembles a honey badger with honey locust moth wings and has no fear of death).
Another clade within Leopardoptera contains the Avefauna or flying mammals with bird-like features. Among these, one of the most beautiful, compelling, and elusive species is THE OWL-BEAR.
The owl-bear’s overall shape is, as expected, bear-like.
However, all four legs are covered in feathers and end in owl-like feet with gripping talons.
The large eyes within the owl-bear’s feathery face are also more owl-like—wide and golden, with distinctly visible pupil and iris.
Unlike an owl, owl-bears do have round and furry ears which could reasonably be described as “adorable.”
While the largest mundane bear can weigh nearly 1,500 pounds, the owl-bear can easily double—and even triple—this weight.
Owl-bears are sexually dimorphic; females are much larger, with golden-tipped, grey beaks, while the males are smaller and possess silver-tipped beaks.
Despite the variance in weight, both sexes have the same size wings.
Magizoologists therefore posit that males may be stronger fliers and lead nomadic lifestyles across great distances, while the weaker-flighted females occupy a small territory.
Due to their penchant for high altitudes and their seemingly solitary nature, not much is known about owl-bear behavior. How they spend their days (or perhaps nights?) remains a mystery.