Sniptail

Graceful, cunning, and unnervingly intelligent, Sniptails are a rare but highly sought-after species of raptor. Though they have since spread across the Neo Keleva's wilds, they are not truly wild birds in the traditional sense. They haunt the forgotten forests and mountain cliffs of Neo Keleva with silent, predatory grace. Although acclimated to the bitter cold, these creatures are not native to the region, but are believed to originate from a distant continent. Their presence in Neo Keleva is thought to be the result of the ancient Unearthing of the Dwarves, though the reasons for their introduction remain unrecorded and long forgotten. 

Whether as companions, tools, or curiosities, Sniptails have never fully rewilded. Instead, they exist in a strange liminality: half predator, half pet, never entirely one or the other.

Today, they are most often seen perched upon gloved arms, the companions of falconers, messengers, and aristocrats alike. Their sleek, snow-coloured plumage, accented with sharp black markings on their ears and wings, has made them a favourite among the elite, both for their beauty and for the silent elegance they exude. A trained Sniptail is not a decoration; it is a scalpel. And in the right hands, it cuts clean into soft flesh.

Despite their size, Sniptails are not delicate creatures. They are built for the hunt—small but powerful quadrupeds that use both wing and claw to navigate dense forests and mountain cliffs. Their wings are broad and strong, capable of gliding over great distances with almost no sound. Their tails, tipped in dark bristles, twitch constantly in flight, helping with aerial balance and signalling intent. Sharp, three-pronged talons can lock prey in place while the curved beak, usually concealed beneath a small lip of soft tissue, does its bloody work.

They are daylight hunters, relying on keen eyesight and finely attuned hearing to track small mammals from great distances. The long, rabbit-like ears atop their heads swivel independently, catching sounds from all directions and communicating mood to their handlers with uncanny clarity. At night, they become restless, preferring the light where their senses are at their most acute.

Tamed Sniptails retain most of their wild intelligence but grow accustomed to routine and command. They can be taught to respond to gestures, whistles, or even spoken phrases, and some have been trained to deliver messages, retrieve game, or perform in hunting trials. They form deep bonds with their handlers and, like cats, show affection only when they choose. They are not loyal in the canine sense, but they remember kindness and insult.

Those unfamiliar with Sniptails often mistake them for harmless birds of prey. They are not. They are weapons of instinct and memory, raised on discipline, guided by hand, and trained.