The maokwu (Her eagle) was a species of flying feline predators that lived in the territories of Collea, Kaybi, and Kharam. Often found in rugged terrain and mountainous ridges, these solitary cliff hunters were agile, powerful, and ferocious. They had heads like lions, a pair of sharp, forward facing horns, four bird-like talons on their hind legs, five fore-claws on each front hand, feathers that covered most of their body and tail, and large wings between their shoulders. Many adults possess dark markings around the eyes resembling ceremonial war paint. Maokwu would hunt all manner of beasts both on the ground and in the sky, ambushing their prey by hiding in the bright sun and swopping in with incredible speed exceeding 190 kilometers per hour.
Maokwu also displayed an unusually high level of intelligence. When encountering members of the 44 Peoples, maokwu rarely attack and instead engage in a behavior dubbed “wild trading.” When travelers passed through maokwu territory, the maokwu would quickly bring objects of perceived value, such as shiny things, interesting rocks, and recovered refuse in exchange for food. If a trade is not made, the maokwu will block the way forward and roar at the caravan, but rarely resort to violence unless provoked.
As the Confederation started to establish cities encroaching into maokwu lands, the creatures found themselves living within them and quickly integrated into urban life. It was not uncommon to see maokwu sleeping on roofs or hunting fish in man-made lakes, the creatures able to distinguish when a possible prey animal was a pet or livestock and respected these attributions. Observations indicated that the maokwu preferred an urban lifestyle and they behaved themselves to maintain it, cities offering easy access to food and shelter. Over the centuries, they even began to decrease in size to better conserve energy, catch pests, and navigate the tight mazes of civilization.
The maokwu became a strong symbol of hospitality and providence throughout the Confederation, many noble houses of Collea, Kaybi, and Kharam integrating the maokwu into their heraldry. Members of the Royal Court occasionally had pet maokwu, although they were officially titled "advisors of the natural world.”