fylox

Fylox are quadrapeds, recognizable by their long, slender legs, twin tails, and brown-scaled reptilian faces. Aside from their face they are covered in fur, mostly red with brown markings on their lower legs and the back of their neck, with white in their ears and the lower half of both tails. They are surprisingly muscular, a trait hidden well by their fur, with a jaw clamping strength of almost two thousand pounds per square inch and a top speed around fifty miles per hour.

The fylox is a native of Janikk, found wandering in the plains, forests, and wetlands. An omnivore by nature, its diet consists of fruit, vegetables, and any creature it can catch.   Fylox are highly cooperative, and while they may fight amongst themselves for territory or partnership they will not intentionally cause serious injury to one of their own. They are opportunistic and will readily eat the kills of others, provided they do not identify the carcass as belonging to one of their own. Many remain loners by nature during the plentiful spring and summer months, but even these will band together to join established packs during the fall and winter months to hunt down larger prey.

A fylox cannot be domesticated, merely tamed to respond in a desirable manner. They are highly trainable, particularly when rewarded with food and shelter and other favored enticements. If the benefits of the relationship cease so too does the fylox's loyalty, with some exceptions. If a fylox has accepted their handler as a member of their pack they will retain a semblance of a relationship, although the depth of this bond and the fylox's willingness to respond as trained ultimately depends upon the individual fylox.   Many Mordena Special Forces teams include one or several fylox as members of the team, relying upon the animals for offensive capabilities and their cleverness in problem solving. They have proven to be particularly adept at breaking into Shielded buildings and other structures, easily finding and exploiting security bypasses meant to allow the free passage of the target's own defensive animals.

Fylox are known to be crafy and creative, able to build and use simple tools to accomplish their goals and perform advanced problem solving involving multiple steps. They have developed a rudimentary language involving growls, yips, howls, body language, and scent, with slight variations based upon their home region on Janikk. They have been known to use Janikk's neural net to locate prey and readily form temporary packs to eliminate threats as identified by the net in defense of the planet.   In captivity they are highly trainable provided their handler remembers that they are not domesticated, merely willing to submit to the requests of others for their own benefit.  

Never neglect your fylox. Treat them like the best friends you'll ever have, and they may decide they like that idea.

— Mordena fylox training advice