Effagiu

Effagiu is a fox-like animal which has been seen in two species types - One inhabiting cold and abandoned hills of tundras and taigas around Rathnir and the second one, hiding in nether wastelands and crimson woods. It is a scavenger animal, eating on the left remains of killed animals, wandering around while constantly hiding from other living beings, which turned out to be its distinctive feature - it always lives alone, never letting any other animal, even its own kin, to approach it. Their population counts in only several hundred now, due to its mutual hostility and lack of habitat to live in, thus making it an endangered, yet significantly valued and desired species.

Creature Classification

 * Name: Effagiu
 * Type: Vulpiae
 * Threat Level: Deft-Class
 * Territory: Tundras and Taigas of Rathnir, Nether
 * Loot: Varies on luck.

Behavioural Patterns
As mentioned above, this creature is an individually living animal, wandering around in search of carrion. What’s even more interesting, is the fact that throughout the generations it learned human behaviours and their patterns to the level it allows it to stay hidden astonishingly well. Only a few managed to see it with their own eyes, whether it was thanks to outsmarting the animal or coming across it by sheer luck. In case any other being comes near it, it typically tries to scare them off with their appearance and menacing set of teeth. However, if it feels directly endangered, it can attack them by jumping on them and using sharp teeth and claws, capable of ripping and tearing, to lethally wound its prey. It’s also capable of outrunning most earthbound animals, as its agility is comparable with other types of foxes. It finds a partner to mate with by releasing a scent during the mating season to allow them to find them.

Appearance
Despite the fact that there have been 2 types registered, their anatomy and appearance don’t differ much from each other. It has an elongated slim body, covered with small white (Overworld type) or black (Nether type) scales protecting them from predators and the environment. Their pointy, long ears also make for a good distinctive feature - their hearing is capable of spotting another creature from several dozen metres away. Their pupils are dark-yellow (Nether type) or blue (Overworld type) coloured, depending on the species type. Its tail can measure from just 3 to 15 inches. Some older tribes spread rumours about it having a sting at the end of it due to its unusual look but it turned out to be fake. Upon death, it can sometimes drop a scale or two which use is the same as netherite scrap (Nether type) or quartz (Overworld type). Additionally, some rotten meat can drop from its stomach.

History
Back when Rathnir wasn’t as populated as it is now, these animals used to inhabit all of the continents. It didn’t have to worry about any other hostile species thanks to its anatomy and lack of a dominant species that would change the environment to such an extent simultaneously forcing it to hide in the most inaccessible places for humanoid beings. Some of the population even fled to the nether, additionally adapting to the new, much more demanding environment, for example changing its white scales to black-coloured, more durable and harder to spot in the blood-coloured hellish forests.

Their behaviour adaptation also wasn’t a coincidence - there has been evidence of some tribes taming them and making them their pets, helping them in hunting and prey-searching, as their scent is far more superior to a usual hound.