Cosmopoliturtle on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/cosmopoliturtle/art/Hiraeth-Creature-719-Ziragos-707007184Cosmopoliturtle

Deviation Actions

Cosmopoliturtle's avatar

Hiraeth Creature #719 - Ziragos

By
Cosmopoliturtle
Published:
886 Views
digitalartfantasyfantasyartfantasycreaturefantasyworldillustrationworldbuildinghiraethdailydrawingcosmopoliturtle

Description

When travellers pass through the southern frontier and take their first steps into the desert, the elements beating down upon them isn't the only thing they have to fear. Slopes of sands and howling winds disguise monsters lurking about, looking for prey. Occasionally lost in the landscape, the Ziragos blends into the sand and stone when the eyes become weary in the sunlight. They are hunters, masters of honing in on quarry, their instinctual senses expertly tuned over generations. While a Ziragos can be deadly, they're isn't much to fear if one sees the beast trotting from afar-- Ziragos plan out hunts extensively, and if they are casually wandering in plain sight, they probably aren't looking for food. They are perfectionists above all else, and if they are spotted while resting, they are more likely to run off than anything.

Ziragos travel in packs, often lead by a large male who patrols and guards their dens, while females go off to hunt. When the females leave, it is the alpha Ziragos who stays behind to watch over the colts. The shriek of an alpha Ziragos is harrowing, and often a signal to find another route during a journey. Sometimes rogue male and female Ziragos survive on their own throughout the desert, often growing larger than normal. These Ziragos are famous in folktales for being the steeds of ruthless bandit warlords who would terrorize and conquer townships, though no one has seen a real person riding on a Ziragos in many ages. It is said a legendary bandit queen first tamed one of these wild beasts by offering it a sacred fish from a hidden river. The body of water alluded to in the story is a myth within itself-- a river spanning from the southern frontier all the way to the Sun-Fire Sea is said to exist, cutting through the land. This river is in a pocket realm within Hiraeth, and only the spirit who lords over it can allow the attuned to use it, often at a great cost. If the mythical exploits of this bandit queen are to be believed then, both the legend of river and tales of Ziragos riders may be true.
--------------------------------------------------------

Image size
3340x2590px 479.11 KB
© 2017 - 2024 Cosmopoliturtle
Comments5
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Trotabosques's avatar
Trotabosques

If a Ziragos and a Staghorn compete in a race, who would win?