Wildlife

Jeeth

(singular: jee) Small lizards that hunt rodents in the Estuary of the Forked Tongue. They are light green with tan spots on their back, and tan bellies. They have sharp teeth, and range in size from one foot (very young) to eight feet (large adult male.) Their skin is tough on top, though soft on the bottom. Their underbellies are resistant to heat, and their skins are made into clothing, especially shoes and boots.

Jee are very fast, but are not particularly aggressive. They are typically solitary creatures, but can sometimes be found in groups of 2-5 for short periods of time. Rarely, they gather in a group of twenty or more - no one knows why. The meat is plain but edible, though a little stringy and in need of spice. They have short, dull claws which they use to dig small holes for sleeping. They do not have permanent dens, digging a new one every night. Mothers give birth to 2-12 eggs and stays until they hatch. At that point, they are on their own. Young jee do not eat their own, but the lack of food often means jeeth that die are consumed by their siblings.

Balican rat

Balican rat is the general classification or rodents in the area surrounding Balic (there are actually three different species, but they basically the same.) They are pale in color, ranging from pure white to a deep tan, and are generally small in size � typically about a foot in length, but can reach almost three times that size. The smaller varieties can be found in Balic itself among the refuse and along the docks, nibbling on bags of grain. They can usually be seen behind restaurants are taverns where any excess food may have been thrown out. The larger varieties make tunnels just below the silt line of the Estuary of the Forked Tongue. The holes twist so that silt does not get into their lair. The rats can hold their breath several minutes, and will enter silt for both food and to avoid predators.

Balican rats are omnivores, eating scrub plants and carrion, though they prefer meat. They are hunted by most meat eating predators in the area. Balican rats are primarily nocturnal, leaving their lair just before sunset. They never venture far, and at any sign of danger they scurry back into their tunnels. They only fight if cornered, using their large teeth and long, dull claw to attack pursuers.