Sailhunter
Sailhunter
The Sailhunter is a large, low-bodied predator that lives in the sheltered forests of Cove Haven. It is most easily recognized by the tall, thin sail rising from its back, often standing as high as a man’s chest. (Distinct from the Sailgrazer's by its straight spines and lack of eyespots.) In adults, the body is colored in layered shades of light and dark brown, blending closely with soil, bark, and leaf litter. In contrast, the sail is vivid—marked in tones of orange, yellow, and deep red—which can catch the light even under the forest canopy. Despite this bright display, the animal remains difficult to see when still. The sail’s colors often break up its outline among shafts of sunlight, fallen leaves, and shifting shadows.
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| Sailgrazer (showing its more rounded sail) |
Its body is long and heavy, carried on short, sturdy legs that keep it close to the ground. The head is broad and deep, with a mouth full of uneven, sharp teeth that are suited for gripping and tearing prey.
The Sailhunter hunts by remaining unseen. When resting or waiting in cover, it can be nearly invisible against the forest floor. It moves slowly, stopping often, and relies on cover to approach prey. When close enough, it lunges in a short, sudden burst of speed.
It feeds on many of the forest’s animals. The most common prey are the small, beaked Parrot Hogs, which travel in groups and spend much of their time digging in the soil. The related Sailgrazer is another common target. It will also take young or vulnerable individuals of the larger Slopeback, though these are dangerous to approach.
Near water, the they sometimes hunts the slow, thick-bodied grazers that gather in the shallows—known as Bump grazers. It may also take smaller animals along the reeds, including the Reed Crawler, though these tend to be taken more often by juvenile Sailhunters.
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| Ambushing a Parrot Hog |
Despite being the main land predator, the Sailhunter is not without danger. At the water’s edge, it can fall prey to exceptionally large Broadheads, which can seize it from the shoreline. Like most animals of the Cove, Sailhunters are cautious when approaching water, often watching the surface closely before feeding or drinking.
Young Sailhunters differ noticeably from adults. They are smaller, slimmer, and patterned in dappled light and dark green, allowing them to disappear among ferns and low vegetation. Even at this stage, they possess a small sail, though it is less vivid and not as tall. Mother's are fiercely protective, and respond aggressively to their young's distress calls. This defensive instinct is so powerful, in fact, that a mother will even protect young that aren't her own.
Its herbivorous relative, the Sailgrazer, depends on the protective nature of mother Sailhunters. Young Sailgrazers look and sound nearly identical to juvenile Sailhunters, including an imitation of the Sailhunter's distress call. Ironically, this fools many Sailhunter mothers to defend a young animal that will eventually become their prey when they get older.
The sail appears to serve more than one purpose. In the morning, individuals are often seen standing in narrow sunlight, turning their bodies so the sail faces the light. It likely helps them warm after the cool of night. When two Sailhunters meet, they raise and angle their sails toward one another, making themselves appear larger.
- Naturalist Note: The Sailhunter seems to be none other than Dimetrodon itself. It is by far the most well-known pelycosaur, though, apparently not the only member of this group to live in Cove Haven.
What Daniel named the Sailgrazer must be either Edaphosaurus, or a very close relative.
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