The Bookshelf
Melody leads you to an old, rustic bookshelf. Not a single book on any of its seven shelves isn't covered in dust. She stands on her toes - she suddenly seems much shorter than you first thought she was - and pulls a heavy, hardback brown book out from the top shelf. She cradles it carefully in her arms and strides over to a table, then sits down on an unsteady wooden chair. You flop down in the comfy purple armchair across from her. The walls are covered in baby-blue wallpaper, decorated with smiling white-outlined moons and stars that look like little asterisks. You look back at Melody. She blows a thick layer of dust off of the leather cover, embroidered in intricate gold design. She nods and hands the book to you and your unsuspecting palms nearly bow under its surprising weight. You set it down in your lap and open it up. The pages are frail, thin and yellowed. You handle the book carefully after browsing through the contents, and start thumbing through the pages until you come to a page with faded words. At the bottom is a miniature number. You squint at it until the number - no, the numbers; three of them, to be precise - slowly come into focus: "211&quoot;. You brush your fingers over the title and begin to read.
Huskdogs: A History
Huskdogs are a unique species of canine. They have lived on Earth for thousands of years, but not many humans have to come to know about them. Millennia ago, their race was extremely abundant and thrived unconditionally. But as the biped creatures continued destroying their precious trees and woodland homes, they were forced to flee. They fled to respectable mythical beast breeders around the world, adapting to different environments in order to survive. By this time they were much more domestic than their wild ancestors.
Appearance: Males are larger and stockier than females. They prefer to be cooperative over dominant, but an alpha male still towers over the others in the pack. Females are agile and nimble. Their ears are usually slanted while males' are more erect. Coat colours come in a wide variety and can mutate due to the atmosphere of their current surroundings or their natural magical element. Some coat colours are rarer than others. Their fur is especially warm and thick in the winter, in order to protect them from the harsh cold. Their tender underbellies have been known to differ in colour from the rest of their pelt, although it isn't very common. Huskdogs' throats are protected by a ruff of thick fur, which holds no feeling when tugged. Their muzzles are broad rather than tapering like most canines, and their jaws are dangerously powerful and must be pried off if clamped onto something. Large paws have tough pads that allow them to climb over jutting rocks and other sharp objects often left lying on the ground. Feline-like retractable claws are sheathed when sleeping and travelling and exposed in defense or battle. Tails are overall thick and used chiefly to express emotion, but on hot summer days they can make a nifty flyswat.
Temperament: Huskdogs are overall calm creatures, who don't like to argue or fight over little things. It'll take a lot of trouble to stir up a male Huskdog and a whole lot more to do so to a female. They are generally lovable dopes who enjoy cuddling with their masters and are awfully loyal. Many have said that the tale of Gelert applies to these trustworthy beauties. They can be particularly territorial, however, and may be aggressive toward suspicious-smelling animals, but never to each other on the turf issue.
Breeding: Other male animals are normally competitive when the breeding season arrives, but Huskdogs don't even show a portion of this possessive nature. A young dog will look for a mate, then stick with her for life when he finds her. Huskdogs breed before and after the breeding season. The alphas, as well as all of the other pack members, are allowed to breed no more than twice per month. Unfortunately, a litter is not produced after every coupling, which makes the pups rarer. And some of the Huskdogs' natural predators are willing to wait that long just to get a tasty meal. A litter contains two-four eggs, which hatch into pups in three days. They escape from the eggs with fur. Pups stay with both their mothers and fathers for two weeks, or sometimes, more.
Lifespan: Although they have magical properties and can avoid many illnesses and diseases because of this, it doesn't mean they are immortal or immune to injury. Average Huskdogs can live up to a hundred years. Those who are "marked" or have various mutations may exceed this time limit.
Differences
Mutations: Mutations occur when an elemental or mutated Huskdog breeds with a normal Huskdog, an elemental or mutated Huskdog breeds with another elemental or mutated Huskdog, an elemental Huskdog breeds with a mutated Huskdog, or sometimes when a normal Huskdog breeds with a normal Huskdog. "Normal" defines a Huskdog with no mutations or elemental atom structure. This does not that they do not have magic in their blood, for all Huskdogs do. Mutations can range from wings to webbed feet to unusual markings.
Elementals: Elementals are Huskdogs who are born with supernatural powers. These powers allow them to control the elementals, such as: weather, water, earth, fire, electricity - and with some very rare cases, time. Rumour has it that a Huskdog egg can be "blessed" before they reach the age of three days (pup stage) by an adult female Elemental who is not his/her mother. They will receive a portion of the adult's powers and will only be abule to control the set element to a limited degree.
Markings: If a Huskdog has been "marked", it means that they have been born with an odd or peculiar marking, which symbolises something. All of the markings are not yet known, and some say that irregular markings can disguise themselves as a normal splotch. Some markings are associated with the Huskdog's element and vice versa. Marked Huskdogs spend most of their time being big old softies, as do most dogs.
"There're the only two pages you have to read, for now," pipes up Melody. You blink and realise you've moved onto the next page. You close the book and hand it back to her. "Now that you know a little about Blake's species, I'll show you to the Nesting Grounds." She stands up, then utters a little "oh!" and sits back down. "But first, the adopting rules." She leaves you for the bookshelf and totters back a few minutes latter, a thin stone tablet balancing on her palm. You take the tablet from her and your eyes scan over it.