Category:Gryphon

Gryphons come in MANY species, but the basic ones from largest to smallest size are Northern, Gurdan, Volcano, Islander, and Flurry. There are many other subsects of these species including some plains dwellers who are flightless. Gryphons range in size as small as finches to as large as the Northern Gryphons, which are bigger than Shivae. The females tend to be larger than the males. There are as many variations of gryphons as there are birds and cats.

Northern Gryphons are the largest and heaviest of the gryphons - a Northern can fly with an adult human or Alpine snow leopard riding it. They prefer cooler climates, but it is not uncommon to find them in moderate regions. Their coloration is normally white, light browns, greys and marked with rosettes, spots or striping. They are very often night time or evening creatures. Very calm, thoughtful and intelligent. Planners, not fighters, though they can take down Shivae and outfight Acid Whips.

The Gurdan Gryphons are second largest, being large enough to bear a child or Silvestri Mounty aloft. They are commonly black in coloration with stripes, sometimes variations of orange, but mostly black. Their beaks are gold, red or orange. They are more laid back than Volcano gryphons and do not often form large colonies. They like moderate climates. Some of them have learned how to use fire. Sometimes their chicks need help hatching.

Volcano Gryphon are third largest, getting to be the size of a great dane. They are commonly white, gold, orange to red and dark red almost black with touches of gold, orange or red on their main colors. Their beaks are black. Very colorful, very agressive. They like warm climates and often nest near volcanos. Volcano Gryphons make use of volcanic burrows and areas with heated springs.

Islander Gryphons are small and brightly colored like jewels, favoring tropical climates. They're like parrots in coloration, more varied than any other species though. They have a talent for weaving. They also have the ability to mimic speach and sounds like Earth parrots. They grow to domestic cat size, and prefer a diet of fresh fruit and nuts.

Flurry - The small version of a Northern Gryphon. When full grown, it maxes out at about ten pounds in weight and is about the same size as a miniwhip.

There's two different kinds of Cheetah mixes. One has stunted wings and is more feline looking, the other is smaller with hollow bones, incredibly fast in the air and on the ground, kills by first stunning the prey then suffocating it until it's dead. Very weak jaws and not really strong claws either.

Unlike Shivae, the older a Gryphon gets, the harder it is for them to fly. Only the smaller islander and Flurry gryphons can fly all their life.

Gryphons live for a VERY long time because of their life structures, about 120 to 160 years (although less when domesticated).

They don't tend to like being anywhere NEAR cyantians. Overall, they hate them and avoid them.

The problems Mura mentioned with her old clan involved a situation where too many gryphons were content with where they lived and didn't leave, causing the area to be overrun temporarily. Then a disease very much like rabies hit and spread, further complicated by a lack of game and extreme close conditions. After that, they put a cap on their population, and started kicking out young griffins when they get too close to it - basically make them leave and form new colonies.