Creature Bio: Memso Hooktail
This was a creature i created for a story, i had a lot of fun inventing it and love to make custom creatures. The idea was for a type of hypnotic dragon yet i wanted a more natural method rather then magic or just because. And try have some sense of realism.
Appearance
This species is roughly 5 feet tall, And nearly 8 in length. Not including the long whip-like tail that is normally the length of the creature's body, The tail of this species always features a long hook, or barb, roughly a foot or so gap within the curve. The colours on them vary greatly, mostly owing to the region in which they are found. Yet the more common colours are mottled greens/browns to help them hide within greenery, or forests. Across its hide are rows, upon rows of spines, able to flick up to deter attackers, or make it seem more intimidating to assault, It is believed to be a type of evolved scale. Yet they do not seem as thick as common Dragons.
Its head is also oddly shaped, featuring the normal snout of a draconic beast, though on the wider side. This matches the rest of its head which is bulkier in design to a more regal creature. One reason is that they are not seen as a true dragon. Sitting below its flared horns are very well protected eyes that are shelters in thick ridges of muscle and dense scales.
Though the creature does possess wings, they are often packed tightly to its frame. Rarely on display. It is capable of limited flight though its flaps are not as large. Rather the wings act as an extra step of limbs. Using them to brace against the ground, then assist in pushing them off the ground to get extra distance or speed. Even to aid movement in harsher terrain. Though given the fragile nature of them. They are mostly used for what it would think is the finishing blow. Or to flash to try to scare away predetors.
Ecology
A hooktail may inhabit any land where there seems to be other draconic species depending on them for survival. Though they are fiercely territorial with their own kind. Living mostly in caves, Or treetops while younger. They are strict carnivores, Though hatchlings have been seen to eat fruit if food is too hard to hunt. It seems that appetite fades once they mature.
They will hunt small to large game as needed. Anything smaller than its head being ignored unless it was dead already. Though this species does favour to hunt other dragons, yet not to kill.
It can be thought that the Mesmo in its name is for its odd behavior with successful dragon hunts. Often after the prey is subdued (Covered in the next segment) Then the other beast is tamed in a sense. As we know this is done with a dazzling array of shaded iris's that flicker at high speed. Captivating whatever is unfortunate enough to lose. From then the other dragon serves as a thrall for them.
It is not uncommon for a Mesmo to have a small pack of loyal followers. That aid it controlling its territory. Yet it is seen they rarely have more than a half dozen. Given what impact this can have on the local area.
Hunting and Combative traits
As mentioned before it has defensive spines that can be raised and lowered, they also break off easily to embed themselves into an attacker. They also have short, stout claws, more adapted to climbing and gripping. If needed they are still dangerous, yet can not cut through thicker hides. Not forgetting the long tail, which is often used as a whip, the hooked end is strong enough to leave a sizable gash. It is also wide enough to wrap around limbs to aid in disabling a foe.
With all that it is still not the most dangerous part of this beast, that would be its jaw of dagger like teeth, each with slight grooves to help them sink into its prey, long enough that it can flex its jaw to apply more pressure to the bite. That alone is how it kills, for larger prey they are subject to a very harmful venom. Not quite a neurotoxin like many creatures have, yet it is a powerful sedative and muscle relaxant. Once it begins injecting it then the Mesmo will coil around the other body as best it can, laying flat to anchor itself as its prey gets weaker and weaker. Even thoughts become hard as the potent cocktail renders them unable to fight or think. Getting them to the next stage of this creature's cruel biology.
Once they have successfully disabled the dragon in question they will pose its head so they are forced into eye contact. Using its multiple iris's to create a hypnotic pattern. Helpless to fight back, and mental resolve ruined, this allows the hooktail to begin dominating the mind. Imprinting a deep series of commands, and forced behavior. All accompanied with a malicious chattering as it does so, thought to be some language in which to force the commands into its prey. The process can take a varying amount of time. Yet near all accounts seem to end with the hooked tail on its new prize, obediently following as if a pet on a leash.
Mating
It is a very strange thing that all examples of this creature are male. Though through the method above it can claim females for breeding, it seems to favour males. Once they are properly dominated and under its control then it will breed with its captive. In one way to continue to enforce its place of dominance. Ensure his pack remains submissive to him. This does serve a purpose though. With repeated mating it seems to alter the reproduction of the other dragon. Removing its genetic material and converting it to produce its masters instead. This odd transformation is only temporary however. Without the above constantly repeating then the dragons normal biology would return.
The reason this is done is thought that as the pack hunts or keeps the land safe they may find females on the outskirts, if breeding is successful then it would carry the Hooktail's genes, meaning it would be less likely to be born in its own region, thus not create a new rival in the years to come. Yet often at times females may be captured and brought to the dragon's master to be converted and become another of the pack, to provide a purer brood.
Extra details
It is not fully sure what species this falls under, though it has draconic traits it is not a true dragon, nor a wyvern. They have shorter lifespans than others, being to 90 years at the oldest, though given the lifestyle they often die far younger. It is also thought the venom they carry has some addictive traits, as it can be seen "Kissing" its pack, this is thought to be another form of control it has, or it is perhaps a reason to rid itself of excess after it becomes an irritant.
Upon hypnosis or mental domination it is remarkable that it is mostly displayed in the presence of the Mesmo. The dragons serving them acting on their own will outside of his rule. Yet when returning, take on that more passive persona. Answering every cry or request it seems to make.
Once the Mesmo dies, it can be weeks of confusion for its longer lived pack, though without that influence they will return to normal life, as if they were never enslaved, Unless they fall prey to another.