Cheowlins (Species Lore)
The Cheowlin are small bipedal mammalian-avian creature which have been genetically modified and cybernetically enhanced. They were developed as part of a for-profit experiment by Matchcorp involving the combination of several different animal DNA, including but not limited to the cheetah, the fennec fox, the chameleon, an undisclosed owl species, an undisclosed goat species, and an undisclosed bird species. They were one of the first creatures developed within the Matchcorp laboratories during the initial underground public opening, though they had been operating in the shadows for several years prior to offering services to exterior interests. The Cheowlin were created to be marketed as luxury/exotic pets, intended to be sold on the underground market to gain funds in support of other ongoing projects. However, due to the unstable DNA mixtures as a result of incorrect genetic combinations between the mammalian DNA and Avian DNA, they were prone to developing unforeseen mutations, severely decreasing their ability to be sold as luxury pets. This resulted in them being replaced with another option, and the initial line of the Cheowlins was destroyed following the failure of the project. However, the company was not to be dissuaded from pursuing the project for other, more personal usage. The program would be recycled with the version 2 Cheowlins, which were intended for use as a 24-hour living surveillance for the company to allow them to watch over the other genetic experiments/weapons in their roster and employees, who had certain levels of clearance to highly confidential information. The DNA mixtures would undergo major alterations before the official version 2 Cheowlins were developed, with efforts being taken to ensure that the creatures maintained their small size (around two to three feet for females and around one to two feet for males) and the personality of imprinting on one person, which were present in the first version. This included replacing the fennec fox DNA with an undisclosed bat species in later versions due to incompatibility between the vulpine and the avian DNA. Additional efforts were taken to ensure that through this highly selective process, the Cheowlin would have several enhanced abilities from their related DNA donors. These enhanced abilities included;
The ability to alter their colours, allowing them to easily camouflage themselves in their surroundings to be undetected by most creatures' natural eyes. The ability to high-speed sprint at a top speed of 70 to 75 mph (110 to 120 km/h), though they are better at maintaining a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) for longer periods of time. Though must maintain a speed below 20mph (32 km/h) to remain quiet enough to be undetectable to most ears when running. The ability to climb up steep, almost 90-degree textured surfaces using their back hooves and long front claws. The trait of having prehensile tails, which they can use to grasp, wrap around, and hold onto objects like a "fifth limb," or to help steer during sprinting The ability to pinpoint sounds up to 50 meters (164 feet) For those with wings, the ability to fly at the speed of maximum sprint speeds of up to 40-50 mph (64-80 km/h) completely quietly without attracting attention. Once the creatures proved that they had successfully stabilized DNA, they would be put through training similar to that of military K-9 units. If the creatures were able to pass these trials, then they were considered suitable candidates to operate as living surveillance. As part of this process, the cheowlin will be vivisected to add the required cyborg components to optimize them for surveillance, including a camera put in the middle of their forehead (like a third eye), which is connected to their brain and heart (used as a power source) and microphones within the ear canals. Some individual Cheowlins may differ in the technological components they have been equipped with, some of which may be visible outside of the body and others contained solely within. Each mission assigned Cheowlin is equipped with a Tracking Collar equipped so they can be retrieved if needed, though when not on a mission, they tend to stay close to their main imprinted upon individual one of the Codrins.
They are intelligent enough to carry out missions and track specific people, but at most, their intelligence would be comparable to that of a 7-year-old human child, similar to that of a crow, which means they are intelligent enough to use basic tools and problem-solve. While they seem to operate independently during missions, they are observed as having a semi-social structure, usually smaller, tightly-knit lifelong groups with 6 to 9 members. These groups are highly matriarchal and regularly consist of 2 to 3 males to every one female, which has resulted in observed polyandry within the species. Cheowlins are highly communicative with one another, using a series of bird-like chirps, bird-like songs, purrs, and stutter-barks to communicate. They are mainly omnivores, though their diets may differ slightly. Within these groups, they will hunt for smaller prey no larger than a sheep, with the males assisting the hunt using a deceptive hunting method of going after their prey but faking out at the last moment, almost as a distraction, while the female stalks from the back, delivering a deadly blow through sharp claws, beak, and hooves. Those that are more specialized diets for specific food sources, such as nectar or insects (due to the birds used in their creation), tend to form their own groups of like Cheowlins as opposed to joining the more omnivore groups. Due to a recessive genetic marker on the "X" chromosome, most males which have Nectar and Reverse Synth beaks often develop a pair of small wings. They are bipedal, but to reach high-speed sprint at a top speed, they do resort to using all four limbs, running in a more quadriped manner. Within their groups, they create large nests using debris they may find at high climbable elevations, resulting in them setting up nests around several of the electrical towers around the base, which are attributed to eagles. They partake in anting as a means of preventing annoying insects from following them.
