Willowish

Featherfoxes are a type of fox spirit, generally appearing fox-like, with traits of birds. Their most defining feature is the feathers in their tail(s). These feathers are physical manifestations of a featherfoxes power. The more feathers in their tails, the more powerful the featherfox. For this reason, the feathers are heavily guarded, as losing one is losing a portion of its power and vital life force. 

It is said possessing a tailfeather from a featherfox will give its bearer a positive gift, be that luck, love, riches, power, or even potentially immortality. This has led many to try and hunt down featherfoxes in hopes to steal its feathers. However, the featherfox is elusive and not easily tracked, with a subtle almost floral scent that confuses hunting dogs, and the ability to make itself translucent or almost invisible. 

Featherfoxes are Luxmancers, meaning they can control and manipulate light, lack thereof or shadows. While their bodies can completely disappear, they will still always be visible as a wisp of light. Powerful featherfoxes can learn to dim this light significantly so it appears more like smoke but cannot make it disappear completely. 

Since their power is stored in their tail feathers, sparks and wisps of light often appear around them, especially in young and inexperienced featherfoxes who are still learning to control their magic.  

Despite how protective featherfoxes are of their tail feathers, they are sometimes known to gift them, often to close friends, loved ones, or mates, but also someone who helped them in some way or they feel they owe a debt to.

Featherfoxes gain their energy directly from the sun and moon, so they do not need to feed. It is a form of vampirism, but is not taken from other living beings but instead from natural light sources. The light is stored in their glowing antennae, which is then distributed through vein-like structures throughout their bodies. The health of a featherfox can be determined by how brightly their antennae glow. 

Their “fur” is super soft and silky and is not truly fur, but instead a type of plumage that resembles fur, with a similar texture to down feathers. They are typically brightly colored, with some possessing a shiny or sparkly sheen, or even small sparks of light amongst their fur that resembles tiny flickering stars. 

While most are wingless, some possess owl-shaped wings that allow for silent flight. Some are also able to manifest / hide their wings at will.  

"True form of the evil that dwells on Oni Island and seeks to destroy the Ryoshima Coast. 9 souls inhabit 9 tails, each acting independently. According to legend, Ninetails can only be defended against with the Celestial Brush. Burning the tails will temporarily weaken it,and a lightning strike to the sword causes the souls to split apart. Strike the final blow when the true form of the fox emerges."

Bestiary entry from the game

Okami is a comfort game we hold dearly. Every time we are going through a hard time, we will play this game. It helps regulate our nervous system like nothing else can. Everything from the music, the characters, the comedy, to the art style speaks deeply to us. It is without a doubt, a heart home. 

The second part of the game is our favorite arc, where Ninetails is the primary antagonist. As the beastery states, ninetails is made of nine fox souls, each inhabiting one of ninetails' tails. When it is struck, they separate, which is how ninetails is defeated in the end.