Characteristics:
Fighters are the largest adult Mokai, typically around 30-40 inches at the shoulder. Pearl divers and culls are the second-largest, anywhere from 20-30 inches at the shoulder. Pets are typically around 10-20 inches at the shoulder. It is unknown how large wild Mokai get. Elders are typically 1/4th taller than their adult counterpart. Males are typically, but not always, larger than females.
For an unknown reason, Mokai can have up to five toes on each paw, but typically have three or, more rarely, four.
Mokai are natural colors or 'muted' colors only, like the type you find on horses, dogs, and cats. Any pattern, however, exists. They can and do paint themselves different colors, however, and you may apply paint on to your Mokai at the Craft Shop.
Behavior:
Not much is known about wild Mokai behavior. The domestics appear to be largely diurnal, but they may have simply adapted to the human lifestyle. They do not appear to be solitary creatures, and live best in packs or groups; even in the compound, cliques or 'packs' have a tendency to form.
Most domestic Mokai are bred by humans, and sometimes have little choice in their partners, although 'accidents' can and do happen. Feral Mokai, on the other hand, sometimes find mates for life - other times, they simply fling with who they wish. Although male-male bondings and female-female bondings occur, they do not produce pups. The mating habits of wild Mokai are unknown.
Domestic Mokai, although they are brought up to understand human speech, cannot mimic it. Instead, they 'speak' to one another through a series of barks, yaps, grunts, howls, in addition to body language such as tail and ear position. They can, and do, purr to indicate contentment. Humans cannot understand Mokai - although they know that Mokai can comprehend their language.
Eating habits:
Mokai are omnivores, and their diet in the wild typically consists of fruit, some vegetables, and raw meat, although they tend to prefer cooked when they can get it. Many Mokai have a considerable sweet tooth for fruit or even human candy. Prior to the winter, when food is more difficult to come by, Mokai out in the wilds may either hoard away food or try to steal from the human settlement. They can, and do, hunt smaller creatures for food if needed.
Most of the domestics, including pearl divers and fighters, are fed on a version of bland, high-protein dog food, imported from the mainland. It's not necessarily the best diet for them, but it's the cheapest. Pets are fed by their owners. Culls, on the other hand, are typically given a smaller ration than pearl divers or fighters, and are left to fight over the scraps of any other meals they may manage to come by.
Aging:
There are four possible stages of life that a Mokai can go through, although most Mokai only get to three: pup, adolescent, adult, and elder.
Pup is spent from birth to six months (or one month Gaia/'real' time). Newborn Mokai have very few 'special' traits, and it's impossible to know their subspecies at this point. They are clumsy, generally fluffy, and adorable.
Adolescence is spent from sixth months to two years (or three months Gaia/'real' time). At this stage, it becomes apparent what subspecies they will mature into, and some of their special traits start to make an appearance. They're also moving from clumsy pup-hood into adulthood, and become slightly more graceful. Domestic pearl divers and fighters will start to learn their respective trade at this age. While wild and feral adolescents may breed, domestics generally are not allowed.
Adult Mokai are considered fully-grown by two years of age. At this stage, all of their special traits have blossomed, and they are considered old enough to work for a living. Domestics, ferals, and wilds can all breed at this stage. Domestic Mokai have been known to live up to fifteen years; it is unknown how long wild Mokai live.
Elder Mokai are rare, and the secret to becoming an elder is jealously guarded by the current elders. They are larger, stronger, and faster than adult Mokai, and as such, their population is carefully restricted by the humans. Only the most loyal - and best - of the adult Mokai are allowed to become elders, and they are generally paired with a human overseer at that time. Upon obtaining eldership, they are granted much more freedom, and may go all over the island, capturing ferals and dragging them back, guarding the compound and human settlements, or mediating the fights or dives. It is unknown, at this time, if there are wild elders.
Subspecies:
There are currently several subspecies of Mokai on Isle Akoya known to humans, split into two categories: wild and domestic. Domestics can be further divided into pearl divers, fighters, pets, and culls. They differ slightly in body type and abilities, and have been specifically bred to accentuate those traits. There may be undiscovered species on the other islands.
Ferals are an interesting variation of escape domestic. While they retain many of the attributes of their original subspecies (pearl diver, fighter, or pet) - they become more rugged. See the next post for more information.
While all subspecies can interbreed to produce pups, wilds and domestics do not often come into contact. Wilds and ferals sometimes interbreed, and the domestics (pearl divers, fighters, pets, and culls) often interbreed, but domestics rarely get the chance to breed with ferals or wilds.
Magical traits:
It is unknown exactly how Mokai biology works - and why they are affected by certain properties of the island's elements, when humans are not. Several scientists studying at Isle Akoya's main compound are very intrigued by this phenomenon, and hope to study it further. At present time, Mokai do not appear to have any special magical abilities.
