Forgotten Bestiary: Hei-Hei

The elusive Hei-Hei is a native to China, but there have been reported sightings as far removed as the northern United States and especially in more arid climates. A great part of the Hei-Hei’s relative obscurity is due to lack of knowledge that it is, in fact, a species and not some sort of feline mutation. These creatures are characterized as being small cats of endless coat variety; however, they are made unique by their wings or wing markings. The Hei-Hei is not only able to fold fully functional wings in and out of the markings on its back, but they are also capable of completely changing their body shape and form in much the same way as the Kyuubi No Kitsune (also known as the "nine-tailed fox," which is native to China as well).

Despite its proficiency as a shape-shifter and a classic trickster, the Hei-Hei is better known for causing droughts. It was once widely hunted all over China because of this undesirable trait, and as a result the Hei-Hei’s numbers so drastically declined that the entire species drifted from the common knowledge.

As to how the Hei-Hei began making isolated appearances in other parts of the world, nobody is really certain. It has been suggested by some that Hei-Heis were exported from China by traders and travelers as exotic pets. Others believe that the Hei-Hei simply began to move as a result of being hunted, its ability to change its shape allowing it to adapt to different habitats more easily than other creatures.

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The orange Hei-hei there I dedicate... to Fotch. Without which there would be many less fleas in the Bayou apartments.