Memics are large flightless birds. They are classified as the top predator on the island, with the ferocity to successfully hunt rutwogs and isomara.
They were named after their ability to mimic an isomara's movements and silhouetted appearance. Their saliva reacts to their feathers in a way which turns them white. They'll coat their wings, tails, chest feathers and claws in saliva in order to mask themselves. Other ways they mimic isomara are by puffing their chest feathers, arching their winged arms back, and rearing their head. Even at only a few feet distance in unclear weather the silhouette will look eerily like an isomara.
Size
Adult memics reach up to 8 feet tall at the head. Juvenile memics normally are around 3–4 feet tall.
On average, a memic is plump and rather round due to its many layers of feathers, and they appear heavy. Although memics have large wings, they are unable to fly high or for much distance. Memic also have been observed to have a disadvantage when needing to land. Their back claws are not great for grabbing at perches and landing after a short glide. When coming to the ground, a memic will catch itself with its winged claws coming down on its large round paw pads. It will take a good couple seconds for it to stabilize itself, making that the perfect time for prey to make an escape.
Life Expectancy
~27 years. This is purely a guess by Isomara as no one has taken the time to track and record the age of any memics as it is far too dangerous.
Intelligence & Behavior
Driven mostly by instinct, memics are in fact smart creatures, as they have learned and adapted to fooling Isomara. They have developed ear shattering screeches that can catch prey off guard as well as alert other memics in an area. Often working alone to catch prey, a memic will stand and bath in sunlight, foggy, or shadowed areas as to blind an Isomara from recognizing the memic for what it truly is. Memics with tassel tails have been known to braid them to mimic an isomara's long tail trait.
Memics go into hibernation in late October/ early November, and awake late February/ early March. Early March is when the eggs normally hatch, emerging new feisty chicks.
Diet
Primarily carnivorous, a memics diets range from any land mammals such as rutwogs and rabbits, to birds like seagulls, owls, and will even go after larger reptiles and snakes. When food is scarce, memics can be found in rivers fishing. Memics have rarely been seen to eat fruits from trees, and memic chicks will snack on insects. Isomara are seen as a delicacy to them. Memics will normally stay away from Isomara that have a goom companion or that are traveling in groups.
Mating & Life Cycle
Memics will mate with many suitors over the course of their lives in hopes to produce many different and strong offspring. A female memic can lay one-three eggs per mating season, which happens once a year.
Chicks (memic hatchlings) tend to be calm, and their sharp beaks and teeth are not yet developed enough to hunt. Once they reach a few months old, they are called juveniles. Juvenile memics might be the most dangerous as they are feisty, quick, and equipped with newly sharpened claws, masks, and teeth. They are not very good at hunting, but are very quick and do not need to stalk or fool an Isomara into an encounter. Running into more than a single chick at once could be very dangerous.
Relation with Isomara
Memics are not seen as very good companions. Gaining the trust of a memic like you would a goom seems futile, and taming them is most insane. Although, a small group of Isomara calling themselves Tamers have been getting together and plotting ways to "tame" memics perhaps through domestication. Most Isomara fear memics, but with an Isomara's growing intelligence they are learning better ways to combat memics and keep them at bay, which in time they believe can help in keeping their species off the memic's menu.
Memic F.A.Q.
Q. Can a tamed memic be rideable as a mount?
A. Yes, a tamed memic could be ridden, most won't tolerate it, and only the most skilled tamer have been able to achieve this feat.
