#spying on it as a hobby. making up special names. getting invested in the dramas of ground-bound animals

[ranticore]

Gosh I keep coming up with questions... Are there wild harpies that decide to live alone or in small groups? I remember reading that kings rarely survive alone, but could a regular cob or pen do so more easily? And on the context of companionship, do harpies keep pets?

Regular harpies would have a much easier time just kinda existing than a lone king and not all harpies are communal anyway. kings are not good hunters due to being a bit slower and heavier than their regular companions, and their type's usual prey that they're suited to hunt would probably not satisfy them. like a rabbit would be enough for a small mudhawk but a king mudhawk would have to catch many more, and would do a worse job at it

of course that's a generalisation - anyone can be good or bad at hunting and skill can be learned. Cuinn survived many weeks on his own, even if he wasn't in good condition by the end of it. lone king harpies often turn thief and prey on livestock, as well, which can even the playing field

they do keep pets! i remember so specifically thinking of this before, i think it was? beetles? although less of a full pet experience and more like, here's the beetle who lives in my nest and sometimes i put a leaf on it like a hat and we all crowd around to exclaim over how cute it is