Mink-mink harpy

Mink-mink harpy
A NeonWabbit-owned semi-closed race
Created by	SilveroGhost
Adapted by	NeonWabbit
In-universe information
Other name(s)	minks, harpies
Type	Humanoid harpy
Sub-races	Mink-mink dragons (hybrids)
Distinctions	antennae on ears, four wing arms, spikes on tails, avian / feline / primate (especially lemurs) fur patterns
Notable members	Frie

Mink-mink harpies are a semi-closed species owned by NeonWabbit, originally created by an artist using the alias SilveroGhost. NeonWabbit purchased the species from them in September 2022 for $60 USD.

The first mink-mink harpy character created by NeonWabbit prior to owning the species was Frie through a contest to create fanart of the mink-mink harpy character Koit, where the major prize was the allowance for contest winners to design their own mink-mink harpies. Though many others were created by the species' original creator, and other individuals who won the contest, most of them have been lost to time, and currently only Frie and others created by NeonWabbit after his purchase of the species are considered canon to Studio RGB-Newt / The Fishal Project productions and universes.

The species is considered semi-closed as fan-made mink-mink harpies are mostly allowed to be created for non-canon fanart purposes. Hybrids are also allowed, and this paves the way for Frie's future children with the wingless dragon Flye, spawning the mink-mink dragon sub-species.

Attributes

Biology

Much like other harpies, mink-mink harpies have a bipedal humanoid build, however, instead of having an avian lower-half, it is more feline, and with a long, thick prehensile tail. On females, this tail can have sharp spike protrusions, made of bone and coated with hardened keratin. They can use these spikes to defend themselves against unwanted males, egg thieves, and other evil creatures. Females are also taller than the males of the species, but are themselves still a bit short compared to other species of similar build, such as dragons.

Every mink-mink harpy has two sets of wings, one larger set, with hands, where arms are usually expected, and one smaller set. Males have their smaller set of dorsal wings on their tail, without hands, and females have theirs with hands, on the sides of their body, underneath the main set of wing arms. Their forearms are especially adapted for flight, being incredibly strong, and have dense muscle with hollow bones. Thick waterproof feathers cover the entirety of the arms up to the shoulder blades.

Mink-mink harpies have only two fingers and an opposable thumb on each hand, and these are tipped with retractable claws. Their ring and pinky finger bones are fused with the outer veins of the primary feather of their wings, providing increased durability, and it aids them with control in flight, which is especially useful within the dense forest canopies they usually inhabit.

The lower arms of a female mink-mink harpy can be used for carrying items or others around whilst flying, or for aiding in activities such as climbing.

The antennae on the tip of their ears enhance certain senses, like detecting exactly what direction certain sounds and sonic frequencies are coming from, measuring wind speed, and other weather-related functions. They prefer tropical climates and rainforests, and mink-mink harpies native to these areas face extinction due to increased deforestation, and in the past, poaching, as they used to be killed for their feathers, meat, and eggs.

Immune to toxins found in plants and bugs they consume, their bodies can naturally store these toxins in a sac below their gallbladder, and it is here where the toxins are broken down and released into the bloodstream, without being lethal to the mink-mink harpy. However, this causes their meat and blood to be poisonous, but the poison can further be dissolved away by properly cooking the meat before consumption.

Mink-mink harpies are physically compatible with every species, and those that mate with members of a different species produce hybrids that mix elements from both parent species. The hybrid offspring that result from this are, however, not compatible with every species, and can only successfully mate with hybrids that share the same parent species.

Mink-mink harpy fur and feather patterns have been observed to resemble those of any avian, feline, or primate, regardless of their birth location. They are capable of having rare genetic mutations, such as being born with even more wings or more tails, black sclera eyes, and/or having no skin visible, with fur and feathers covering up the entirety of their human parts.

Culture

A native mink-mink harpy's diet consists of fruits, plant nectars, nuts, seeds, insects, and insect byproducts, such as honey. A mink-mink harpy in more civilized areas might actively seek out normal human food, such as meats, and prepared meals like sushi, but it is recommended by the elders of mink-mink harpy clans that they should eat some of their native diet on occasion, for a healthy balance of sugars and nutrients.

They are highly sociable creatures, and tend to flock together with others that share their animal-kind, be it avian, feline or primate. They also get along well with reptiles, including dragons, as they are similar to avians, both having claws, and the ability to lay eggs, for example.

Native mink-mink harpy villages and clans are usually lead by the eldest flock, that is, the flock which has the highest number total when all ages of the members are added together, and this can include other species who have decided to join and have been accepted into the flock. They are not jealous or experience other negative emotions when flock members defect to another flock, and for mating purposes, this is usually encouraged, as members of a flock are expected to mate with those of a different flock.

The native mink-mink harpy courtship ritual involves the male building and decorating a suitable nest bed for the process, and putting on a showcase of their feathers, fur, and physical abilities in unique song and dance. The female watches from a distance, and if they remain for the entire duration of the display, they are presented with a gift, ranging from shiny and colourful objects to food.

The couple then begin to get to know each other over a period of months, mutually taking turns defending the territory, preening each other, and keeping watch at night. Eventually, they will each pluck their most pristine feather out of their own body and trade it with their partner, braiding their swapped feathers into each other, signifying they are fully bonded. Mink-mink harpies mate for life, perform yearly anniversary rituals, and do not take on a new mate after the death of their mate.

Infertile mink-mink harpies, or those looking to adopt, will accept orphaned chicks or runts from any flock that has them. Mink-mink harpies can lay between 1-5 eggs per season, and both the male and female will take turns to incubate and raise the young, once hatched.

It is extremely rare for mink-mink harpies to ever be alone as they make friends easily, due to their curious nature, and they don't have any natural predators or enemies as they are poisonous and can defend themselves with their sharp spikes and claws. They live peacefully and solve disputes by bringing their issues up with the elders of the eldest flock.

Native mink-mink harpy language consists of short chirps, chitters, purrs, coos, and loud screeches of varying lengths, all combined with body language and eye contact. They are also known for their mimicry, as they can easily and accurately repeat sounds from other creatures and objects that they hear, and over a long period of time can learn spoken language. Still, even after getting to the point where they can somewhat communicate with other parties, it takes even longer for them to get out of the habit of bad pronunciation, broken grammar, and messy speech patterns.

In-universe biography

Mink-mink harpies used to be hunted by regular humans before an international act was signed into law preventing this from happening any further. They are still critically endangered to the point that it is estimated that there is currently only approx. 1 to 3 mink-mink harpies in each continent of the world, with an outlier exception of entire villages and clans of mink-mink harpies of varying population that populate their own tropical island.

It became rare for them to leave the island, as early mink-mink harpy explorers, like Frie's ancestors, who moved off the island and closer to advanced civilization sometime in the past, were never heard from again back on the island by those who saw them off.

Appearances

2020s

• Flye 'n' Frie (video game, TBA)

Gallery

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  Examples of young male native mink-mink harpies

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  Ditto, but females