Female Hatchling
Name: unnamed
Species: Karcharos Shark
Birthday: Saturday, June 10, 2023
Owner: WerewolfGuinn
Element: Neutral
Like most babies, karcharos shark hatchlings explore the world by trying to put as much of it in their mouths as they can. However, since hatchlings are born with a full set of teeth and formidable bite strength, their magi must be careful not to put delicate body parts anywhere in reach. Hatchlings can be raised together but only in small groups, and a magi should watch carefully to ensure that ritualistic dominance displays don't graduate to biting. Although not cuddly or particularly easy to read, hatchlings are intelligent and very curious, often lifting their heads above the water in order to inspect new things. They can be fed mostly on fish for the first few years of their life and then move on to larger prey, such as seals and occasionally narwhals. Even at only a few days old hatchlings are able to hunt for themselves and prefer live prey, but a careful magi can feed them by hand, if only for treats.
One of the largest shark species in the world, karcharos sharks easily reach over 20 feet long as adults, with rumors of even larger specimens in the areas of the ocean where magis don't often venture. Taking on a karcharos as a companion isn't for those without time and patience; karcharos sharks can live up to 100 years and aren't easily tamed, nor do they take well to new owners. Ancient texts claim that karcharos sharks are gods given shark form so that they can patrol their ocean territory as warriors, and this protectiveness extends to their magi. Due to their size, speed, and teeth, karcharos sharks have very few natural predators other than leviathans, krakens, and occasionally akhluts. Fortunately their territories don't often overlap: karcharos sharks prefer warmer coastal areas, especially around the Callisto Islands. These massive sharks travel all over the world but finding and taking an egg isn't an easy task, as their breeding grounds are very well-hidden and fiercely defended. Some reports indicate that in protecting their nurseries, karcharos sharks can actually jump onto boats, which doesn't often end well for the shark or the people on-board.
Sprite art: Tekla (hatchling) | Description: Sochitelya