Avestrich
Murder bird but make it a horse!
The avestrich is a favored companion-livestock* for fauns with a thirst for distance and speed. These tall, semi-flightless birds are renowned for their stamina and powerful legs. In the wild, they live in small family flocks until juveniles split off to form their own roaming groups. Avestriches are fast-footed predators that predate primarily on lapines and other small evasive animals. They are not known to scavenge and will roam kilometers for their next hunt.
Built with semi-hollow bones, avestriches require careful attention to weight. Overburden them and you’ll find their legendary endurance turns to a meager waddle. Because of this, they are often used solely for light travel. They are swift, nimble, and efficient carriers that prefer a light rider and little more.
An avestrich is not a mount to be broken. Their cooperation must be earned, and a bond built. Companionship, even when functional, must be mutual. An avestrich that trusts its faun will run without end. One that doesn't? You'll be walking.
* - Livestock is used here to describe a companion that serves a purpose, such as travel.
Fauns who keep avestriches often maintain small hunting preserves or receive ethically sourced game from communal stewards. The most devout will forage or bait for overpopulated or sickly animals, such as lapines and other such common overabundant prey, providing the avestrich with a true hunt while maintaining ecosystem balance. This keeps both the predator and the land in harmony.
Force-feeding them with unnatural diets or refusing their needs in favor of convenience is seen as an act of exploitation. As such, fauns who travel with avestriches must plan carefully and carry dried, responsibly preserved meat - usually gathered from intentionally culled or naturally fallen creatures. Some even forge quiet pacts with wildlife keepers to exchange services or goods in return for feed.
In communities where avestriches are more common, it’s typical to see shared grazing paths and rotating forest runs. These are open spaces where the birds can sprint, hunt, and rest without turning restless or violent.
