Plodder
Otterly adorable.
Plodders are sleek, slippery mischief wrapped in muscle and charm. These fully aquatic mustelids thrive in the briny shallows of most open water, rarely seen waddling onto land unless absolutely necessary (or dramatically inconvenient). With powerful tails and dexterous paws, they're known for their chaotic grace and acrobatics.
Primarily hunters of squid and soft-fleshed fish, plodders use their paws and brains to tease their prey from rock crevices and reefs. In times of scarcity, they make do with sea urchins, clams, and other armored morsels. Though this is not without loud complaints.
While saltwater plodders are the most well-known (and beloved by Merfauns), distant cousins have made homes in inland waterways. River and swamp plodders bear stockier builds, duller coats, and a more solitary lifestyle—but the same unmistakable glint of trouble lives in their eyes.
You’ll hear them before you see them: clicking, squeaking, and splashing through their ever-moving lives.
Plodders are not beginner companions. Even among experienced aquatic Faunids, taking one on is considered a full-time devotion. They are clever, high-energy, emotionally demanding, and, above all, wild to their core. Without near-constant access to expansive water, plodders will become stressed, destructive, and extremely unhappy.
For Merfauns however - who share their love of the sea and fluid movement - bonds can run deep. A plodder who chooses a Merfaun as its partner will often become a lifelong shadow; a constant companion swimming just behind their tail and mimicking their dives. These bonds are born of time, respect, and shared space.
Plodders require a diet rich in fresh seafood. Squid is a favorite, but fish and soft mollusks are accepted too. Feeding one from still nets or land traps is frowned upon, as it encourages unnatural laziness and removes their joy in hunting.
It’s worth noting that many Faunids who believe they want a plodder companion return them to the sea not long after. And that's okay. In fact, it’s deeply moral. A plodder does not exist to entertain, perform, or be contained. Their play is rough. Their demands are constant. Their affection is real but it does not come without the price of responsibility.
