Description+Chacteristics:

  Snow Striders possess a thick hydrophobic coat of entirely white fur. This coat serves three purposes: insulation, protection and camouflage. It insulates them from the extremely cold conditions of their preferred region where temperatures can get as cold as -100°C. The hydrophobic properties of their coats allow them to swim indefinitely without getting wet/cold. This coat does however limit them to colder climates as even brisk weather can cause them to overheat. The second purpose of the coat is protection, typically this is against their prey though it does also protect against accidental cuts during play fighting. Lastly the coat serves to camouflage them against the snow allowing them to ambush their prey on land more easily.

  In addition to their thick coat Snow Striders possess large paws which serve as snow shoes. This makes it significantly easier for them to travel in deep snow without revealing their location or spend as much energy by flying.

  The last special ability is their extremely sharp sense of smell and sight allowing them to track and spot prey from miles away. These sharp senses are extremely necessary in their environment as prey is scarce.

  Preferred Range:

  The vast majority of Snow Striders live in either the frozen plains, northern wastes or tundra forest. Very occasionally you can find some living elsewhere but most need a method of active cooling when outside their preferred range.

  Culture:

  Snow Striders are highly solitary and nomadic by nature. They typically only travel and live with their partner(s) and any children too young to live on their own. This is not caused however, as one would initially assume, by a lack of desire to interact with others but simply out of necessity. In their preferred range, there is no way to grow food or ranch cattle; so Snow Striders must hunt for any and all food. In their preferred range, it is far more efficient to hunt on one's own instead of in a group, and so that is what they do. However, when on the rare occasion that Snow Striders encounter each other, they will frequently attempt to out host the other.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  In their preferred range, Snow Striders obtain nearly all their tools, clothes etc from their prey as their range lacks nearly all plant life. They use bones as needles, handles and more, while furs typically get turned into clothing and blankets. They also often construct shelters out of snow either tunneling into it like they do while hunting or building it up into semi-permanent structures. The end result of this is an aesthetic similar to ancient cold climate Earth cultures like the Inupiat.

  Anomalies:

  No known anomalies exist for this species. It is unclear, however, if this is from there truly being none or from just the difficulty in locating one in such a small and unconnected species as this.

  Notes:

  While it was difficult to find many sources for this section of the book, it was nice to talk with the ones who we did find. I quite enjoyed hearing their stories of tracking elusive prey. They seemed impressed with the cold resistance of my suit and I hope that when I return I can speak with them again. I can’t help but feel bad for them, for not being able to go out and see the world due to their heat intolerance.

  It is strange that they are the only species of drekmurians without any anomalous individuals—though I guess that there must be an exception to every rule.

  Upon initially learning of their coat, I expected it to be soft like that of Sky Cutters, but to my surprise, it is very coarse. However, their undercoat is very soft, which I suppose makes sense with the conditions of their environment.