Tomka

Tomka - "Sebastian Romu" © 2019

About

Large hunting cats similar to bob-cats or lynx in size and body form (with the exception being Tomka have longer tails. These beasts are found alongside Sildaryn hunters as companions when out in the wilds of the Sildara, as their stealth, climbing, and speed make them ideal for hunting all sorts of problem beasts in the thick forests of the Sildaryn homeland.

Common Names

Tomka

Description

Classification

mammal

Size

6-17 kilograms (13-37 pounds), 48-56 centimetres ( 19-22 inches) height, 73-107 centimetres (29-42 inches) length

Appearance

Long legged stout bodied feline with a medium length tail. their ears have the same tufted appearance as those of various Stei species. Their pelts range in browns, grey and tans, with brindled or tabby patterns in black or dark browns.

Sexual dimorphism

Aside from the sexual organs like many mammals, the two sexes are roughly the same size as adults.

Variance

A few closely related sub-species exist, predominantly separated by type of forest biome they prefer, variance in coat patterning is notable.

Ecology

Habitat

Tropical through sub-arctic forests, or savanna.

Diet

Primarily fresh meat, some fish.

Behaviour

Social grouping

Solitary males or females, Female with 2-3 young, or small groups of juveniles (usually siblings from the same parents).

Temperament

Tomka are territorial, and very protective of their young or any Sildaryn within their territory.

Intelligence

Tomka are clever animals, showing a great deal of patience and planning in their behaviour.

Reproduction

Once per year in mid autumn mature females without cubs will go into heat, and mate with males whose territory intersects their own. They typically live birth 2-3 offspring in the late winter, and begin hunting in earnest to feed their new cubs. These offspring depart their mother's care during their second summer, and reach adulthood by their fourth.

Notable Sub-Species

Canopy Tomka

A smaller Tomka sub-species which rarely ventures onto the forest floor, instead spending the majority of their lives in the thick forest canopy. Their coats include reddish or orange tones.

Highland Tomka

A sub-species of Tomka found in the forested southern slopes and foothills of the Sildar Mountains. They have tabby stripped coats, and wider paws.

Neelam's Tomka

The most ubiquitous variety of Tomka, found throughout the forest of Sildara.

Southern Tomka

A savanna dwelling Tomka sub-species with a leaner bodies and slightly longer limbs. Their coats tend to have a spotted pattern, with dark extremities.

Domestication

General

These creatures work with the Sildaryn to the mutual benefice of both. While the Sildaryn are exclusively vegetarian, they will occasionally kill animals which pose threats to their crops or the Sildaryn themselves; meat from such kills is given to the tomka. To an outside observer it seems less of a hunter and his trained animal, and more of two hunters working together. The relationship is more of a symbiotic one, than a forced servitude. In fact the tomka do not seem to be owned by the Sildaryn, and will chose who they team up with according to their own desires. Tomka do not dwell within the Sildaryn hintas, but will form temporary dens nearby.

Tomka will stay in their own territorial ranges and not follow the Sildaryn hintas as they migrate around their annual route, but will accompany the hinta for the portion of the journey which crosses their range. During a one year cycle a hunter of the Sildaryn my pair up with as many as twenty different tomka for a few weeks each.

Resources

Protection and assistance hunting and tracking.

Stories

Jageryn (fifty word fantasy)

Songs of Neelam

See Also

Sildaryn

Neelam

Old Mala