Zairtail

Zairtails are small aggressive lizards found across Returned Abeir. They vary in size, from about 30cm to just over a metre.

History
Zairtails are very distantly related to Dragons.

Behavior
Zairtails live in swarms, usually riding on the back of scathebeasts. They feed by plucking flies from the air and will jump onto passing enemies and rip into them.

Zairtails lay clutches of around 5 rubbery eggs, covered in a foul smelling oil. The eggs are brued in loose dirt, and the young are left to fend for themselves.

Varieties
Various sub-species of Zairtail can be found accross Returned Abeir. Each with a different brightly colored skin tone.

Firetongue
This variety is known for its burning hot skin. These Zairtails are a rich crimson color. Firetounges are about the size of a small dog.

Unlike other varieties, Firetounges stay with their eggs in order to keep them warm.

Gazer
Gazers have large suckers on their toes and big eyes. They use these hypnotic eyes to distract prey whilst the rest of the swarm close in. Their large eyes also give them better night vision than any other subspecies of Zairtail.

Cutter
The fastest of the Zairtails, cutters never stand still. They dart back and forth in battle slashing at their victims in a blur of biting.

Bonebreaker
Bonebreakers are the largest of the Zairtail family. They are about the size of a large dog. They have over-sized, powerful jaws. Once they have clamped their jaws around prey, they will only let up if their victim dies or the animal is killed.

Food
Although not tasty, Zairtails can be used as sustenance. They fatty skin has an oily texture and taste like "marsh muck".

Pets
Some assassins have be known to use Zairtails to carry out their bidding. After training a small group of cutters, assassin will share their target's scent with the swarm and release them nearby. Once the victim is dead, the assassins collects the creatures without laying a finger on their target.

Other
Boiling the skins of some varieties of Zairtail, will give off a rich ink.

As a last resort, some adventurers have taken to burning the tails of dead Zairtails. This gives off a small smoky flame.