The Long Tailed Shink

General Information

Shinks were commonly found in areas surrounding the castle, hidden in brick and other debris. They made a strange disappearance around the fifth century, though, and have not been seen for ages. Any attempts to find their locations in the wild have turned up short, but some mages have reported such a location does exist.

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Nobody knows quite where Eggx gets all of their shink eggs. They claim to have found a small remnant population, but given just how many eggs they sell and the equally suspicious lack of grown shinks near the area where "wild" shink eggs are found, it's likely that strong magic is involved as well. One can only hope they're not meddling with strange forces that will take an interest in the castle and its occupants. A few mages have tried releasing their wild shinks into the castle, but so many creatures consider shinks a tasty snack that there still isn't much of a breeding population. This, at least, is not the fault of Eggx, as shinks kept safely in a terrarium breed readily.<br>(Extra Information by Mathcat)

Egg Information

This tiny egg is tan.

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All shink eggs look alike, making them an endless source of frustration for the collector looking for a specific breed. They do hatch faster than other eggs, though, which helps make them a little less irritating to deal with. Eggx claims that the solution is to adopt a dozen at once to save time, but consider the source on this. Shink eggs should be kept in warm sand, but otherwise need no special care.

Baby Information

This tiny hatchling is tan.

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Shinks don't truly start to develop a personality until they're grown. All are skittish, flighty creatures that are rarely seen except at mealtimes. They should not be allowed to roam freely, as too many creatures consider them to be a tasty snack. If one absolutely needs to pick a specific shink out of the bunch, there are shink-safe dyes that can be used, but be aware that growing shinks shed their skins on a regular basis. <br>(Extra Information by Mathcat)

Teen Information

This tiny hatchling is tan. It seems bigger.

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By this stage, shinks have started to develop individual personalities, which would be more helpful if they weren't often the complete opposite for that breed. Snub-tailed hatchlings will be hyperactive, sand shink hatchlings will try swimming, and tree shink hatchlings will dig extensive burrows. The only way to be sure what one has is to wait for it to mature.

Adult Information

This shink has an awkwardly long tail. It often crawls along the ground because of this, and any attempts it has made to climb a tree or other surface have resulted in the tail causing it to not get very far.

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Shinks aren't the most interesting creatures around, but sometimes it's refreshing to have a creature that isn't known for intelligence, loud noises, or slime production. The only real risk in raising a shink is that one is likely to develop the urge to get one of each variety. Long tailed shinks are an easy target for predators, which might explain why they remain the rarest shink species and are the only species to not yet establish a breeding population in the castle grounds. Even those kept inside the castle often fall victim to careless feet or other accidents, keeping their numbers low. Long tailed shinks never seem to learn that they aren't really cut out for climbing, so they should be kept somewhere with plenty of cushioning for when they fall.