Creature Feature: Phoenix, Loretober Day Twelve! (Patreon)

Living within the desert regions of southern Dracentra, phoenixes are feathered reptiles (similar to how we currently imagine Velociraptors or the Anchiornis Huxleyi) who have bright red/orange plumage, long tails, sharp talons, and small wings. Rather than flying, a phoenix uses it's wings for balance and steering while running as well as courtship displays.What makes these creatures especially unique is their ability to breathe fire. Phoenixes have a special gland that produces a flammable gas which they can store or release out of their mouths. Typically in short bursts, they can release this gas then strike a matchbox-esque area at the front of their mouth with their rough tongue to ignite the gas into a hot flame. Spitting fire is used when hunting in packs, for defense, during courtship, to warm nests at night, and used in funerary rites. When a phoenix dies or is mortally wounded and suffering, they will be encircled, set aflame with a special gas specially made for this purpose, and their body will burn down. From these ashes, eggs will remain, their shells fireproof even to the special gas. The smouldering ash and bones from the dead phoenix mixes with the desert sand, serving as the egg's nest to protect and warm them until they hatch. All phoenixes will leave behind eggs when burned because they are a hermaphroditic species and have both male and female reproductive organs.

Fun fact: Wild phoenix eggshells are used as an expensive red/purple dye. Some humans have tried to domesticate them in order to tap into this market...with not much luck.