Ayew
AKA: Ayew, Alien Big Cat (ABC), Black Cougar, Appalachian Black Panther, Eastern Cougar (mutated), Shadowcat, Ghost Cat, Black Painter, Black Puma, Catamount
Long ago, settlers feared the unexpected appearance of a black, lithe creature; it would drop silently from the trees, killing its prey swiftly, putting horror into the hearts of onlookers. Today, though less dreaded, this frightening animal is reported every year in states east of the Mississippi River. Alien Big Cats, or “ABC’s”, are large, black felines not definitively proven to exist in certain areas of the world; the Appalachian Black Mountain Lion is one such creature: a separation from the Eastern Cougar, covered in dark fur, and resembling a South American jaguar or Asian/African black panther.
Larger in size than their cougar brethren, Black Mountain Lions arose long ago from a genetic mutation causing melanism－a beneficial trait for the cats. They were encountered and documented by European pioneers and explorers, displayed in museums in the 1700s, written and drawn in the 19th century (see “The Naturalist’s Library, Mammalia, Vol. 1, Cats”), and seen from the 18th century to modern day in rural/urban settings. As this creature has long been the subject of wild hunting tales and strange encounters, it has been given many names; to simplify things, this bestiary will refer to it by two: Ayew and Black Mountain Lion.
The light fur of the Eastern Cougar－now presumed extinct－did not help it hide in dense forests from dangers, like humans. As the cats with melanism bred with other melanistic and non-melanistic cats, the population of black cougars increased; as they were also hard to spot in the shadows of copses, they were more likely to live longer and breed more frequently (creating a selective advantage). After several decades, few light furred Eastern Cougars remained; today, it is believed that none of these reddish/gray-brown furred creatures may exist. Though the Appalachian Black Panther has been frequently seen, it has never been caught or documented.
The Ayew has a short face like that of a bulldog and a long body; they can grow to be 6 - 8 ft long and weigh 100 - 140 lbs, with males being larger. They are masters of their environment, able to agilely climb, swim, run, and leap across any Appalachian terrain. They inhabit large sections of land filled with copious amounts of prey, like deer. Territorial animals, both males and females take personal territory (males 25+ mi2 , females 199 5 - 20 mi2), and are aggressive when even their own kind trespasses－even during mating season. Interactions between the sexes are anything but affectionate.
Black Mountain Lions reach maturity at 2 - 3 years of age. Every three years after maturity, females initiate mating and produce a litter three months afterward, giving birth to 2 - 3 offspring. Mothers raise their young to maturity, teaching them how to hunt, find safe havens, and mark territory with their scent.
Ayews do not chase prey, but stealthily stalk it－ambushing it from above, leaping up to 20 ft horizontally to grab prey and deliver an efficient, killing blow to the throat. The cats eat one large meal (deer, livestock, etc.) every 7 - 10 days on average, though nursing mothers will subsidize this with smaller game, like squirrels, birds, and rodents. When a female feels it is time to mate again, cubs are chased off to survive on their own. When calling for the opposite sex, female Black Mountain Lions make a cry that sounds like “A-yeeeeew”－the reason for one of its namesakes. These beasts may live up to eight years if not preyed upon by larger, more vicious predators or humans.
Ayews are occasionally seen outside of their wooded habitats. In residential settings, the creatures often appear curious of human activity, though frightened of human advances/acknowledgment. Black Mountain Lions are every bit as ferocious as their ancestors, though they retain a learned or evolutionary fear of people; they will not attack humans outside of their own forest homes, unless provoked. These types of sightings occur almost exclusively at night.
Tracking these animals within their territory is both difficult and dangerous; reports from early European settlements documented the creatures attacking groups of armed men with stealth, speed, and deadly accuracy. However, if the Ayew encountered is male, it is solitary, and a more easily managed confrontation; if the Ayew encountered is female, she is likely accompanied by offspring and will react more defensively and aggressively than normal.