Chapter 2: Feathered cats
In this chapter, we take a look at the new, bizarre and feathered warriors. Many of which have only been just discovered. Some conquered new worlds, others grew to gigantic sizes. Have we learned more about the evolution of these feathered warriors. They're revolutionizing out understanding of life on earth, blurring the boundaries between warrior cat and bird.
For over a century, the great warrior cat discoveries came from Europe and North America. But, in the last decade or so, the focus shifted to a new place of the Warrior cat revolutions that it now sits on, China. In recent years, spectacular finds are being excavated of amazingly well preserved warriors. These warriors show new startling details about their appearance and they're giving us glimpses into an incredibly alien world. A world full of the most bizarre warriors we have ever seen. Possibly the strangest lived 154 million moons ago in a period known as the golden period, a warrior that looks nothing else on earth.
The home of the strange warrior was a dense forest as it was the breeding place of a world full of odd creatures. Hiding in these lush forests is Epidexipteryx. The small cat like creature was truly odd. About the size of a pigeon, everything about this warrior is odd from the length of its front legs and claws to the shape of its teeth. The small Epidexipteryx lowered its head down as it began peering into the log looking for something to eat. It was clear that it had some large eyes as well. It looked up as this forest was full of predators and being small makes it vulnerable. Soon it looked around as a paw of a light brown and cream warrior like animal made an appearance. The Epidexipteryx sensing an opportunity began burrowing into the log as it was looking for its favorite food, grubs. It soon squeaked and looked around seeing the predator had in fact, got closer by. Soon the predator charged at the pigeon sized cat as it wanted to seize it up. The Epidexipteryx's best defense was its small size which meant hiding was that much easier. It soon hopped off of the log and went into the hollow center to hide in it. It soon stopped as the grunting of its would be hunter was staring outside.
This predator is called Sinraptor. The pigeon sized warrior looked outside as it was still a target for the predator. A small warrior like Epidexipteryx would be of no interest to a 7 meter adult Sinraptor. But this Sinraptor is a juvenile and Epidexipteryx makes the perfect sized snack. It stared into the log from a hole seeing the small cat inside. It soon began attacking the log by plunging its snout into the hole trying to seize the small cat up, After a couple of failed attempts, the young hunter turned away. The small warrior saw this as an opportunity to escape. It turned as it headed for one of the exits as it wanted to get out. It soon reached it as the Sinraptor flashed its jaws at the small warrior, roaring out as the cat turned and ran the other way heading out the other side of the log. The Sinraptor saw the small cat bound out of log so it turned and gave a direct chase. The small cat looked to see the warrior chasing after it. The Epidexipteryx's small size has another advantage, using the long claws it had, it began to climb up a tree right out of the predators way. The Sinraptor snapped its jaws at the small cat but it was simply too quick for it. Only in the trees the Epidexipteryx can be safe.
Everything we know about Epidexipteryx comes from a remarkable finding, first revealed in 2008. It showed a cat with a small skull, large eye sockets and unusually long teeth. With claws well suited for gripping branches, and very long legs and big paws for its small size. It suggested that this was a warrior that was well suited for life in the trees.
The small cat was digging into the tree as it was using its elongated 3rd claw for digging. It was another adaptation for living in the trees. The animal pecked at the bark with its odd teeth as it continued moving along in the trees as it climbed along pecking and scratching at the tree looking for insect grubs. And one of its favorites are burrowing beetle grubs which it can use its odd tools to dig them out. It soon came to a hole in a rotting tree as it looked inside with its large eye. Inside was a wiggling beetle grub as it was the next meal for this hunter. It soon began to dig it out with its claws as it wanted the grub for itself. However even getting it out meant there would be others that wanted to take it under your nose. Prey like this which is difficult to catch is quite the prize. Once it got the grub out, a hiss came from the branch above it. It was another, larger Epidexipteryx.
The two met on the same branch as the two small cats began chirping and squealing at each other among in the trees. The larger one was more of a bully as it grabbed the grub in front of the other and ate it much to the smaller ones protests. Stealing food is a common tactic especially when that animal is an expert in this area. The two squealing and hissing cats were making a lot of racket as they were displaying their long structures on their tails as a sign of display.
There is more to this creature that first meets the eye, not only was it perfectly designed for life in the trees, but the finding has also shown a long downy cover of simple feather like structures on its fur. Feathers that have evolved for one reason, to keep it warm. But there is one last striking feature, four long feathers where the tail would be for this cat. They weren't feathers of a bird, they were long and ribbon-like. Almost certainly for show only. In fact the very name Epidexipteryx means "Display Feather." The two small cats squealed as they displayed their tail feathers, one of them back away as it climbed higher into the trees with the other one chasing it down. These feathers were the earliest record of ornamental feathers. Not only to attract but also to threaten. These small Epidexipteryx are the most bird like of any warrior cat.
One of them was digging into the tree as it was the large one. The smaller one was watching and waiting for his chance. It soon dug out a beetle grub as it was waiting for the prize to be revealed. After grabbing a hold of the grub, it pulled it out but it accidently dropped it as it fell to the forest floor. The larger Epidexipteryx knew the coast was clear as it soon decided to head for the ground. It soon landed on the forest floor as it began to look for the prize. After find it, it showed that stealing food in the trees and on the ground were two different things. The smaller Epidexipteryx looked from the safety of the tree branch as the larger one devoured the prize but it was a trap. Suddenly the juvenile Sinraptor appeared from nowhere and seized the large Epidexipteryx in its jaws. It thrashed the small prey until it fell limp in its jaws before walking off as it knew that the prey would have been helpless to the hunter. The Sinraptor Juvenile walked off with the prey in its jaws,
Only among the trees you can be safe from giant predators like Sinraptor. On the ground, a few feathers offer no protection. The smaller Epidexipteryx seeing its competitor get snatched up, headed for the trees in the search of more insect grubs.
The first feathered warrior cat was discovered in 1996, but lots more would quickly follow. It suddenly appeared that many warrior cats have feathers and confirmed what we had long suspected. A direct link between Warriors and Birds. A link that could be found directly here in the Mongolian desert 85 million moons ago.
A slender brown she-cat was sitting on a nest full of kits as she was busy tending to them. Her species is a Felinornithoides. A member of the Manifeltoran warriors and we have actual findings of these warriors sitting on a nest full of kits. She got up revealing a nest of squirming kits as she began brushing dirt on them to hide their scent. It would take weeks for the kits to fully mature so she wouldn't begin showing her motherly instincts until the kits began wandering around. She got up as he found a nearby palm as she began plucking on it and ripping it off. However another species of warrior was waiting nearby. The Felinornithoides puts the palm on the nest of kits to protect them from the sun. She soon turned away as she went to go get more, with the Felinornithoides off foraging, this unprotected nest offers an invitation to hungry predators. A crested warrior soon made an appearance, it plucked at the palm as its diet somewhat centered around it. It was an Ovafelid type animal. A bizarre type of animal, with no teeth, they were mostly plant eating animals but it doesn't mean it wouldn't take advantage of a different kind of lunch. The Ovafelid looked into the Felinornithoides nest to see the squirming and relaxing kits.
We know that Ovafelid's were mostly plant eaters due to remarkable finds. One find was incredibly well preserved, inside its body were small stones, gastroliths, just like a bird, it too swallowed these to help with digestion of the coarse vegetation. However when two unrelated embryos were found in the nest of an Ovafelid, it suggested that some weren't just plant eaters but nest raiders as well.
After moving the palms out of the way, it soon got at the prize of the kits that were squirming around however to make getting them out easier, it began to dig. Using its front paws like a shovel, it began to dig at the side of the nest. The Felinornithoides was busy looking around as it was wondering about what to decorate the nest with. She heard a grunting of another animal in the area, assuming it was nothing, she went back off foraging. It soon dug out an area around the nest leaving a small cavity which it moved its paws around as it grabbed hold of something, it was one of the kits. The female Felinornithoides was still foraging unaware her nest was under attack. It soon rolled the kit of the nest. With two bony projections on the beak of the bizarre Ovafelid, it can get the precious prize within. It soon used its beak as it crunched down on the kit. The kit didn't even make a noise as it was eaten. The mother was still wandering around as the Ovafelid as busy looking for food. It soon turned to the nest as it began digging away at it. It meant that a cat like the Felinornithoides can't turn its back away for too long. It soon turned out to be an Ovafelid as she began making a dash back to the nest. The Ovafelid sensed something was wrong as he knew the mother was charging back. He soon looked back down at the nest wondering if he could have a snack for the road. He soon picked up a kit with its jaws and ran off as the Felinornithoides arrived back at the nest as two of its kits were gone and the nest was a mess. She sat on the nest of kits.
Losing two kits was the least of the Felinornithoides' problems. Soon the beak of a huge Ovafelid came down snatching the Felinornithoides in it jaws before shaking the small animal around breaking all of the bones in the small predator's body. It turned out some nest raiders were bigger than others. The huge hunter slammed the predator down as it began eating it with its beak. This hunter was called a Gigantofeltor.
Gigantofeltor was first discovered in 2007 in the Gobi Desert. The sheer size of the bones show it wasn't like anything found before. 8 meters long and weighing 1 and a ½ tons. From its bones, it was 35 times bigger than its closest Ovafelid relatives yet this giant wasn't fully grown. It was like finding a mouse the size of a cow.
The huge Gigantofeltor male was wandering out after having its fill to the desert. Males and females of the same species were busy in the area with the males displaying themselves to attract potential mates. We don't know for sure that a huge warrior like Gigantofeltor would have or need feathers? The male continued to wander along as it soon found a female. In warriors, feathers would have been used as a fine downy coat like its fur mainly for keeping it warm. However feathers were found and preserved on one of Gigantofeltor's relatives. On the forearms and tail are the unmistakable shape of long symmetrical feathers. Similar to modern birds.
The male continued displaying to the female as he was looking to attract a mate. It seems certain that Gigantofeltor too was feathered. Making this the largest feathered warrior cat ever found. The male continued to display his feathers as the feathers had one purpose. They weren't for flight, the Gigantofeltor couldn't fly, nor were the feathers for insulation. The feathers real purpose was to intimidate or attract. The male looked around as another male had appeared as it was trying to woo the female. The female looked at the male as the other male knew one thing, he wasn't welcome. He soon charged as he ran up and kicked the other male but the other male dodged the attack. The two of the chirped and clucked as they turned in circles as they wanted to intimidate each other Both males tried leaning in with their heads wondering if one could use the long neck to bite the other. The fight dragged out as each other managed to land a couple of blows on the other before the intruder decided to back down. The victorious male looked on as he knew that he had won himself a female. Once they were back, they began to do a courtship dance to prove they were mates as their heads turned and bobbed before finally facing each other, they waved their arms out as they were displaying for each other once more.
Across the world, discovery after discovery has revealed more and more features. From nesting to feathers we thought was exclusively bird like, has found its way into Warriors. Probably the ultimate discovery was a warrior that was discovered in northeastern china about 120 million moons ago. This remote area has exposed findings of exquisite detail. Unearthing an astonishing diversity of animals, many of which are well adapted to living in trees. One particular warrior discovery takes this to a whole new level.
The forests during this time were covered in vast conifer forests. Among one of the trees a lizard like creature with extra skin crawled along the tree as it was in the search for food. Unaware it was being hunted itself. This lizard was Xianglong, with curved claws it is a lizard well suited for climbing trees. With prey like this, predators would surely follow. A bird like warrior with big eyes looked on as the Xianglong was the perfect sized meal. The lizard continued climbing among the trees but the warrior soon followed, the warrior had long feathers on its front legs, back legs and tail. It was the most common warrior species living in these forests yet it doesn't live on the ground. Microfeltor, the Xianglong continued to scurry higher and higher into the trees as the Microfeltor scrambled after it.
The findings of Microfeltor were so well preserved; it had every detail of its anatomy. With distinctive toes on its first claw, it was in the family of Feltor warriors. But these claws had evolved for climbing, not killing. At less than a meter long, this was a warrior that was perfectly suited for living in the trees.
The Microfeltor continued to study the Xianglong lizard as it continued to climb around in the trees. The lizard stopped as it wanted to decide what to do next giving the Microfeltor the perfect opportunity. It soon leaped after it as it scurried higher into the tree. The Xianglong scurried onto a branch as it wanted to get out of the way but the Microfeltor was small and perfectly adapted for chasing prey. It soon got onto the same branch as the lizard but the Xianglong's extra skin had the perfect adaptation among itself. The Microfeltor leaped onto the lizard but the Xianglong leaped from the branch, spreading its arms and legs out, it began to glide. It was a gliding lizard and used this as an escape from predators.
But the findings of Microfeltor reveal something else, this was a feathered warrior. However, these feathers aren't for keeping warm or for show, their structures are obvious from the finding, the feathers were long, veined, and create a perfect aerodynamic surface. And it wasn't confined to its front legs. Its back legs too had long feathers.
The Microfeltor's feathers have one use only, for flight. The Microfeltor leaped off the branch as it, much like the Xianglong, spreads its legs as it too began to glide. Microfeltor was a four winged warrior that took to the skies. The two animals glided along the forest as one was trying to escape and the other was in pursuit. The Xianglong needed to rest as it soon found a tree to latch on to. Sensing a moment of relief it was planning the next move unaware that the Microfeltor was after it. Sensing the hunter was nearby it released itself from the tree and glided off as the Microfeltor landed but saw no prey. It too released itself as it glided off after the lizard.
However watching the two of them glide was another bird like warrior. However unlike the Microfeltor's blue, brown and gray feathers, this warrior was a combination of Red, orange and gray. It only had feathers on the tail and front legs yet none on the hind legs. The Xianglong landed onto another tree as it was preparing to make the next move but the Microfeltor was still pursuing after it. Soon it landed onto the tree just short of its prey as it began climbing up. But in these Chinese forests, Microfeltor wasn't the only flying monster. The strange winged warrior looked on as it spotted both the Xianglong and the Microfeltor. It continued to eye them as the lizard climbed for the safety of the trees with the Microfeltor in pursuit. This other warrior was called Sinornithofelis, closely related to the Microfeltor and larger than it. It watched as both creatures got onto the same branch. It was more than capable of stealing prey but the Sinornithofelis had a bigger animal on the menu. The Microfeltor was getting ready to catch the Xianglong as it prepared to glide off. The Sinornithofelis glided off as it was heading for the same branch the two animals were on. The Microfeltor snapped but the lizard got away but that wasn't what it was worried about.
The Sinornithofelis landed on the Microfeltor as it sunk its back paws into the sides of the winged cat. The Microfeltor shook the attacker free and fled, instead of finding food itself, it needed to avoid being food for another hunter. The Microfeltor climbed onto the tree as the Sinornithofelis were now chasing after it. The Microfeltor was leaping higher into the trees as the Sinornithofelis climbed up after it. Both could glide and sensing the hunter was nearby, it soon released itself from the tree as it began to glide away. The Sinornithofelis did the same thing as it was now pursuing the Microfeltor. This wasn't powered flight, it was gliding.
Recent research showed how Microfeltor flew: It didn't have the muscles for powered flight, so instead made the most of its four wings. By holding its rear legs back and to the sides, it was able to become an incredibly efficient glider. Able to move through the forest in a series of long, looping glides.
Having longer feathers on its front and rear legs, the Microfeltor was by far the better glider. It soon landed on the tree as it began thinking like the lizard it was hunting earlier, However the Sinornithofelis landed above it as it was now a dangerous risk going up- Soon, both animals began going down the tree as it was right with the Sinornithofelis' best intentions. But with no ability to gain height, the only way is to go down, the Microfelter glided away from the scene as it didn't want to be the prey to the Sinornithofelis. The Sinornithofelis glided after it but they were both heading for a crash landing. The Microfeltor landed on the ground as looked around wondering what to do next. The Sinornithofelis landed next to it, mere feet from the paper thin glider. The Microfeltor looked and began to hop away as the Sinornithofelis looked on ready to chase the prey down. And once on the ground, the Microfeltor's long feathers turn from an advantage to a weakness. The Sinornithofelis didn't have much feathering compared to its prey but it was better able to move on the ground. The Microfeltor was barely able to walk much less run. It continued bouncing along as it was looking for the best tree to climb up and escape. The Sinornithofelis had no such problem as it continued chasing the Microfeltor down. The tables have turned on the forest floor as the hunter was getting closer to the gliding prey that was still hopping along. The Microfeltor found a tree as it began to climb up in an effort to escape, the Sinornithofelis was beginning to tire out as it wasn't going as fast climbing up. The Microfeltor soon found a high enough branch as it looked back one last time before leaping from the branch and gliding away. The Sinornithofelis watched as its would be prey glided away. The Microfeltor has a fortunate escape.
Sinornithofelis was one of the first feathered warriors to be found. The findings were so perfectly preserved it helped solve one of the great warrior's mysteries. For years, the color of warriors was thought to be impossible to work out. In 2010, it was discovered that the feathers on the finding weren't just impressions, under the microscope, tiny structures were revealed to being identical to those found in modern birds. Structures that contained the pigment. By comparing them to modern birds, we can even work out the true colors.
The Sinornithofelis was walking along the forest floor as it was now looking for food all by itself. The Microfeltor managed to snag itself far out of its reach. The colors of the feathers turn out to be a combination, of reddish browns, yellows, grays, and blacks, perfectly suited to forest life. Soon a family of small dogs plotted along as there was a male, female and their four offspring. The female calmly yapped telling the Sinornithofelis to get out of her way. The cat knowing not to mess with prey like this decided to retreat back into the trees as it wanted to avoid a fight. Another warrior living in these forests is Jeholocanis, a small plant eating dog like creature. The Jeholocanis plucked the vegetation as they were looking for soft ferns to feed off of. Recent findings tell us that this small canine looks after and protects its young. The Sinornithofelis glided to another branch overlooking the family as it was getting ready to hunt them. It swiftly glided to another branch as it overlooked them as it was still looking at them, wondering when the perfect time was to pounce. The family continued their foraging.
With feathers that allow it to blend in with the forest, Sinornithofelis can move unseen through the tree tops. The dogs continued to wander through the forest as they were looking for food. The Sinornithofelis continued to glide after them as it was clearly on the hunt for something and Sinornithofelis is hunter with a potent secret weapon.
In 2011, a study of the eyes of Sinornithofelis revealed it was a predator that was perfectly capable of hunting equally during day and night. And a study of its teeth in 2009 showed something that definitely sets it apart from birds, something far more deadly.
The family of Jeholocanis continued to wander through the forest as one of the pups got separated from the rest of the family as it continued to sample the ferns around it. The Sinornithofelis looked up seeing the opportunity to pounce on the separated pup and get a good meal out of it. Soon another Sinornithofelis landed on the branch nearby as it was getting ready to pounce on the animal as well. The Jeholocanis pup seeing how it was separated, raced back to the family as it wanted to not get left behind. The Sinornithofelis saw this as the opportunity to pounce, It soon landed in front of the Jeholocanis pup as it was looking at it. The small pup was the size of the hunter as it moved off but suddenly, the Sinornithofelis heard a growl as it turned out to be the father of the bunch, the mother was protecting the rest of the offspring as the pup ran back to the mother. The Sinornithofelis being intimidated by the larger adult knew it needed the back-up it needed. Soon another Sinornithfelis landed as the Jeholocanis was getting nervous. But, the greatest danger wasn't simply being outnumbered as this male knew two Sinornithofelis posed little threat.
We have found that Sinornithofelis' teeth had unusual and distinctive grooves along their length. They resemble those of the venomous Gila monster. The grooves of its teeth, used to deliver venom into its victim. We might have identified the location of the venom sack in the skill. It appears that Sinornithofelis could kill with a venomous bite.
The two Sinornithofelis were busy trying to corner the huge male Jeholocanis but the male was 3 times bigger than the diminutive hunters Soon the Sinornithofelis charged as the wanted to panic the Jeholocanis before luring him into a trap. Soon the third Sinornithofelis waiting in the tree tops knew it would be the perfect opportunity to pounce and kill. It soon glided down landing on the side of the Jeholocanis male, biting into its neck and delivering a lethal dose of venom. The canine like creature wailed as more Sinornithofelis joined the action. One of them big the front right leg of the struggling animal while the other bit into the left back leg of the animal preventing its escape. The Jeholocanis continued to cry out as more venom was being injected into the animal to prevent it from going anywhere. Soon paralysis came in as the Jeholocanis fell to the ground and died from a lethal injection of venom. This was a far more deadly predator than anyone had imagined. Soon one of them leaped off of the dead Jeholocanis as they prepared to feast on the carcass. This completes the picture of a bizarrely lost world. Soon the predators began to dig into the carcass seeing how they would not need to hunt again for another few days.
All of these discoveries reveal the importance of feathers from a whole host of warriors. From insulation, to defense and finally flight. And Microfeltor, not only hints at how flight developed, but also hints at how birds still live among us today in their many shapes, forms and species.
[A/N]: Another truly bizarre chapter as it would be unlikely for cats to have feathers unless they take them from birds but there were bird like creatures that had feathers living in the past so feathered animals isn't that much of a stretch.
The predator Sinraptor is an actual predator that lived in China but wasn't really a bird of prey.
Also the venomous Sinornitho theory wouldn't really be true for the real creature as the support for it was relatively weak. Probably the fact that the teeth were either misplaced or had not that many comparisons with other animals. But the way it would be used still makes more sense than the spitting cobra dilo we all grew up with. This chapter was a lot easier to write than the first one seeing how I felt more motivated and I would like to see more of a strong start we managed to get. That is all.