The most common predator to be found within the Forevergreen, the panther is a powerful hunter and formidable adversary. Cat Elves have learned to naturally bond to these creatures for mutual benefit.

Panthers

The black panther in true form is really a black jaguar. The panther is a powerful, deep-chested, stocky cat with a large, rounded head and short, sturdy limbs. The cats' fur ranges from pale gold to rich rusty red, and is patterned with a series of dark rosettes that enclose one or two smaller spots. Along the middle of its back, a row of black spots sometimes merge into a solid line. All-black jaguars are called panthers and are the Cat Elves' most common bond, and in these black animals the spots sometimes show through the darker background of the fur. (Please make note that any cat made other than solid black or black/dark brown with spots needs chiefly approval—+mail on the MUSH if you wish to discuss.)

The stocky build of the panther makes it look larger than it really is. The largest of panthers can weigh up to 300lbs (these are rare and need a chiefly ok to be created), but most males weigh 121.5 - 250lbs and a head and body length that measures 45 - 72.75". The females weigh 79.5 - 188lbs on average. One to four young are born after a gestation period of 93 - 105 in character days (8-9 days rl). The young weigh about 24.5 - 32lbs each at birth and each at birth and remain with their mother for about a little under two turns. Remember, this is a real-life comparison for you to get a rough idea. The cats here on Two Moons are not exactly as they would be in real life, so 1 per character per season only please. Our panther bonds can easily live to about 50 Abode turns.

Food sources

The panther will feed on almost anything that is available; this includes but is not limited to: lizards, snakes, treewees, small mammals/rodents (skitters or rats), runners or leapers (deers or gazelle), fish, hard-shells (turtles), longtails (longtailed monkeys) & limbrunners (chimps/primates), snooters(anteaters), and crocodilians (reptiles). The panther's powerful jaws and robust canine teeth enable the cat to kill livestock weighing three or four times it's own weight, often with a bite to the back of the skull rather than the more common neck or throat bite employed by the other large cats. Most notable about the panthers is their strong association with wet and waterside habitats from which they take some prey. Panthers are most often found around dense vegetation. Being good climbers, panthers often rest in trees but they are believed to hunt almost entirely on the ground.

The enormously powerful bite of a panther is most often needed, not for subduing the largest of its prey, but for piercing the armor of crocodilians. Panthers kill both land and river hard shells by brute force, breaking the top of the thick shell with their teeth. When a panther has captured a large mammal, it quickly kills it by a powerful bite to the head, neck or throat, often puncturing the skull near the ears with the canines or dislocating or crushing the neck vertebrae. The aura of a panther is of great power, much like a heavyweight wrestler rather than a dancer. However, this does not imply that the animals are dull-witted or clumsy by any means. The jungle panther is sleek and graceful to a great degree.

Additional information

Now you know more about our bonds than most elves need to know to become bonded! But remember, if you wish a bond other than within the outlines mentioned, please make a request to the chief and/or chief's seconds. Not all Cat Elves will have spotted cats, most should be muted colors that would blend well in dark foliage.
*A last note to remember: Cat Elves do not have cat blood in their heritage, and therefore cannot have perfect communication with panthers as the wolfriders have with their wolves. While a wolfrider sends and receives from his or her wolf, a Cat Elf will bond to a panther with emotion and feelings in a completely different way. A Cat Elf (depending on +magic) can feel when their bonds are angry, happy, or in danger, and the other way around if close enough.