Qu'chael

The Qu'chael (cat-hound) of Arillus is what one might call the best of both worlds canine and feline.

Light of build for its overall size, this animal is reminiscient of the cheetah of earth, but it is not a feline. Rather, it is actually a hound, a mimic of the best attributes of the cat familia as is done by many creatures in the animal kingdom with their opposites or enemies... like flies who mimic hornets, or snakes who mimic each other, etc etc.

It is still a very powerful animal for its structuring, and even the physically larger and more powerful Wahraghir Wolf thinks twice before pursuing an attack agains a Qu'chael for any reason. The cat-hound is not afraid of a tussle.
Astonishingly swift for short durations, but still a great distance runner to better horses by more than half, the Qu'chael has become the most prized ally of the Elves of Arillus, whose lightweight figures only marginally slow the beasts.

Originally only mountable by the most trustworthy Elves (found in the noble Symphonier swordsmen), the Qu'chael was eventually broken and more widespread, but still too few to be much more than reserved for very special forces or individuals lucky enough to form a bond with the beautiful creature.
The Qu'chael often forms a life-long bond to one elf whom it considers its own equal, as with most felines, it is finnicky. Its bond though, is unbreakable once forged, and in this respect, it remains canine.

It has unretractable sturdy hooked claws for high traction in soft forest earth, a hearty growl and bark if the occassion calls for it(most often remain silent), and a distinct double-fang tooth arrangement.

Qu'chael form tight-knit small family groups in the wild, called Troops...and females share the duty of rearing the young, called Kinder, (all are fiercely protective of the young). Troops have one alpha male and one alpha female, but families can grow by accepting new males whom attach themselves to younger underling females...as if a man marrying into a family beneath the matriarchs. These rogue males often make up the bulk of the Alpha Male's hunting force, (they hunt in groups)...and are often those who are adopted or who do the adopting of Elvine companions.

Oh, and it is theorized(or at least claimed by Elves who say they've seen it happen) that the Qu'chael can run so fast as to run across water. While this seems a legitimate argument for something running nearly 100mph, it is argued that the Qu'chael's paws, even for their size, are too narrow and not webbed enough to accomplish such a feat. (It hasp been speculated, that the argument arose from the historic fact that the Qu'chael were indeed magickally created, and that once upon a time, when all things were pure, the hounds could in fact not only run across water, but rather, stand upon it as if solid earth.)
It is said that when all things come back to purity again, the Qu'chael will frolic upon the rivers and lakes once more.