Family Terminology Zoogs can speak their own language as well as others, but use specific phrases and unusual concepts to describe family and the roles of other zoog in their society Some examples are listed below Generation: Zoogs use this word to determine the ranking of a zoog in their society He-Zoog: A male zoog She-Zoog: A female zoog Zooglet: A young zoog, furred and capable of leaving its mother’s pouches Pouchling: An infant zoog, naked, blind, and helpless Normally never leaves the pouch Chosen: An adjective used to describe those zoogs raised in their mother’s preferred pouch and thus generally considered superior to other zoogs Off-Pouch: An adjective used to describe zoogs raised in their mother’s less preferred pouch and thus generally considered inferior to other zoogs make it safer to move through a zoog forest In truth, zoogs are rarely duped by such attempts at trickery Family Zoogs normally live in hollow trees or burrows which they dig themselves or steal from other burrow-makers (such as foxes or badgers) They prefer dark and damp conditions They typically dig a large network of tunnels with at least two concealed exits in addition to the main entrance for a quick escape at need When zoogs show affection, they grab and caress their beloved or friend with their cold, clammy face tentacles Humans generally find this quite unsettling, but those that become friends with a zoog learn to endure it as best they can Zoogs not mate for life Periodically, two zoog become infatuated They then become obsessed with each other, engage in wooing and flirtatious activities, signed a treaty with the forest All zoogs, regardless of their forest, speak the same language, which is instinctive, not learned Hence, even a zoog raised by humans will grow up able to speak its own tongue (as well as the language of those who raised it) Zoogs are generally carnivores While they are able to eat some fruits and vegetables (usually raw), prolonged reliance on plant matter tends to make them listless and sick Fresh meat is always a treat, preferably eaten raw They can eat dried or cooked meat when necessary They enjoy all types of animal flesh and even eat humanoids when they get the opportunity Large and/or intelligent prey must be ambushed and trapped, as zoog are at their best from positions of stealth Zoogs are able to produce a musk-like substance from glands on their heads, which they often smear on trees or rocks to leave a trail for others of their kind to follow Some merchants sell “zoog musk,” which they claim can be used to confuse or distract zoogs and thus 42 and try to spend time together At any given time, a zoog is only interested in one other member of its species Of course, sometimes the object of a zoog’s affection does not reciprocate, and then the heartbroken would-be lover licks their emotional wounds and retreats, only to fall in love with and obsess over a new zoog a few months later If two zoogs prove compatible and a she-zoog becomes pregnant, the pair moves into the same burrow, and the father helps to protect and feed the mother (and their babies) until their progeny have grown big enough to leave the family unit This process typically takes a few years Once the babies are on their own, the parents separate, dissolving their personal bond but maintaining emotional ties to their offspring Within a year or two (or sometimes just a few months), the parents find new objects of affection and the cycle begins again It isn’t rare during the natural zoog mating cycle for zoogs to fall in love with the same partners more than