Xela

Xela lives in the temperate rainforest of Fragas do Eume. His species is known to scientists as Camafolium lentus, or Slow Leaf Mimic. Among the Gallaeci, he is known as the Leafcloak Fisher, one of the Mauros believed to inhabit these lands.

They are slow-moving creatures, closely related to the Pseudophyllinae, a group noted for their camouflage. Many species in this group resemble fresh or dried leaves, complete with veins, blotches, and even bite marks. In Xela’s case, his appearance changes with the seasons, adapting to the surrounding foliage.

Even when they move, they are hard to spot. Their movements resemble leaves or twigs swaying in the wind, slow and deliberate. As they travel through the forest, they inspect branches one by one, looking for the right elasticity to make a suitable fishing rod. They also test spiderwebs, selecting the strongest silk to help catch minnows in the nearby creeks.

For bait, they use the fermented bodies of tiny forest flies, carefully wrapped in moss to keep them from drying out in the sun