...:~:†$##                                          ##$†:~:...
..:~:†$###                                          ###$†:~:..
.:~:†$####                                          ####$†:~:.
..:~:†$###                                          ###$†:~:..
...:~:†$##                                          ##$†:~:...
....:~:†$#     .. FERRETS                           #$†:~:....
.....:~:†$                                          $†:~:.....
......:~:† ...:::~:::†$$$&##########&$$$†:::~:::... †:~:......
.......:~:                                          :~:.......
........:~ YOU SEE SOMETHING MOVE IN THE CORNER OF  ~:........
.......:~:     YOUR EYE - PROBABLY ONE OF THESE.    :~:.......
......:~:†                                          †:~:......
.....:~:†$             BACKBONE ANIMALS.            $†:~:.....
....:~:†$#         CAT-SNAKES, OR SO CALLED.        #$†:~:....
...:~:†$##       COMES IN DIFFERENT FLAVOURS.       ##$†:~:...
..:~:†$###                                          ###$†:~:..
.:~:†$#### ::::::::::::::: THE MINK ::::::::::::::: ####$†:~:.
..:~:†$### :                                      : ###$†:~:..
...:~:†$## : MINKS, ALSO CALLED THE SNOW FERRETS, : ##$†:~:...
....:~:†$# . MAKE UP THE "WANDERING FOOD SUPPLY"  . #$†:~:....
.....:~:†$ . USED BY THE SHAMANS AND UNDERLINGS   . $†:~:.....
......:~:†   OF KIRUGU VARGIR. WHEN CALLED UPON,    †:~:......
.......:~:   THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES, AND CAN BE    :~:.......
........:~   CAUGHT.                                ~:........
.......:~:                                          :~:.......
......:~:† :::::::::::::: THE MARTEN :::::::::::::: †:~:......
.....:~:†$ :                                      : $†:~:.....
....:~:†$# : THE MARTEN IS THE SNEAKIER ONE HERE, : #$†:~:....
...:~:†$## . OFTEN USED FOR SPYING, OR STEALING.  . ##$†:~:...
..:~:†$### . IN THE OLDER TALES ABOUT VIDMI,      . ###$†:~:..
.:~:†$####   THESE ARE PROBS THE FERRETS THAT SHE   ####$†:~:.
..:~:†$###   WAS SAID TO CONTROL. THIS CONNECTION   ###$†:~:..
...:~:†$##   MIGHT EXPLAIN WHY MANY DENIZENS HAVE   ##$†:~:...
....:~:†$#   THIS AS THEIR MAIN "PET" GOD.          #$†:~:....
.....:~:†$                                          $†:~:.....
......:~:† :::::::::::::: THE ERMINE :::::::::::::: †:~:......
.......:~: :                                      : :~:.......
........:~ : THE LUSHER ONE IN THE FAMILY IS THE  : ~:........
.......:~: . ERMINE. USED AS BEDWARMERS, OR       . :~:.......
......:~:† . HARVESTED FOR THEIR BEAUTIFUL FUR,   . †:~:......
.....:~:†$   THE WHITE COAT, VERY PRETTY,           $†:~:.....
....:~:†$#   ALTHOUGH RARE.                         #$†:~:....
...:~:†$##                                          ##$†:~:...
..:~:†$### ::::::::::::::: THE MEWN ::::::::::::::: ###$†:~:..
.:~:†$#### :                                      : ####$†:~:.
..:~:†$### . ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE IN KIRUGU    . ###$†:~:..
...:~:†$## . LORE, THE OTTER FERRET? IT GOES IN   . ##$†:~:...
....:~:†$#   RIVERS. THERE ARE A LOT OF FERRETS,    #$†:~:....
.....:~:†$   BUT FOR SOME REASON, THIS OTTER ONE    $†:~:.....
......:~:†   IS HARDLY EVER SEEN. IT MIGHT BE       †:~:......
.......:~:   THAT IT IS UNBOUND...?                 :~:.......
........:~   LOCALS USE IT FOR SPORT FISHING.       ~:........
.......:~:                                          :~:.......
......:~:† ::::::::::::::: THE HUSKY :::::::::::::: †:~:......
.....:~:†$ :                                      : $†:~:.....
....:~:†$# . THE HUSKY MAY SEEM LIKE A DOG, BUT   . #$†:~:....
...:~:†$## . IT IS ACTUALLY A KIND OF FERRET.     . ##$†:~:...
..:~:†$###   THIS MAKES IT THE LARGEST OF THE       ###$†:~:..
.:~:†$####   PHYLUM, AND IT'S THE MOST RECENTLY     ####$†:~:.
..:~:†$###   EVOLVED AS WELL, BRED FOR USE AS A     ###$†:~:..
...:~:†$##   PREDATOR. IT'S MADE MORE DANGEROUS     ##$†:~:...
....:~:†$#   BY THE FACT THAT IT'S ALMOST           #$†:~:....
.....:~:†$   COMPLETELY UNKNOWN TO BIOLOGISTS.      $†:~:.....
......:~:†                                          †:~:......
.......:~:                                          :~:.......
........:~                                          ~:........
.......:~:                                          :~:.......
......:~:†                                          †:~:......