Skinwalkers/Skinner Birds

Skinwalkers—also known as Skinner Birds—are massive, birdlike shapeshifters native to the scorching canyons and Sandy Lands of Cinderglow. These creatures possess a vast wingspan and feathers of rust-red, burnt orange, and sun-faded gold which gives them perfect camouflage against the sandstone cliffs, Their heads resemble elongated skulls with bony, hooked beaks, that are black at the tips, their eyes are small glowing crimson dots, and their hands and feet end in long, skeletal claws perfectly designed for peeling flesh. Skinwalkers are infamous for their hunting style. They stalk prey for days—sometimes weeks—studying their routines, memorizing their speech patterns, companions, and behavioral triggers. Once enough information is gathered, the Skinwalker will murder and skin something close to the target—an animal, friend, family member, etc. It then uses the flesh to shapeshift into this stolen form, using the familiar voice and phrases it has memorized to lure the victim in. When the prey draws near, the Skinwalker sheds its disguise and lunges, it grabs its pray with its claws, and soars into the sky, where it skins its prey mid-air. A Skinwalker rarely goes hungry. It can go months without food, often only hoarding skinned corpses high in unreachable cliffs or hidden ledges, for when it gets hungry. If it cannot find a suitable target to mimic, it resorts to older disguises—wailing like past pray, screaming “Help!” or sobbing. Skinwalkers aren’t perfect. While they are intelligent hunters, they do not understand language—they only mimic what they know gets attention. This leads to unnatural speech, bizarre movements, and uncanny behavior in their disguises. Victims who notice something “off” and avoid it's traps are often spared, as the Skinwalker will lose interest and abandon the hunt after a few failed attempts, typically within two or three days. Tips given by locals are simple, be wary of familiar faces acting strangely especially if they repeat the same phrases or move unnaturally, Avoid following cries for help in the canyons, If you feel like your being followed you are just keep moving and keep your guard up, and NEVER trust a voice if you can’t see the face of who it is.

FUN FACT

1. A Skinwalker’s call often begins sounding like a screaming man or woman before breaking down into a distorted hawk-like shriek and violent clicking.
2. Female Skinwalkers tend to be slightly larger, with wider hips—an adaptation to safely produce and lay eggs.
3. Though solitary as adults, Skinwalkers are deeply loyal to their offspring. A female can lay 3 to 6 eggs per year, guarding and nurturing her hatchlings for up to 6 years. During this time, she teaches them how to stalk, shapeshift, and survive. Even after they leave the nest, many Skinwalkers return occasionally to visit their mothers—sharing kills or hunting together.
4. Skinwalkers can live up to around 60-100 years old. Once a skinwalker reaches its end point it'll crawl into its nest among it's skins and skin its self carefully before dying. Other animals may come and scavenge it's body.
5. Skinwalkers are delicious when cooked right but it's meat is highly expensive and rare to find.
6. Skinwalkers aren’t long-distance flyers—they’re ambush predators, built for short, explosive speed. In a burst, they can hit up to 110–130 mph, diving or launching themselves. Their wings are massive and built to explode with power making them terrifyingly fast in the first 8–12 seconds of an attack.
7. On land, Skinwalkers can sprint up to 45–50 mph
8. Despite their size, Skinwalkers have evolved owl-like feathers that reduce air resistance and muffle sound. This lets them glide without a sound making them perfect for stalking.
9. Skinwalkers can only maintain peak speed for 10–15 seconds** before needing to land or glide. That’s why they lure prey close—they don’t waste energy on long chases. If it's flying after you, it means it’s already sure it can catch you.
10. Adult Skinwalkers have a wingspan between 20-26 feet, depending on age and sex
11. There speed without burst is about 40–55 mph while in flight and 15–20 mph when grounded
12. Their hands and feet have long, bony talons each one strong enough to dig into stone, wood, or bone.
13. Like massive bats or owls, Skinwalkers can hang upside down from cave ceilings by their back talons.
14. There able to climb and “run” across vertical wall and upside down but not as fast as they could normally
15. Skinwalkers are the apex predators of Cinderglow