Kijikaiaku are usually sleek, with long, leathery snake-like bodies made of what looks like lean muscle to twist and bend. They are very flexible, and like cats can fit into any space they can fit their heads through; which is essentially everywhere as they can squish very easily. Their long tails help not only with balance, but also can be used as whips and tools to grab things.
Kijikaiaku are very intelligent, and oftentimes use their body in ways normal animals wouldn't think to. At the end of their tail is a tuft of long fur, which they oftentimes use for many purposes such as shooing off bugs, dusting themselves or other things off, or for play. Along with their tail fur they have a mane, fur adorning their neck. Both furs come in a multitude of styles and sizes.
Though their body is more of that of a snake-cat, their head and attitude is very much like a fox. They have small sharp teeth they use not for ripping meat, but more for looking threatening to the few who can see them if need be, battle or play with other Kijis, to get a grip in tough or resistant soul energy to bring to the core for Gaia, or for defense. Near their mouth protrudes long whiskers that flow behind them, coming in many lengths with many different adornments on the ends. The purpose of their whiskers is to sense the energy they need to gather, and to help draw it in to be harvested.
Their ears are long and pick up the sound of everything around them, alerting them to their surroundings and happenings up to miles around them. Their sharp nose compliments that, allowing for their senses to pick up multitudes of information around them. They have three claws on each foot they use for fast travel and careful stepping, much like those of ostriches or emus. Though their legs are shaped like a fox's, their wrists are much like a human's, allowing them to turn their wrists in odd looking directions, and their thumbs opposable.
Subtalleons are usually sleek, with muscular, smooth scaled looking bodies made of what looks like lean muscle. They can regenerate themselves very easily by soaking in the energy around them and are not fragile, despite their body not being entirely physical. Their finned tails help them to swim strong and fast in the water to avoid others, and their wings allow them to travel outside the water any place they desire.
Subtalleons are fairly intelligent and sentient, and very self aware of their actions and selves. They have high self preservation, unlike the Kijis, and dislike injury. Though their body is much like a hippocampus, their personalities differ greatly and they dislike being compared to the other animals. Despite having a horse-like mouth, they will oftentimes also eat bugs and fish. However they do not actually need food to sustain themselves. Their butterfly-like wings are surprisingly tough and provide great maneuverability in the water, allowing them to turn fast and sharp, and are even fast in the air, allowing them to fly at high speeds. Their tails are strong and allow them to easily outmaneuver others in the water.
Their hearing isn't the best, and though they can pick up sounds and vibrations very well, cannot easily hear precise things like Kijis can. Their most impressive feature is their recovery, which saps at the world's energy just like Kijis sap other living creatures, sustaining themselves and regrowing parts of themselves they might lose. Their front half is that of a horse, their back half much like a fish.
The height of a Subtalleon can be anywhere from the size of a miniature horse, about 3 feet at the withers, to bigger than a draft horse, about 7 feet at the withers. Their height averages around that of a thoroughbred, or rather around 5.5 feet tall at the withers. Being nature and water spirits, they do not have organs like other creatures of the material plane and, like Kiji, don't need to eat or sleep. Their presence is also much lower than a physical creature, and, though more often than not people are able to see these creatures, they possess a lot of magic and can hide themselves if desired easily.
Subtalleons have a variety of traits that can appear on them when they hatch, making every Tally unique not only in their markings but their physical looks as well. Subtalleons reproduce by stealing unfertilized or newly laid eggs and sharing their energy with it, creating a new subtalleon to form inside the egg and eventually hatch. Other Subtalleons usually help in this process to bring forth a summon, using their energy as well, and by doing so the summon takes on traits of their summoner(s). Multiple tallies can be used to summon one summon, and as such the summon can take traits from the multiple tallies summoning it, making every tally come out differently.
Subtalleons can come in any color, displaying the energy of the world they have taken in in their wings and tail fin. They can swim and fly very well and don't have a hard time on land. The water is naturally very cold, especially in the depths where they come from, and are very acclimated towards the cold, however they have no trouble with heat. Their watered down coat protects them naturally from the sun and fire, though they can still be burned if not careful.
It is unknown how long Subtalleon live for, but because of their regeneration, are oftentimes considered immortal. At least until their energy has been depleted, or they've taken too much damage. Unlike Kiji they do not need to gather energy or visit the core, and mostly live off pure willpower and by stealing and pulling in energy from around them.
Subtalleon are generally very healthy, as they cannot get sick by usual diseases, and unless summoned without much energy or their energy getting too low, do not suffer as any normal being might. They can eat, but do not need food to survive. The food that they do consume, however, turns right into gathered energy. This also means that they do not need to breathe air, but they do have lungs and use them and the air to make noises and communicate. Lastly, sleeping is also something they don't do, however they can rest up and meditate, or hibernate by going into stasis and absorbing energy to recover faster.
Subtalleons are not easy tempered. They are usually serious creatures who think for themselves and are compelled by their natural hatred for the world and Yile's influence. This does not mean they cannot be agreeable, or have fun, and oftentimes newer generations are managing to become more rebellious and think for themselves. They are generally fairly introverted and dislike being around others, preferring silence and peace over adventure and excitement. Yile is often in their heads as well, trying to keep them on their task, which some older subtalleons don't mind as much. Some subtalleons dislike their task or question it, however, and tend to be more friendly.