At first glance they seem to be regular animals, but they are intelligent enough to understand human speech and have unusually high physical abilities, plus some of them can use sorcery.

These kinds of animals are known as Beasts.

Many of them act like leaders for normal animals.

Characteristically, we can say they are very physically orientated.

They possess superior physical prowess (*1), but in contrast it is difficult for them to be restored if their bodies are destroyed.

Unlike normal youkai, they're resistant against mental attacks (*2).

Usually, their shape, personality and powers are strongly influenced by the animal from which they originated.

The unity within their species is strong, and they won't bear other member of their species to face hardships.

They tend to be omnivores who prefer to eat meat, especially human meat.

It is said that animals that have eaten too many virtuous humans become beasts (*3).

Many of them are very ferocious, and since the frequency of encountering one is somewhat high, you must be careful of this type of youkai.

Also, more tails generally means higher youkai power, so you can use this to estimate their strength.

1: Swift feet, the ability to jump high, having great strength, being able to see even in the dark, to see and hear things from afar, having delicious meat, etc.

2: They're airheads

3: Monks who've done a lot of training would be suitable targets.

Most of their danger comes from direct attacks.

Even if they can only scratch with their sharp claws or bite with their teeth, they are a threat to humans.

It's possible to be injured even if you don't directly get involved with beasts. For example, if you catch a rabbit, a youkai rabbit may take revenge on you if it notices.

Also, you must be even more careful of beasts that can use sorcery.

Because of the difference in physical abilities, humans are at an overwhelming disadvantage in a frontal attack.

However, since many of them aren't too smart in general, they often fall into traps set by humans.

Sometimes they'll get caught in rabbit traps.

If one of them is threatening to fight you, it's probably because it's hungry.

If you have food on hand, there's a good chance you can escape by offering it to them and running.

In the worst case, if you don't have any food on hand, or you meet them one after another and you've just given away your food, all you can do is pray.