Dreadspines

Behavior: Dreadspines almost always hunt in pairs, regardless of gender or mating status. A dreadspine caught alone is most likely diseased, or dying. These cooperative hunters will seek a partner out immediately from birth and be nearly inseparable from their chosen individual, only leaving them upon finding a new partner after reaching sexual maturity for the purpose of mating. Being a medium-sized predator and neither excelling in strength or speed, instead their danger lies in their spines. Every single spine, claw, and tooth on a dreadspine is hollow and filled with highly potent necrotoxins that immediately begin cellular decay in as soon as 20 minutes after the initial exposure. They themselves are immune to their own toxin's effect, however. Ambush predators naturally, when one individual spots potential prey they will call out in a distinctive rattling chittering to alert their partner. Once both creatures have sighted prey one will circle around to cut prey off and bury themselves into the desert sand with their uppermost spikes exposed while the other commences pursuit in an attempt to herd prey towards the buried partner. Should this tactic fail, both dreadspines will begin active pursuit until losing sight of their prey or at least one of them sustains moderate to severe wounds.

Details: Despite their ruthless hunting tactics, these creatures are hailed as symbols of ultimate devotion and bonding in some desert cultures due to their unwillingness to abandon a chosen partner under any circumstances and should one be "widowed" by the death or otherwise removal of their other, they will enter a depressive state in which they refuse to eat or drink until succumbing to starvation and/or dehydration. Some desert bandits use the necrotoxin of the dreadspine as a fear tactic alongside an efficient way of disabling victims.