General
Legend says that the first nkoe and the first tau were found in the same ancient tomb deep in the Ixan Jungle, thought to be nothing more than stone reliefs upon the tomb's walls. The magi who found them took shelter in the tomb escaping a storm and while camping there, were startled to see the reliefs on the wall unfold themselves and drop down to the stone floor. These magi were then presented with eggs to take back with them to civilization, which is where the nkoe and tau spread throughout the world as fierce protectors of magi. The descendants of these first nkoe and tau still have the ability to change into stone, both as statues and as reliefs upon convenient walls.
Egg
This silver-blue egg has a tufted tail and a stone-hard shell.
Hatchling
A tau hatchling is soft when it first hatches, its fur downy and fine for its first few weeks. It doesn't begin to develop the ability to become stone until after its first year, and before that is usually guarded fiercely by its parents. Tau hatchlings spend most of their time sleeping in the sun, but when awake are energetic and playful, often racing each other down hallways and pouncing on anything that moves. They're happiest in a large group, where they can cuddle and wrestle with siblings, nkoe hatchlings, and even magi willing to risk the occasional painful bite or scratch before the tau hatchling learns to be soft with delicate magi skin. They despise water and will often wail if their magi needs to give them a bath, but they recover quickly and don't hold grudges.
Adult
An adult tau is just as social as when a hatchling, requiring not only a large territory but also companions to share it with. They are fiercely protective of their families - both hatchlings and magi - and can grow large enough to ride. Some magi have been able to teach their tau to assume a form halfway between stone and alive, which slows the tau down but allows it to continue to move while still protecting it from any harm. Tau are intelligent but can be quite lazy, preferring even as adults to spend most of their time sleeping, and will vocally complain when told to get up. They love to cuddle and will happily accept a magi curling up to nap with them.
Notes
Obtained from: Donation (Dec)
Breeding: Yes
Renaming cost: 2000 gold
Release date: December 1st 2017
Element: Earth 
Breeds with the following:
Tau + Tau = Tau (Guaranteed) Cost: 3 shards
Tau + Nkoe = Tau (Guaranteed) Cost: 3 shards
Tau + Nkoe = Nkoe (Guaranteed) Cost: 3 shards
December 2017 3-shard Donation Pet
Sprite art: Tekla | Description: Sochitelya