Monster: Abi (Catsquirrel)

Y'all thought I was kidding, didn't you.

Abi (Catsquirrel)
Armour Class: 8
Hit Dice: 1+2
Move: 150' (50')
Attacks: 1
Damage: 1-4
No. Appearing: 1-2 (2-8)
Save As: F1
Morale: 6
Treasure Type: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 19

Abis, or catsquirrels -- presumably the product of a very bored magic-user's experiment, or possibly a magic-user's lab disaster, but no one is 'fessing up to the matter -- show much more of their feline ancestry than sciurid in their body-shape. However, they possess somewhat shortened forelegs with paws adapted for grasping as well as clawing, which forces a catsquirrel into a bounding sort of gallop. All four paws, in fact, are suitable for climbing, and the limbs rotate more than those of a true cat; the tail is a broad plume, like that of a squirrel. An abi's head looks essentially feline, though with slightly larger eyes. Most catsquirrels are a mottled rust and sable, occasionally with white "booties".

There is no predicting an abi, not even during combat. The creature may throw itself at a target, biting and clawing for 1-4 hit points of damage, or it may run away or climb to safety the first chance it has. A catsquirrel is not even predictable in its use of its maddening yowl -- a short, repeating scream that causes all within 30' to lose their actions for 1-3 rounds if a save vs. paralyzation is failed because of the yowl's skull-splitting, brain-freezing noise.