So, at work today, my mind wandered again and did that funny thing where two otherwise separate and random thoughts link up to form an idea. An idea I'm dubbing the "catsune" until I work up a better name. The connecting thoughts? The lore of 9 tailed Kitsune and the lore of cats having 9 lives. What meshed together is a being (likely feline in base) who can possess up to nine tails, each representing a life. If killed, they are restored to life in some manner, minus one tail. The only way to truly kill a "Catsune" is to kill one when possessing only one tail (their true tail), or to cut off their true tail (which will kill them instantly). As it is all but impossible to differentiate between a "Catsune's" true tail and their acquired tails (more on that in a bit), those who intend to kill a "Catsune" go with the shotgun approach of cutting off all their tails. This is made difficult in that the tail must be removed completely; if only partially severed, even the true tail will eventually grow back to full length. Getting into a position to do such a feat is no easy task.

Why might one go through all that effort to kill one? Primarily, it stems from how a "Catsune" acquire their extra tails, and through them, extra lives. They take it from others. From memories of tales telling of cats stealing a baby's breath (and usually killing the infant in the process I believe), the "Catsune" are capable of stealing a person's "last breath" taking it for their own, and acquiring another tail in the process. "Catsune" are born with only one tail, their true tail, meaning if you see one with a second, they have taken another's life. What isn't easy to tell, is the context. The process of stealing your last breath is actually a rather peaceful way to go, and there are places where, if one wishes to die (such as an elderly individual who wishes to retire peaceably for example, or one suffering from an incurable disease that causes a level of suffering), a "Catsune" can grant the request, extending their life in the process. There are those, however, who choose to acquire more tails, and thus a buffer from death (and perhaps increased personal power), by more aggressive means, and of course, tales of these individuals spread faster than the former.

Thoughts? That's all I've worked out so far, but I kinda like what little lore I've managed to cook up through my musing. Is anyone interested in learning more? Has someone else already done something similar? I admit, I'm a little worried about pursuing this to find I'm stepping on someone's toes.