>>55919676Water cat: Fluffy maine coon straight out of the tumble dryer, looks mangy and skinny when wet. Final evolution is a white tiger inspired by Mr. Clean, tail can unroll like a towel and represents the "rope" weapon.
Water monkey: Hot spring baboon, final evolution is kind of Primeape-inspired in that its temper turns it into a sort of kettle, possibly a proboscis or howler monkey, represents the "mortar" weapon.
Grass croc: A skinny, big eyed swamp gator with a slender snout, has very good speed and a fashion sense to wear algae, final form is a supermodel wearing its own leather, crocodile is also a representative of ancient creatures due to barely changing in hundreds of millions of years.
Water hedgehog: Spiky muskrat, slightly "ugly" due to big teeth with exposed gums, gains beaver and capybara traits as it evolves, final form is still river based but somewhat resembles a cross between a huge beaver and a catamaran, its uneven teeth call to the "guillotine" weapon.
Fire turtle: we already have two, it's really easy, just make it a small stove or furnace, final form is a big kotatsu. Represents the turtle that was too late to make it to the Chinese Zodiac and instead made it to Aesop's fable by outrunning a napping rabbit.
Fire frog: based on the midwife toad, with oil bubbles formed due to boiling in their skin surface. Final form actually carries "tadpole" flames that can be deployed like a tower defense game, doing a lot or damage despite moving very little. Represents the frog that never had anything to do with the chinese zodiac because ancient people couldn't imagine animals that weren't basic bait.
