Fenlings were a species of otter-like creature, but larger and more intelligent, that inhabited the Drasnian Fens. Often hunted for furs until the witch Vordai took them under her protection. With a bit of magical tampering they achieved a semi-sapient state but had reached the limits what Vordai was capable of. With the coaxing of Belgarath and the god Aldur, the species as a whole achieved full sapience and speech as a final gift to Vordai from Belgarath. Though traditionally given a negative role in Drasnian mythology, they are nothing worse than mischievous. The Witch of the Fens, Vordai, considers the fenlings her children; in particular, she lives with a mated pair named Tupik and Poppi.