Fern hounds are specialized plant-like terrestrial pets created by the Pale Tree that mimic dogs. A fern hound can be charmed to become a ranger animal companion and is one of the pets a sylvari can select at character creation. They are born from the Pale Tree in the same way as a sylvari, but are not sapient like the sylvari. These animals are seen by sylvari in the same way dogs are seen by humans; they are cherished pets. 0.