General
Holly bushes around the Keep are infested with ilex geckos during the winter. Although beloved for their cuteness, they aren't terribly smart, and are often found infesting mistletoe as well. Careless magi under the mistletoe may end up with a gecko licking their cheek. This is dubiously considered good luck.
Egg
A pile of snow sits atop this brown egg.
Hatchling
Hatchling ilex geckos are so tiny they're easy to miss as they cling to any bush or even the Keep walls. They have no magical skill at this age and as a result they are very vulnerable. Magis working the Keep gardens take care to keep birds and predators away in the summer while they grow.
Adult
Ilex geckos are perfectly adapted to live in holly bushes, where they cling to the woody stems and rely on their false leaves and color to camouflage them. They are so well camouflaged and slow-moving that they rarely draw the attention of birds nesting among the bush, allowing them to safely rob the nest of eggs to eat. But the small size of an ilex gecko belies its prowess in plant magic. When threatened they can release a burst of this magic into the holly bush they're in, causing dramatic, rapid overgrowth. Because the leaves are hideously spiny, the gecko can escape unscathed; this same technique creates a safe nest for the gecko's eggs.
Notes
Obtained from: Event, Winter Solstice, Retired
Breeding: Yes
Renaming cost: 200 gold
Release date: December 18th 2019
Element: Life 
Breeds with the following:
Ilex Gecko + Ilex Gecko = Ilex Gecko (Normal)
Sprite art: Tekla | Description: Tekla