~ Animal Companions ~ ~ Animal Companions The world of Haurah is full of creatures, both animal and magical, and the Murrah are just beginning to learn about and log them all. They are even beginning to tame a few of the Hauran creatures, just as they had done on Pelmei. Thankfully, many of the techniques they had used on Pelmeian creatures work on the Hauran ones. As discoveries develop, this space will be updated. -- Common Scurry -- Scurries are the small destructive little omnivores that infest Haurah, and cause damage to the Solace Camps in particular. Hunted by most Hauran creatures, the Scurry is a tasty little animal. They are also the Murrah's most abundant source of food. While some are kept as pets (usually by young Murrah) this practice is usually seen as very strange and unsanitary by other Murrah. Those who do keep them as pets, however, claim that they are actually very intelligent, and quite clean. If compared to earth animals, they could be called somewhat of a cross between a ferret and a prairie dog. -- Crested Swiftling -- A very small omnivore, somewhat resembling the human-world foxes. This delicate little hunter is tamed for both its companionship, and its ability to hunt the numerous rodent-like creatures (Scurries) that infest Haurah. Since the Murrah catch the rodents for food, the Swiftlings are often trained to hunt them without damaging the bodies. Some clans engage in hunting competitions, involving skillfully trained Swiftlings. Also, because of its impressive agility and speed, some have begun training Swiftlings to race. -- Tufted Nightslink -- Nightslinks are Haurah's nocturnal answer to the Swiftling. They also hunt the Scurries, while the little creatures are out on their night shift of foraging. Nightslinks have incredible hearing and agility, and are quicker than Swiftlings in short dashes. They are larger and more independent than Swiftlings, making them harder to tame, and more likely to spontaneously abandon their owners. -- Jeweled Lasher -- Lashers are stunning and elusive creatures, their dangerous beauty driving some Murrah to stop at no ends in order to claim one as a pet. They are exquisite hunters, with very few natural predators. This lack of much need for camouflage, and the dangerous venom in their fangs, has allowed them to develop varied and vividly colored scales. Their sleekly-shaped bodies allow them to hunt aquatically, and to follow Scurries into their burrows, while their strong neck plates protect them from sharp obstacles while traveling quickly, and from the struggles of their prey. Lashers can only be truly tamed if handled from birth, and even then there is danger of being accidentally bitten. Wild Lashers need to be constantly lulled with smoke from Serpentpeace incense, usually kept in small decorated coffers around their necks. If a wild Lasher wakes up from the gentle stupor from the smoke, it becomes violent and impossible to handle...usually forcing its owner to let it escape. -- Grassland Rusher --     The Rusher is a relatively recently-discovered creature, but immediately rose to great popularity among the Murran population. While they proved next to useless for food and burden purposes, the restless Rusher happened to be perfect for something completely different...racing.     Using techniques learned with racing animals--generations ago, on Pelmei--the Rusher's racing potencial was quickly unlocked and racing became the Solace Camps greatest sport. Rushers are antsy and disloyal unless given ample room to run and race, which is a natural drive of theirs. When given the opportunity to race often, they remain a surprisingly tame and herd-minded creature. When angered, however, their kicks and strong pecks can be devastating.     The Rusher is flawlessly built for running. Their fan-like tail is used as a rudder and to help individuals recognize each other from a distance. They have no extra limbs to slow them down--with only one hoof-like claw on their feet, and a complete lack of upper limbs. For more information on Rushers and sport racing, see the Racing page in the Library. ©2007 - Shannon Legler