Beasts

Once prey, now awakened to sentience...

Today as I was shepherding, I saw a gravedigger tree capture prey. I know why we made the trees, that they are needed. But it still disturbs me. The tree caught a stag, and seeing my antlers, I suppose it mistook me for a fellow deer. It looked at me. Not through me as animals used to do. I could swear it was pleading with me to help it. But there was nothing I could do. It drowned soon after, and was consumed. Why does that animal's death haunt my sleep? Are the rumors about the animals true? ~ A qilin/kirin beast shepherd

First brought to Dra'cora as livestock and game animals 150 years ago, they doubled in size and eventually gained sentience and sapience due to the magic rich environment provided by The Pearl Egg of Creation.
Being a prey species, they outnumber Dra'corians, and are unable to naturally control magic. Beasts keep to their own tribes, with each having their own separate language, and a shared one. The mindset is split concerning Beasts eating each other. Some have no problem with the food chain as is, while others seek a better solution. Some prey Beasts have gone so far as to form partnerships with predator Beasts, gaining protection from Dra'corian hunters in exchange for raiding crops of vegetable lambs and barnacle geese to feed their protectors.
Marine beasts currently live in the largest fresh and saltwater crater lakes, until the Egg's terraforming spell can spread far enough to effect Dra'cora's only sea.
Most fear Dra'corians, seeing them as monsters. Use of magic frightens Beasts most of all, because they can't understand it yet. Some are in awe of Dra'corains, and others curious. A very few actively tried communicating with them, but most prefer to hide and outwit them. More aggressive beasts have begun stalking Dra'corian hunters, destroying traps and campsites. So far, these attacks are meant to frighten, but lately they have been growing bolder. Sooner or later, someone will get hurt, or worse...

Anatomy & Morphology

The Beasts of Dra’cora look physically no different from wild animals on Earth, but are twice as large, just as smart as humans, and fully capable of speech. Insects and fish are non-sentient--except for sharks--and unlike other beasts, can grow to truly gigantic sizes.
Their paws / hooves / claws are more dexterous than those of Earth animals, although only some of them have thumbs, such as rats and primates. Beasts are still quadruped but can stand upright on their hind legs to manipulate things with their forepaws. However, this position is uncomfortable for long periods, so things are most often held in the mouth.

Origin/Ancestry

Earth

Lifespan

Varies by creature type. Land vertibrates live from 25-50 years, barring illness or accident. Reptiles and sea creatures live longer, with averages of 50-100 years respectively.

Related Myths

• How the Sky was Made

Note on Lifespans: On average, they live twice as long as their Earth ancestors, but the time seems shorter due to Dracora's much longer years.

Show spoiler

Four and a half times as long as Earth years.