Talyxian Stalkers
Talyxian Stalker (タリクシアン・ストーカー, also described as "T-Stalkers" or "Stalkers" for short) is a creature classification which belongs to Talyxian organism group. They are comparable to felines on the Earth, Eltus people usually call them as just "cats" while the name of "Talyxian Stalker" is treated as technical and scientific name.
Their presence can be confirmed in Southern lands of Planet Tal mainly, especially Talyxian Biome forests such as Lower Magoe, however, several numbers of them still can be seen within civilized and urbanized areas as well such as the Gold Ring. They are generally known as one of the common animals in Tal, but some of them may have 'humanized' behavior and lifestyle depending on the conditions surrounding them.
They have a wide variety and great individual differences in both appearance and personality, it may even reach a realm of ecology such as diet.
As the common features, they share quadrupedal form and surface features that look like mixed organic and inorganic components, specifically on their head and various details on their bodies. They are, of course, not a machine, cyborg, or robotic beings in any way.
Physical description
Spore, a female Talyxian Stalker.
A T-Stalker, which has whiskers.
Consistent features of Talyxian Stalkers, as with most Talyxians, include a grey color to their flesh, tongue, mouth, genitals, and blood.
The inorganic-looking surface of certain parts on their body such as head, legs, back, and tail, are composed of fur that has been compressed and has hardened which results in these parts being incredibly robust. The hardness is similar to a rhino horn of keratin, but the actual biological makeup of these parts is still unknown.
As their individual difference of appearance is really great, it's difficult to find consistency or rule on their appearance except for some common features such as quadrupedal form, tough physical build, and strong jaws. They also feature retractable claws like those of felines on Earth, however, it's still pending whether this is which all Stalkers have or not.
Especially, their sensory organ corresponding to an 'eye' is noticeably complex and diverse. There are various types of their eyes, the number, shape, and position of their eye greatly depend on an individual. For example, some Stalkers may many eyes more than a just pair of two eyes, some may have asymmetric numbers and shapes of eyes by the left and right of the face. Even more, not all of these eyes have a pupil. Also, these eyes may be depicted to look like glowing in some artworks, however, it's nothing but an artistic expression. Biologically, their eyes do not glow actually.
The details of their sensory organs corresponding to an 'ear' and 'nose' are still pending, however, these things do not form excessively similar-looking shapes with felines on Earth.
Due to these chaotic and alien features of parts that construct their face, their face rarely forms an appearance that people can recognize it easily as a 'face.' Many types of Talyxian Stalkers face often display an appearance "barely looks like a face."
Some stalkers have a pair of single whiskers that look like an insect's antenna that grows from a small hollow, located on their face around the upper jaw.
They usually do not perform communication through cries, however, they have a unique vocal organ that functions akin to that of parrots, they can imitate and make sounds of voices what people said and various sounds regardless of natural or artificial. Unlike cats on Earth, they do not have common kinds of cries. However, when they make a natural cry, it generally sounds like the short-length screech that monkeys make.
Their lifespan may depend on the individual, however, some may live more than several hundred years.
Ecology and behavior
They share a high intelligence, however, whether they can talk or can adopt a civilized lifestyle, or cannot either, it really depends on individuals, their various situations, such as the surrounding environment and each one's own curiosity.
Almost all of the Stalkers which live in a realm of Talyxian Biome naturally adapt themselves into a lifestyle as a wild animal, these Stalkers cannot talk in most of the case unless they have some sort of opportunity that can have a relationship with Eltus people.
As a noticeable feature, they potentially own pretty selfish nature on their action and purpose because they generally act on main self-preservation instincts. This nature is reflected in their usual behavior and manner, it's obviously contrasting from those of Talyxian Dogs which voluntarily help Eltus people.
Diet
Mizore a male Talyxian Stalker. Unlike common Stalkers, he does not do hunting and instead eats minerals or trophoblasts that adhere to the surface of shellfish type creatures crust while using his firm and sharp jaws that function akin to a hand plane tool.
They are generally considered to be carnivorous, many Stalkers hunt small-sized Talyxian animals such as rats and bugs.
However, all of them still cannot be defined with a consistent diet because there is still an individual that is outside of this standard; Mizore a male Stalker, displayed on the upper picture, he does not do hunting and instead eats minerals or trophoblasts that adhere to the surface of shellfish type creatures crust while using his firm and sharp jaws that function akin to a hand plane tool.
Large-sized Stalkers, depends on the conditions surrounding them, may choose Eltus people as their prey.
Reproduction and gender system
Generally, all newborns are born as hermaphrodites. But once they hit puberty, each chooses what set of genitals they will keep, and this determines their gender for the rest of their life.
All t-stalkers have a slightly protruding duct for an anus. Males' testicles are housed within the body as seen in Earth reptiles and fish. The clitoris is large sized on the females.
Nipple position also varies between males and females: male nipples are located on the upper chest (as in humans), mature females have multiple breasts on their abdomen (as in quadrupedal mammals). Newborns have nipples located at the middle of the abdomen which develops into one of the above sets according to one's chosen sex.
Some t-stalkers do not necessarily fall into this common anatomy description.
When Talyxian-Stalkers conceive children, two embryos are created: one male and one female. The normal development results in one embryo merging with the other, however both sets of genitals will develop. Because of this, stalkers are born as hermaphrodites.
In general, all t-stalker newborns are born as hermaphrodites, but they are able to choose what genitalia they will keep when they hit puberty. Because of this, adult t-stalkers have a variety of sexes to pick: ranging from solely male/female, to hermaphrodites as well as intersex.
Obtaining Human Rights
In Gold Ring city after year 70 of the Rain-calendar, new laws employed guaranteed the definitive 'human rights' for nevreans, and treated them as "the third race of Gold Ring". In addition, a part of talyxian-stalkers also became able to get somewhat of the same rights as an intelligent race, however, unlike Nevreans,T-Stalkers need to individually each go through certain procedures before being acknowledged by Eltus society as being " more than just an animal " . And even then after these close examinations they are still considered halfway through. It vastly depends on the T-stalker's ability to identify itself and behavior displayed.
If one prefers to stick to their natural lazy feline behaviour and don't hope for a more cultured life, Eltus will treat them as pets/animals.
If it wants to be cultured and manages to mimic Eltus lifestyle to a degree, they will be treated as humans, but not considered one.
Among the procedures necessary there is an exam needed to be taken at the Government offices.
Once gone through all the steps, they may acquire human rights on paper and be issued an ID card to be used as a certificate of proof. These also serve to protect them from being mistaken as violent, or weird/wild creatures like Man-eater Talyxians.
Sexuality and Relations with Eltus
While it is known that T-Stalkers are capable of engaging in sexual relations with members of the Eltus species, people deem this issue very taboo, often shunning and ostracizing members of society which would engage in this type of act, regardless of the level of intelligence / sentience a T-Stalker has, it is still at it's core a beast. A highly mimical one at that.
Gallery
A Talyxian-Stalker.
Gohantaki the Talyxian-Stalker who has tiger and bear-like features.
Honto, the male Talyxian Stalker living in the depth of Talyxian Biome forest.
Mowamowa, a young female Stalker.
Yuke the male Talyxian Stalker living in Gold Ring. He is strongly interested in civilized and human-like lifestyle.
Yuke in clothes.
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