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
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.
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.
Genitalia
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.
Reproduction and gender system
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.
Diet
Mizore the male Talyxian-Stalker. Unlike common Stalkers, he don't do hunting. He eat minerals or trophoblast that cover the surface of shellfish creatures' crust by his plane tool-like mouth.
Regarding their diet, the best nutriment for stalkers is fresh raw meat. They are technically considered omnivorous, but they prefer meats more than vegetables. Stalkers who live in more urban areas often have difficulties in finding raw meats, and instead only have access to processed or cooked foods. That's why the quality of an urban stalker's fur is rather poor compared to their rural counterparts.
Generally they hunt small animals or insects and so on, large one may be able to hunt deer-like creatures. Urban stalkers may do scavenging on garbage bags, some of them may be fed by Eltus people. As for urban stalker who is good for ridding of vermin such as rats, may be treated as 'good cat' by people.
Some of them may be not confined to their common diet, may not do hunting and may eat minerals and so on.
In rare cases, part of them may attack to Eltus race, and eat 'Eltus flesh'.
Ecology and behavior
Yuke the male T-Stalker, and his children.
They mimic behavior, emotions and try to imitate speech through sheer effort, and some succeed very well, especially the ones that are treated right and live nearby or within Eltus villages/cities.
Despite their capacity for high intelligence, they have very low interest in higher intellectual pursuits, instead preferring to spend their time hunting, eating, mating or sleeping.
Urban stalkers can talk some, completely wild stalkers can't talk in most cases. Generally they are living as wildlife, so they don't have completely personal rights unlike other race.
Most of them are treated as "talking feral-cats", t-stalkers who get a job in the same way as Eltus race are few. If they work with Eltus race in city, they are good at helping by wild guess as feral animal. (e.g. as for them who work in digging, they are good at finding superior mineral resources. If t-stalker who works at a dentist exist, she/he is good at finding a decayed tooth immediately.)
It is worth noting that most of them seem to have a strong finicky, biased way of thinking and sexual deviances for unknown reasons, often showing sadistic or masochistic behavior.
They are generally known as docile cats, but part of them having a monstrously violent and sexual deviances may be harmful for Eltus race. Such they are treated as a man-eater, and Eltus people will slay them if injured parties are increased.
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
Gohantaki the Talyxian-Stalker who has tiger and bear-like features.
Spore the female Talyxian Stalker.
Mowamowa, a young female Stalker.
Honto, the male Talyxian Stalker living in the depth of Talyxian Biome forest.
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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