Post by Raelyn on Mar 31, 2010 15:39:20 GMT -5
Many animals native to Earth - Terra - were brought along to Pern. Some, however, were not supposed to technically come. The Ferrets of Earth are clever, mischievous animals who can squeaze into the smallest of places and chew through nearly anything that stands in their way. They are also adept at unlocking and undoing puzzles, locks, etc. They hitched a ride to, and upon their discovery - well, the discovery of their decendants- the settlers of Pern decided to mentasynth-enhance the Ferrets. The experimented-upon Ferrets escaped into the wild of Pern and eventually they were forgotten. Now they have been rediscovered- first as the mythical "Tunnelcat", and now as the "Ferit". The Ferits are able to Connect, bond, impress, to humans similarly ot how Flitters do, but on a simpler level. There are a few basic colors, though there are deviations fro mthese basic forms.
First is the largest, the Shadow Ferit. Shadows have dark fur and bright eyes. Their Mask is generally similar to that of the masked ferits, but much fainter compared to their dark fur. They are the most intelligent, and have the greatest level of communication with their human partners (mind-to-mind), Being able to send messages with more sense than Whers and Flitters, although generally not in words. They are the largest, being about the size of a gold Firelizard fully extended. They have the small, rounded ears, long, wriggly bodies, and sharp teeth of their ancestor Ferrets, Weasels, and even the Skunk, although they don't have a 'stink'. Shadows are generally medium-length furred and are often one solid color plus a 'faded' mask
Next is second largest, the Sandy Ferit. Sandies have tan to pale beige-ish fur color and blue eyes and they could be called the cutest. they are slightly chunky, with long fur and slower movements, but are second in intelligence only to the shadow ferits. They can transmit feelings and emotions to their humans, though the level of communication is a bit weaker, because if they are separated by long distances they cannot communicate as well. Shadows on the other hand are in constant touch no mater how far form their human. Sandy Ferits have lon coats and the ones most likely to overeat and get chubby, though it just makes them cuter.
Third largest is also the second smallest: the White Ferit. These Ferits are white as fresh snow, with usually brown eyes and sharp little teeth. these are the fighters of their breed, and would rather act then think first, making them the easiest to be caught, although their bites hurt worse than any other's. They will transmit slightly more vague feelings and emotions to their partners, and it takes time to understand their squeaks and snuffles. White Ferits are not quite as intelligent as Shadows and Sandies but are still about the level of Firelizards, maybe around sand flitters' mind level. Whites are quick and devious, the most easily angered, but also are the ones easiest to find, except in winter, when their plush but short coats allow them to camoflauge perfectly.
The fourth, and smallest ferit, is the Masked Ferit. With pale gray or even white fur, they might look like a White ferit, until you see the dark black, dark brown, or dark gray mask around their eyes. They may also have dark markings on their paws/chest, as well as the tip of their tails. Maskeds are the most expressive in their emotions, sending strong emotional signals to their humans even from a different continent. Once you connect with a Masked Ferit, you will always find it again. They are rather timid, and look to humans for shelter. These were amoung the first Ferit found by dragonriders and holders alike. Maskeds are the most endeeringly sweet, with their small size ans fuzzy fur and ridiculously large eyes, your heart might melt at the sight of a baby or even and adult Masked. They do not follow the smaller=less intelligent rule at all, for Maskeds are the most highly intelligent, their thoughts and minds greater than even Gold Flitters, and closer to shipfish, although they cannot 'talk', they can give very clear meanings to their Connected human.
Ferits are very quick and unbonded are prone to mischievous acts for no reason- simply destructive things for 'fun'. Once Connected they can Learn what to, and what not to, do. A Person can Connect multiple Ferits, like with Flitters. Ferits usually Connect anywhere from birth to post-weaning - their third or fourth week of life. however sometimes Ferits cna be Connected to after this point and even as adults. They can live long lives, up to 30 turns. Most Ferits are the length of your forearm, about a foot long, the babies are very small, like adorable fluff balls, about the size of newborn kittens, dwarf Ferits cna sometimes be as small as the size of baby chickens.
To mate, Ferits will *Race*, similar to a Wher's Run, and the males will race each other and after the female Ferit, and the males before the Race will often fight to show off to the female. At the end of the Race, the male Ferit who has caught the female Ferit is her mate.
Ferits give birth to live young, and feed their kits on their milk. Both male and female take care of their young. After a week the kits open their eyes, two weeks they start to follow their mother and father around, three to four weeks they beign to wean off their mother's milk, and by five or six is their first hunt. Eventually, at a month old, they are teenagers, and they still continue to grow until their tenth turn, and at their 9nth they are considered entering adulthood. During the first three weeks is the best Connecting time. Litters of Ferit usually contain about four kits at a time. Males are usually somewhat smaller than females, though there is not much difference between the two.
First is the largest, the Shadow Ferit. Shadows have dark fur and bright eyes. Their Mask is generally similar to that of the masked ferits, but much fainter compared to their dark fur. They are the most intelligent, and have the greatest level of communication with their human partners (mind-to-mind), Being able to send messages with more sense than Whers and Flitters, although generally not in words. They are the largest, being about the size of a gold Firelizard fully extended. They have the small, rounded ears, long, wriggly bodies, and sharp teeth of their ancestor Ferrets, Weasels, and even the Skunk, although they don't have a 'stink'. Shadows are generally medium-length furred and are often one solid color plus a 'faded' mask
Next is second largest, the Sandy Ferit. Sandies have tan to pale beige-ish fur color and blue eyes and they could be called the cutest. they are slightly chunky, with long fur and slower movements, but are second in intelligence only to the shadow ferits. They can transmit feelings and emotions to their humans, though the level of communication is a bit weaker, because if they are separated by long distances they cannot communicate as well. Shadows on the other hand are in constant touch no mater how far form their human. Sandy Ferits have lon coats and the ones most likely to overeat and get chubby, though it just makes them cuter.
Third largest is also the second smallest: the White Ferit. These Ferits are white as fresh snow, with usually brown eyes and sharp little teeth. these are the fighters of their breed, and would rather act then think first, making them the easiest to be caught, although their bites hurt worse than any other's. They will transmit slightly more vague feelings and emotions to their partners, and it takes time to understand their squeaks and snuffles. White Ferits are not quite as intelligent as Shadows and Sandies but are still about the level of Firelizards, maybe around sand flitters' mind level. Whites are quick and devious, the most easily angered, but also are the ones easiest to find, except in winter, when their plush but short coats allow them to camoflauge perfectly.
The fourth, and smallest ferit, is the Masked Ferit. With pale gray or even white fur, they might look like a White ferit, until you see the dark black, dark brown, or dark gray mask around their eyes. They may also have dark markings on their paws/chest, as well as the tip of their tails. Maskeds are the most expressive in their emotions, sending strong emotional signals to their humans even from a different continent. Once you connect with a Masked Ferit, you will always find it again. They are rather timid, and look to humans for shelter. These were amoung the first Ferit found by dragonriders and holders alike. Maskeds are the most endeeringly sweet, with their small size ans fuzzy fur and ridiculously large eyes, your heart might melt at the sight of a baby or even and adult Masked. They do not follow the smaller=less intelligent rule at all, for Maskeds are the most highly intelligent, their thoughts and minds greater than even Gold Flitters, and closer to shipfish, although they cannot 'talk', they can give very clear meanings to their Connected human.
Ferits are very quick and unbonded are prone to mischievous acts for no reason- simply destructive things for 'fun'. Once Connected they can Learn what to, and what not to, do. A Person can Connect multiple Ferits, like with Flitters. Ferits usually Connect anywhere from birth to post-weaning - their third or fourth week of life. however sometimes Ferits cna be Connected to after this point and even as adults. They can live long lives, up to 30 turns. Most Ferits are the length of your forearm, about a foot long, the babies are very small, like adorable fluff balls, about the size of newborn kittens, dwarf Ferits cna sometimes be as small as the size of baby chickens.
To mate, Ferits will *Race*, similar to a Wher's Run, and the males will race each other and after the female Ferit, and the males before the Race will often fight to show off to the female. At the end of the Race, the male Ferit who has caught the female Ferit is her mate.
Ferits give birth to live young, and feed their kits on their milk. Both male and female take care of their young. After a week the kits open their eyes, two weeks they start to follow their mother and father around, three to four weeks they beign to wean off their mother's milk, and by five or six is their first hunt. Eventually, at a month old, they are teenagers, and they still continue to grow until their tenth turn, and at their 9nth they are considered entering adulthood. During the first three weeks is the best Connecting time. Litters of Ferit usually contain about four kits at a time. Males are usually somewhat smaller than females, though there is not much difference between the two.
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