The Animals of Erudus- The Spineback Mountain Region
Creating the Animals in Angelica Moonglenn’s Fantastical Universe
Animals of the Spineback Mountain Region
The planet Erudus is ancient and throughout its history the land has been infused with magic. The creatures of the world evolved alongside with magic and the changes that occurred. Animals also had to evolve to adapt to the radiation coming from space, and the cold harsh environment including the bitter wind.
Glowy Bugs
These tiny bugs fly at night throughout the mountains. Their bodies glow with lavender, cobalt and silver. They have adapted to use magic and people’s enhanced emotions to increase their vitality. Because Angelika’s emotions are not in control early in the story, they often accompany Angelika.
Snow Runners
These are deer-like animals with long legs and thick blue-gray coat. The coats insulate the animals from the cold. They have long antlers that whistle in strong winds. Snow runners are extremely graceful and can camouflage themselves easily in the mountains.
Whisper Wolves
These wolves are very large. Instead of howling, yipping, or growling they hum harmonically. Each note and each combination of notes means something different. Wolf packs can work together throughout the distances of the mountain ranges simply using these sounds. These animals are also very intelligent.
Echo Wings
Echo Wings are relatives of dragons. Over millennia they have evolved for the cold conditions of the mountains instead of volcanoes.
Echo wings grow up to 12 feet long. They have powerful front legs and enormous claws that allows them to climb mountains easily, Their wings have shrunken and used mainly for gliding across mountain peaks. The Echo Wings can no longer fly long distances.
The dragon’s scales have adapted so that every second scale has an insulating element. The scales can be hunter, slate or cobalt.
Echo Wings are adept at leaping between cliffs stopping their prey with a blast of freezing mist.
The Echo wings communicate with a deep rumble that travels through the rocks of the mountains.
Moon Leapers
This is a large goat like animal. They have silver colored horns that shimmer and reflect the aurora. The horns vibrate with faint musical sounds when the wind increases. The species uses this to attract mates. The people of the Spineback Mountains use these horns to make a magical instrument like a trumpet.
Moon leapers have slate fur with sage green highlights twisted throughout. They can leap across the mountain cliffs easily.
Spiny Walkers
Spiny Walkers are large herbivores that live between the mountains and the valleys.
The animal is huge. It has a long neck, and a thick ivory colored hide.
Spiny walkers graze on vegetation continuouslym while they pound their feet into the stone to pulverize the plants before they eat them. Sometimes the people of the mountains can confuse their footsteps for earthquakes in the distance,
Aurora Hawks
A large hawk that glides with the drafts around the cliffs. The hawk feeds on small rodents keeping the vegetation and the small animal population intact.
The bird has metallic cobalt feathers, silver wing tips, and deep glowing purple eyes.
When it cries out above, it sounds like it is singing a melody into the wind.
Ice Kits
A cross between a snow leopard and a mountain lion.
Part snow leopard, part mountatin lion, part wazzy cat, this animal has long tufted ears, a thick silver coat, and emerald glowing eyes. They avoid people as much as possible.
View some general Information about Erudus here.
These posts talk about the vegetation of Erudus.
View information about the characters of Erudus here.
