Kora

(KOR-uh)

The kora is an ancient species, with the first historical accounts of this pet being from the Sacred Lands. According to records, Subetans had a random encounter with a small group of wild koras. They noticed that the koras would sit in the sunshine, even in the hot desert, with their ear and tail appendages laid flat to absorb the sun. Concerned about their overall well-being, Subetans began to leave out large, flat bowls made of clay, which they would fill with water - almost like a rather large bird bath! The koras would gather around these bowls after their 'sunning' and drink the water using their long ears. The koras, with their large amounts of curiosity, began to let the Subetans first pet them, then pick them up and carry them around - and soon, koras were being kept as pets all over the Sacred Lands. Their relatively diminutive size and light, flexible bones make them ideal lap pets, the average adult standing around 12 inches (30cm) at the shoulder and weighing only 4 - 8 lbs. (1.8 - 3.6 kg).

Koras are not only unique for being photosynthetic, but they also completely lack mouths. All of their nutritional needs are absorbed via their appendages. These appendages have the consistency and flexibility of rubber, but they are covered with a fine, soft hair and are almost downy in texture! They can use these appendages - located at the end of their ears, as well as their tails - to prod and poke things, and sometimes manipulate them to (rather clumsily) carry items. They are also able to communicate telepathically, and not only with each other! Koras will communicate with Subetans they trust, especially their owners, and can fully understand speech. They also use this telepathy to communicate with each other, although listening ears cannot usually pick up these more private interspecies communications. Koras are small but sturdy, standing at the average human's calf, and although pet koras spend most of their time levitating (or being held!), they can also occasionally be seen wandering around on all fours. They are able to float quite a few feet in the air and can glide, but cannot achieve true flight in the sense of a bird. Koras generally mate for life, and they will breed during the hottest and sunniest parts of the year, producing litters of two to four korits that look very similar to their parents - just pocket-sized!

After their humble beginnings in the Sacred Lands, kora owners quickly began to share them with friends and family in other areas of Subeta. Now, koras - both domestic and wild - are found in nearly every corner of Subeta. They are seemingly absent from the Darkside and Shadow Glen, due to their need for sunlight, although a few people keep them as pets in even these areas, using indoor sunlamps to provide their koras with much-needed nutrition. Koras get along with nearly every other species, and will even serve as makeshift nannies and babysitters to young Subetans and animals alike.