Before beginning, I need to declare some facts:

  These notes are purely observational.

  The names are not scientifically accurate due to lifeforms not being my field of study. Immediate renaming suggested (if this journal is found).

  ||| General observations

  All large animals on Tau seem to follow a pattern from observations. These patterns are:

  ~Having six limbs (possible common ancestor)

  ~Laying eggs – interesting convergent evolution with Varanth

  ~Having chitinous snouts

  ~Having cloaks*

  ~Internal warmth generation (observed with multiple species, effects unknown)

  *The term “cloak” is not an accurate observation. These “cloaks” are actually growths covering the entire body. They begin with small stems that end in circular or semicircular ends. These individual stems are extremely light, though they make good insulative material. They are inferior to scales for protection against bodily injury, though higher mobility and flight are possible. Specialized cloaks, like those of Divers, allow for great swimming efficiency.

  ||| Regarding Mik:

  Currently, I do not intend on adding notes on Mik for several reasons, the main being:

  ~Mik is far too complex for me to simply define in notes

  ~New data is constantly being added, often contradicting or negating prior data

  ~I can’t be accurate because it confuses me way too often

  ~Mik is my friend. It feels… wrong. I wouldn’t document Vera or Needle like that.

  I may mention Mik in these notes, but no formal writing about its traits will be included. I hope that, one turn, Mik will be able to help me write these notes, when it knows enough Varanth script.

  ||| Divers

  () General Anatomy

  Divers are medium-sized, quadrupedal semiaquatic creatures. Adults are approximately 2 lengths tall, though with full neck extension this may be more. Their main features are:

  ~Two small wings (might not be suitable for long distance flight)

  ~Four thin legs with webbed feet

  ~Light to dark blue cloaks with silver accents

  ~Gray or black chitinous snouts

  ~Long necks

  ~Two small eyes with large pupils

  () Habitat

  Being semiaquatic animals, all Divers I saw until now were spotted at the lake. They have a resting area very close to the shore, though I am unsure of where their nesting area is. I have seen some Divers resting in the middle of the lake, however, so their nests may be underwater. Evidence is currently inconclusive.

  () Behavior

  Divers are very shy creatures. Honestly, they seem to suffer from anxiety as a species. I experimented with their agitation by throwing a rock, no larger than my hand (and my hand is small by Scale standards) in the middle of a resting area with five individuals present. From this mild stimulus, the following happened:

  ~All immediately got spooked. No exceptions.

  ~Two Divers fled to the water, with one staying even after it was made apparent that the rock was harmless.

  It took approximately 4 spans for one Diver to attempt to, with great reluctance, check if the thrown rock was harmless. Only afterwards did the Divers slowly return to the usual resting areas, but none stopped facing the rock. Their cloaks, which were surprisingly flexible, were puffed up, signaling large amounts of stress. One Diver, seemingly too afraid to return, stayed in the water permanently. Even when I left and came back approximately 4 marks later, the Diver was still in the water.

  Divers, aside from their (admittedly comedic) shy nature, are fantastic swimmers. While observing from ashore, I have documented Divers being underwater for approximately 8 spans. After the Diver resurfaced, it was holding a Pisca-like creature in its chitinous snout, which it proceeded to devour in less than a few moments. It dove again after only a few moments, resurfacing much later.

  Their mating habits are currently unknown to me. I have noticed that pairs and small groups of Divers seemingly stick together, possibly hinting at a type of relationship. Divers spend a large amount of time spreading some kind of oil from a specific area in their rear cloaks, and I have noticed Divers spreading this oil on other Divers. At one point after my experiment, two individuals had interlocked their long necks around each other, and their cloaks slowly retracted from the expanded positions. Since I am only trying to be semi-professional in these notes: Suns, am I jealous.

  My current theory on Diver reproduction is that they lay their eggs underwater for protection against other beings. My current theory lacks evidence aside from deduction. However, the fact that there are no eggs present near or around Divers, despite other beings (like Screechers) laying many eggs at this time, leads to the conclusion that their nests are connected with bodies of water.

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  () Conclusion

  Divers are extremely fearful and beautiful creatures. Their bonding suggests higher levels of intelligence, and possible adaptation to Scale as mutually beneficial relations (Read: Gatorid would go insane if they could have a diver with them). Further observation and interaction under controlled circumstances could yield good results, though anxiety treatment is suggested.

  ||| Screechers

  () General Anatomy

  Screechers are large, bipedal land-based creatures. Adults are approximately 3-4 lengths tall based on estimates from small distances (and one very close encounter). They follow the general principle of Tau animal composition. Their defining features are:

  ~Four large wings

  ~Two thick legs with a triple digit, clawed foot

  ~Orange and red cloaks, most often a mix of both*

  ~Pale orange chitinous snouts

  ~Four, thin eyes

  *I’ve seen a Screecher whose cloak and general body features were completely white, dramatically straying from the usual norm.

  () Habitat

  Screechers, at least from observation, seem to migrate. They seem to predict when Snow* will arrive. Screechers form large nests where they lay their eggs. Currently, I’ve spotted two such nests. One was near Mik’s ship’s crash site, while the other was near a lake, bordering with the water. The locations of Screechers inside of a nest are seemingly random, though could theoretically follow a hierarchy. More observation is needed to prove/disprove this.

  *Snow is a form of water, wherein it is extremely cold, but not frozen. Named by an alien friend.

  () Behavior

  Screechers are highly territorial and dangerous to approach directly. As the name implies, they have the ability to emit a dangerously loud sound. This sound is loud enough to cause dizziness and temporary hearing loss, as tested on me. Regular communication seems to include trills and minor vocalizations, implying that the screeching sound is purely defensive.

  Screechers also seem to notice when an egg has been taken from their nest, though this varies, depending on whether the nest had more than one egg. If the individual nest had more eggs, the parent(s) do not seem to notice it missing.

  If a Screecher does find that an egg has been stolen, they will immediately become extremely agitated and attempt to find it, all the while producing the loud screeching noise.

  However, Screechers, independent of whether they are agitated or not, will not attempt to confront a being they perceive as larger than them. This has been proven by an agitated Screecher fleeing from a bush that has a defensive measure to rustle when large beings approach it.

  The lifespan of a Screecher is unknown, though hatching cycles suggest it may be short by known Scale standards. It is unknown whether they have the unusual trait of producing warmth by themselves, as seen in other Tau creatures and Mik, though the practice of them laying on their eggs would suggest they do. This self-warmth ability may use up the body quicker, shortening lifespan, though this is purely speculative.

  They, alongside other Tau creatures, also seem to avoid direct light during the warmest periods of a turn. Whether they require cooling due to this self-warmth ability is unknown.

  () Conclusion

  Screechers as a species (renaming required) are a fascinating, social animal that reside on Tau. They follow a never-before-seen biology and are possibly more complex than I could write under my current circumstances. Much more research is required on them, though extreme caution is advised when approaching or dealing with them.

  Addendum: very loud.

  ||| Shlika*

  *The name of the bush is Shlika due to association with a Varanth plant a friend of mine had. It has no scientific basis to be named that; but will be referred to as such in these notes.

  () General Anatomy

  Shlika is a bush.

  To be more specific: It is a large bush, maybe 10 lengths tall, though this is unknown due to surrounding foliage blocking any view of the top of the bush. It has regular branches and leaves, similar in shape to those on Varanth in the Green Domain. It’s likely chemically different, but visual and air taste observations show no identifiable abnormalities.

  It is important to note that strong foliage acts like a filter and sensory dampener while inside. Air taste is completely filtered, while noise is dampened. It is very difficult to see through or inside the bush.

  () Behavior

  Shlika marks the first documented instance of a visually reactive plant. How Shlika detects changes to the environment is unknown, though it is very responsive to auditory stimulus. I’ve once snuck up to the bush by making as little noise as possible, meaning it doesn’t, at least actively, detect via visual or air taste perception.

  Shlika, dependent on the size of the approaching animal, will enter one of two possible states. These states are ‘agitation’ or ‘submission’.

  The state of agitation happens when a being larger than I (taller than 1.5 lengths) approaches Shlika. It will become defensive and attempt to scare away the animal by making a rustling noise with quick, sudden movements of its branches, making it appear like there is a large, predatory animal inside of the bush. The mechanism of how branches move is currently unknown. Theoretically, a kind of muscle tissue within branches could be possible. This method has been proven effective when an agitated Screecher approached Shlika and fled from the movements.

  The second state, submission, happens when beings of my size or smaller (equal to or shorter than 1.5 lengths) approach Shlika. In this state, Shlika will open a passageway through the center of the bush by moving the branches out of the way, thus allowing the being to pass. My theory on why Shlika does this is to disinterest herbivores from attempting to eat it, by basically showing “better food this way”.

  An interesting note to add is that if a being stays within Shlika during its submission state, the bush will slowly close the passageway, until there is only a hole where the being is located. Light contact with Shlika is then ignored by the bush, with the only way to reopen the passageway is creating enough noise or quickly touching many leaves at the same time.

  () Conclusion

  Shlika, as an individual of a very unique Tau species, marks a pivotal change in Scale perception of plants. The fact that it actively interacts with its outside environment via movement signals possibly even greater intelligence than thought of in plants. Usage of the bush for relaxation and treatments for conditions like anxiety (see ||| Divers) could yield strong results. Bringing samples, or even a living individual to Varanth could be highly beneficial.

  …I also owe Vera for accidentally killing one of her plants with sand.