Description+Chacteristics:

  Sky Cutters are clothed in dense white or light gray fur which is similar in feel to Chinchilla fur. Stripes of a variety of colors cover this fur; the stripes can light up due to a symbiotic bacteria in their skin. This fur keeps them warm in cold environments, though it can cause overheating when in warmer environments. When a Sky Cutter lives in warmer climates for an extended period of time, their coat will typically thin to make them more comfortable.

  Sky Cutters are specialized in flying at high altitudes. They possess more concentrated blood which allows for greater oxygen adsorption and storage at the cost of an increased risk of blood clots. To combat this, their blood has fewer clotting agents, making cuts more dangerous. As well, they have larger lungs allowing for louder speech and more oxygen absorption. Their lungs also have more but smaller alveoli increasing the effective area of their lungs and thus their absorption. These adaptations make it nearly impossible for them to be winded while at sea level. While at high altitudes, they are simply able to breathe as easily as most species would at sea level. Their last adaptation to high-altitude flying is their larger wingspan, typically 16–20 feet; they are able to coast off thermals and generate lift more easily.

  Their last ability is their capability to breathe fire. While not unique it is not a trait all drekmurians share. This aids them in many day-to-day activities such as starting fires or herding at the cost of an increased caloric need.

  Preferred Range:

  Sky Cutters prefer to live in the sky scraper mountains though they are also commonly found in the fire mountain range, the frozen forest and frozen plains. They also can be found flying routes between regions even those separated by large stretches of ocean.

  Culture:

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  For the most part Sky Cutters are nomadic, traveling in family groups called houses composed of 15–100 individuals. They raise goat-like animals called erkisvac for meat and milk. This fits their nomadic nature as grazable land is quickly exhausted in the mountains. When tools or similar supplies are needed, the house will travel into a town and trade erkisvac or forageable goods for needed supplies. Even when raised outside of these nomadic houses, Sky Cutters seem to have an innate need to travel and explore the natural world. I was once told that by a Sky Cutter there is nothing more beautiful than the night sky from a mile above a mountain peak.

  Anomalies:

  Approximately one in ten Sky Cutters are born with near completely black fur and no stripes. Instead they will have small white dots on the underside of their wings and the front of their torso; these dots are able to light up. This would typically be a major disadvantage as Sky Cutters are primarily active during the day if not for their other adaptations. These adaptations are, a reflective backing behind the rods, a quieter flying process, and generally being nocturnal. Individuals with this anomaly are called Night Cutters for reasons which should be obvious.

  Notes:

  Within Sky Cutters, there seems to be a great variety in the size and types of ears and horns. While I am unsure as to why there is such a variety in these two traits, it is interesting to see nonetheless.

  Their penchant to explore and go further than ever before has led to a surprising number of Sky Cutters joining ship crews. I look forward to working with them and getting to know them better even if their size can be intimidating at times. I will miss not needing to do daily exercise to compensate for the reduced gravity on the ship, it will take me some time to get used to the change in atmosphere.

  In my slightly biased opinion, Sky Cutters are some of the most easily integratable species of drekmurians. This is as a result of their desire to explore and meet new people as well as the many different conditions they can comfortably inhabit. For example, even though we just met, my roommate, Sky Lafel, and I are already bonding over our shared love of fluffy animals.