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Post by Goanna on Jun 11, 2011 21:47:41 GMT -5
Childhood
A nirion fawn is looked after by its parents for the first year of its life. After the mother births the fawn, it will be able to stand within an hour, and within a few weeks, be leaping all over the place with its friends. Fawns drink their mother's milk for up to three months of age, and afterwards move straight on to eating vegetation.
Young nirions are rather outgoing and enjoy socialising with other members of their species. They are usually obedient towards their parents, as they learn to navigate the slopes that form their home. Danger presents itself to them often, so they will stay close to their parents, often darting between their legs. As the fawn grows in size it will venture further away from the adults.
As they age the horns on their heads increase in size, and their markings develop and brighten.
Once a young nirion reaches the age of 18 months, it becomes a young adult. At this stage its parents will no longer continue to teach it and lead it through life, but often adolescent nirions will still stay in a close vicinity to their parents for a continued period of time. They can help with raising siblings, as well as enjoy the saying 'safety in numbers'.
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Post by Goanna on Jun 28, 2011 5:10:59 GMT -5
Adulthood
Adolescent nirions can be rather competitive, and this phase can last for around a year or two. Young males in particular feel the need to show off, and will engage physically, resulting in injuries.
A nirion reaches physical and mental maturity at around three years of age. Once they are fully grown they often begin to make solo treks into the mountains, testing their personal limits, creating their own routes and developing a sense of the landscape. It is at this young adult age that they will also be announced by their chiefs whether or not they will become a mountain guide. This is a very important and honoured role for a nirion, and those that take that path will often devote their whole life to it (Read more about this in "Politics"). Unchosen nirions will simply live out their own lives in and around the mountains.
Adults usually pair off and raise fawns at some stage in their life, though this 'settling' age varies greatly within the species. It's not uncommon for a nirion to go through life unmated either, as on the whole they do not worry so much about their population.
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Post by Goanna on Jun 28, 2011 5:11:17 GMT -5
Reproduction
A nirion is able to reproduce at two years of age, although they generally don't. Most nirions will start to have offspring at three or four years old.
Nirions are monogamous, so once they choose a partner, they stay with them for life. If their partner dies or goes missing for a great length of time, however, a nirion will often choose a new partner.
Nirions breed during the Winter, and gestate for several months. Fawns are usually born in late Spring or early Summer, when the warmer mountain weather most favours their survival.
The nirion courtship ritual involves the male 'dancing' to the female. He leaps and runs through the rocky mountain bases, displaying his fitness and agility at navigating the area. If the female is impressed, she will chase after him and the two will leap through the mountains, often for days. Romantic behaviour includes either of the pair dipping their heads towards each other, and tapping their front hooves against stone.
A mother gives birth to a single offspring, and can breed every two years. Thus, a mother may have up to six offspring in her life. In very rare cases twins are born, although usually one of these dies, as mothers are only really able to provide enough milk for one fawn.
The female will look after her young for a year of its life. Both parents will teach the fawn the ways of their lifestyle.
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Post by Goanna on Jun 28, 2011 5:12:23 GMT -5
Old age
Nirions live for up to 15 years of age. As they age, their fur dulls somewhat in colour and can become quite scruffy.
Blessed with an innate sense of 'the time to go', elderly nirions will make one last terrific effort and climb a mountain peak; as high a peak as they can manage. They make this journey on their own. Up here they feel they are closer to Solayi, and it is here that elders will pass away in what could be described as a sky burial. Buffeted by the wind, they find it a peaceful way of leaving the country, one last look at the land which surrounds them and their mountain homes. The freezing temperatures and snow mean that the bodies of the old are covered quickly and buried within the mountain's snowy embrace.
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