JUNO - The Species of JUNO
Today we are entering into the life forms, the flora and fauna, of JUNO. I’ve asked for assistance from author Bill Tracy, who wowed me with the creature and sentient designs for his amazing Dissolution Cycle now available at amazon in both Kindle and Audiobook form. He’s made some amazing things for the JUNO project and I can’t wait to share it all with you. Please enjoy the first entry from the observer BT1272. Don’t forget you can also find this article and all of the JUNO work on World Anvil.
Report of BT1272 to Observation Supervisor:
In the sun-drenched plains of Juno live many animals, lithe and fast, soaking in the charged rays of the sun. Most of the creatures on this planet live in the sun, though there are those that skulk in the night as well. This planet has wrought a unique feature on its denizens, the Kuhifad, or “Kuh,” a clear membrane able to divert the blistering rays of the sun into a more beneficial use. Some animals have many, all over their bodies, while others have few. Most who live in the day have learned to harness the sun’s magic for many uses, including release bright flashes of light, or a burning ray to ward off predators. They may also be used to heat areas of their bodies to remove invasive insects trying to suck the energy from Kuh. Other animals can sap the magic in a membrane for regeneration of wounds or even rarer, heal others. Some animals still feast on plants, while others depend solely on the sun’s magic to live. Very few of the diurnal animals have a need to eat other moving creatures. That is left to the night’s children.
Plants on Juno also have rudimentary Kuh, though simpler than the animal version, developed solely to convert sun energy to nutrition. They cannot release energy as animals can, but the plant Kuh is often the tastiest part of the plant. Because of the resource-poor ground of Juno, most roots do not store nutrients within. New plants or seeds will burst forth from Kuh on the parent plant, either falling to the ground nearby or carried away on the wind. Small insects who feed on the energy of plants are vital to reproduction, by mixing energy from different plants in their reproductive Kuh.
However, when night falls and Juno’s sweltering, magic sun vanishes from the sky, the nocturnal predators appear, larger beings that don’t depend on stealth to catch their prey. They also don’t have Kuh. Instead, they take what they need by trapping diurnal creatures while they are asleep, sometimes rising from tunnels built underground to surprise their victims. Many night creatures are blind or have undeveloped eyes, but their other senses are excellent, especially echolocation and vibration mapping. Even when awoken in the day, these powerful beings are still dangerous, rising up to kill when land is disturbed, plants are pulled up, or trees are felled.
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