Woe, borrowers be upon ye
Infodump + backstories under read more because I love them both very much:
I love the idea of borrower niches, in that there are different species of borrower that have adapted to their environment ^u^
Adder is a mouse-borrower, known for their relatively short and compact build. M borrowers like to reside outside of residences as compared to within them, which also earned them the nickname “field borrower” due to their preferred biome. M borrowers are also solitary, often leaving their homes once they’ve reached maturity in search of a place to call their own. They can become territorial of their homes, having a very scrappy and standoffish nature.
Adder is a prime example of this as, despite their size, they will often pick fights with larger predators that stray a little too close. If the borrower is hiding or against a foe that’s far too bold, they’ll use the scavenged rattlesnake rattle they’d affixed to their tail to help spook it. As for Adder’s story, they’ve been drifting from place to place for a few years since they left home, the rolling plains getting more crowded with buildings and humans, forcing them to move further and further from their familiar grounds. They’d often settle for a little bit in a human house before moving on to the next, that is, until they were found out by a very peculiar device. An experimental prototype AI, a massive computer that sat in tangles of wires and screens, created for a purpose unknown to Adder. The AI, known as SOL, is insatiably curious, seeking any and all information it can gather from any new stimuli. The borrower was terrified at first, getting suddenly picked up by a gentle cord and being “interrogated” by the machine, if you could really call the calm and innocent questions that. Adder was quick to realize that this…whatever it was, didn’t intend any harm. More like how a child or a puppy would react to something new, with a much more formal output. It most certainly drew something out of them, they should’ve left the second they were found out, but that damned little question dragged them back the next day. “Will I see you again?” It asked, despite its monotone voice, it sounded like a child asking their parent when they’ll return from work. The question gave Adder pause, before the turned slightly to the machine, its monitor in view. A heavy sigh left the borrower, “Yea. I’ll be back. Just-“ They paused to take a deep breath, “-don’t tell anyone, okay?” The borrower didn’t really wait for an answer before slinking off into an opening in the wall.
“Pup” is a type of Nomadic borrower, their species being on the taller end of the spectrum. They’re characterized by their long, jerboa like legs that are made for sprinting rather than climbing. Unlike the Mouse borrowers, Nomadic borrowers stay solely in the wilderness. Though much less common than their smaller counterparts, they are highly social, living in large colonies within expansive underground burrows or dead trees that’ve been hollowed out over time. True to the name, the colony often moves from place to place, primarily using bat mounts to travel these long distances.
Pup is a nickname, as younger individuals are not given names until they’re earned. Unlike many others, Nomadic borrowers have titles instead of proper names (I.e Trapper, Artisan) as well as more "abstract" ones like Pursuant, Hidden, etc. Unfortunately, Pup’s colony home was struck with a wildfire, causing chaos within the troupe as they scrambled to flee. Pup was lost in the fray, fleeing to a burrow to escape the smoke and flames. When the fire eventually settled, they traveled by foot back to their home and remained at the abandoned sight for a few days. In these situations, borrowers who get separated from the group are told to return to the nest so they can reunite with the colony before the move. Pup, however, seemed to reach the evac. point too late. After the days passed with no sign of others, it was safe to assume that they'd left without them. While Pup was worried, their extreme optimism and naive nature pushed them forward to follow after the trail left behind.
I could keep going with these two but this post is already so long so feel free to send asks .u.
11 notes
·
View notes