Nectarites Ref

CLOSED SPECIES owned by , ask before making. Divitiae and Cyfoeth belong to dove-frost, do not steal, thanks.

Species name: Nectarite

Type: Pegasus only

Gender: Commonly females

              Males are uncommon and thus respected by the Nectarite community

Legends say that Nectarites were created when Saccharine, a young pegasus and a wanderer, walked into an undiscovered territory further west from the Everfree Forest. It was full of different flowers that bloomed throughout the year in either day or night. She chanced upon a hummingbird that could not fly due to a permanently broken wing, and that was dying of starvation. The hummingbird specifically wanted the blossom of the tree that reached the clouds, and driven by sympathy, Saccharine flew up the clouds to find the blossom. However, this young pegasus had severe breathing difficulties once she passed a certain altitude (which was not very high). Despite her condition, she persisted to find the blossom. She eventually did, but as she picked the flower from the tree, her body could not cope with the air pressure any longer and she stopped breathing. She fell from the skies, taking the flower with her. Yet, this was still too late, and the hummingbird was already dead during Saccharine's ascent. The gods watching above were touched by the pegasus' determination, and created the Nectarites after Saccharine and the hummingbird, naming the land Saccharus after the pegasus that fell from the skies.

Average lifespan: Similar to that of a normal pony

Average body size: Much smaller than a normal pony

Average wingspan: Larger in relation to a normal pony

Other: Beak instead of a muzzle

           Longer necks and legs in relation to a normal pony

           Vine-like extension growing from the tail, with a bird's foot at the end

           Down feather-like chest fur

Coat color: Generally rather dark for Nightflyers, but some may have brighter colors (uncommon) and the brighter the color, the rarer the Nightflyer is

                   Color varies for normal Nectarites

Mane color: Varies

Markings: Uncommon for normal Nectarites

                 Extremely rare for Nightflyers

Only the nectar of a specific species of flower (thus the name)

Amount varies with age, peaking at adulthood before slowly decreasing

Plant sap only for foals

STRICTLY NO OTHER PLANTS OR MEAT

Nectarites have an essence trapped in their bodies which does not show until the Nectarites find, and are drawn to a specific species of flower, known as their essence flower. The essence will then take the form of the flower, growing on a part of their body, and this must be protected by the Nectarite at all costs. Once destroyed, the Nectarite dies. The essence has a healing power too, which allows the Nectarite to heal non-fatal wounds of any living animal upon contact, including itself. However, the essence does not work on any illnesses.

Also, they have a Guardian Stone, basically a specific type of stone, which they are drawn to at birth, and which helps the Nectarite in finding their essence flower by glowing when the Nectarite is near the flower. It aids the Nectarite in protecting its essence as well. If the stone is destroyed, the Nectarite does not die, but it is more prone to destroying its essence while looking for a replacement. It can wear more than one stone of the same kind, but this doesn't mean that it is more protected, it just means that there is no need to find a replacement when one stone is destroyed.

Any carnivores larger than them

Hunters after their valuable Guardian Stones and essence, which is rumored to have divine powers, but this is untrue and the essence dies with the Nectarite

Nectarites have a pony body and features of a hummingbird. They have a diet of nectar from their essence flower, which then maintains their essence and their body. They are unable to live one day without feeding on nectar: their essence will rot and they will die. Unless they are Nightflyers, they wake at dawn and sleep at dusk: no matter what they do, they will drop down and fall asleep on the spot at dusk. However, if one streak of moonlight falls on them, the essence will fall off and they will die too. Thus, it is best to be in their fully sheltered, usually windowless homes an hour before dusk. Their homes are also quickly established once they find their essence in a few hours and which are in close proximity to the essence flowers too.

Also, they have strong wings that beat quickly to keep their balance while feeding. They have an extension from their tails which has a bird's foot that serves as physical protection as well as an extra hand/grip. They have long legs and necks that helps them feed without getting too messy. To make the neck appear shorter since long necks appear weak when they are bare, Nectarites usually wear something around their neck to cover up. For females with long manes, they would tie their manes when feeding to avoid getting them into the flower. Some Nectarites worship Saccharine as a goddess, and they treat hummingbirds as sacred animals.

Nectarite foals follow the sleeping habits of their parents. Nightflyers with normal Nectarite parents only develop their nocturnal habits when they find their essence flower, and vice versa for normal Nectarites with Nightflyer parents.

Nightflyers are uncommon Nectarites that wake at dusk and sleep at dawn. This is usually because the flower blooms in the night and not because of preferences. Similarly, Nightflyers fall right asleep at the point of dawn, and if they come into contact with sunlight, they die. When the Nightflyers have found their essence flower (be it blooming or a bud), they will stay awake for a full day without any harm from sunlight done to them, sleeping only at dawn the next day. Their coats are dark to camouflage in the night, but the tips of their wings and beaks glow softly when in flight to light the way, and if they have markings, these markings will glow neon.

Normal Nectarites don't breed with Nightflyers since both species never meet, but it is possible to produce both normal and Nightflyer Nectarite foals since foals follow the sleeping habits of parents, only developing nocturnal/daytime habits when they find their essence flowers.

Parents bring up their children by plant sap which is only edible for the foals. Parents would collect the sap in their beaks and allow the foals to feed from their beak. When the foals reach the age of 15-16 (in human years), the parents would have to let their children leave to find their essence flowers as the young Nectarites can no longer feed on the plant sap to survive.

Nectarites have no cutie marks, only interests and talents.