Brightlings of Whazzit
Brightling (by Sparkie)
General Info: Brightlings are rather closer to Alunas than other creatures when it comes to their hierarchy. There are simply male and female, though there are always many more males than females. The only way of determining the gender of Brightlings is by their sound, which is the only noise they will make besides the gurlging-bubbling noise they use as speech to each other. Brightlings are very small creatures, around the size of one's palm at the very largest. They resemble starfish mostly, though instead of rough skin it feels more like very short, stiff velvet. Their undersides are covered in miniscule suckers which they use to attach to things. Brightlings can levitate up to four feet in the air and zoom around, and with a flying start they can launch themselves up to seven feet high before dipping down again. Brightlings have no apparent eyes or mouths, though they can see and speak, so it's a bit of a mystery. The favorite resting place for a bonded Brightling is stuck some place on their owner, usually a cheek if they can manage it. As brightlings grow older they sometimes sprout a sixth or seventh arm.
Mating Info: When brightlings mate, they begin by floating a few feet in the air and spinning very rapidly, making a thrumming-gurgling noise, which summons their chasers to them. Then, a while after as males gather around her, spinning and thrumming, she speeds off over the water, sometimes skipping on the surface or even dipping down into it. The males will follow and eventually she will be caught or choose a male, at which they will spin around each other, descending into the water and making a small whirlpool. Afterwards, the two will dig a small hollow in the shallows, lay the eggs (around 50, only 20-so of which will mature and hatch, often less) and rip off one of their own arms to put in with it (which heals closed instantly) and then bury the eggs and arms. The arm will grow back with time.
Bonding Info: Brightling young hatch in the shallows of water, their small, quarter-sized forms floating just above the water, repeating their gender-specific noise repeatedly. They will eventually choose a person to bond to and will suddenly zoom towards them and attach to their skin (or fur).
Female Sounds: Squeak, Shmark, Meep (short for Meepmeepmeepmeepmeep).
2 PSP
Male Sounds: Zerp, Blop, Whoot, Zeek.
1 PSP
Coloring: Brightling skin can be pretty much any solid color in any shade. Striped or spotted brightlings make an appearance too, though mostly in males.