Welcome to Gaia! ::

A cool wind whipped through the dense forest, sending newly-turned autum leaves swirling 'round their mother trees. The sun's first rays crept over a grassy hill, gently illuminating a slight form as it rose into the air. Small wings beat for the first time, newly formed muscles finding their place in the life of the creature. Suddenly, as the sun burst into full view, a larger version of the first being seemed to erupt from behind the hill, long wings pumping up and down to keep it aloft. Its long form gently surrounded that of its offspring, lifting it higher, until they both hovered just above the treetops.

The beings, named Scalla by the speaking inhabitants of the planet, had long, curving bodies that undulated in the air as they rose higher and higher; one could speculate that they could have once been related to the clumsy Earth snake, or the majestic Dragon, but both did no justice to what lived in this day. While the head of the Youngling was soft and undefined, its mother's curved cheek bones and pointed snout spoke volumes of how these creatures had evolved through hardship and pain, to become one of the dominant species on the planet.

The little one, having finally figured out the fine workings of its wings, was zipping 'round the larger Scalla, small raspy calls emenating from its maw, to be followed by the refined bellow of its mother. They played like this for a few moments, until a movement caught the mother's eye; a small, rodent-like creature, dubbed Marcii by the speaking ones, had emerged from behind a clump of bushes, and was busily sniffing at some seeds thrown down by a tree. Immediatly she nudged the baby to the ground, signaling with a small snort that it should stay where she put it, nestled close to the small cloud-like embryo it had come from not an hour ago.

Sliding away from her offspring, the mother Scalla clinched and unclinched the muscles in her stomach to move along the ground, much like her ancestors had done. She slid not toward the rodent, but around it, making sure it did not detect her presence; unlike the Earth snakes of long ago, the Scalla used a tactic much like the Angler Fish to catch their prey. When she was in position behind the bush she turned, pushing her tail slowly toward the Marcii; the Scalla had long ago developed a small tuft of hair on the end of their tails, which they used as a very effective lure for hunting. Raising its snout from the seeds, the Marcii turned, eyeing the tuft; unlike their decendants, the Marcii had developed a liking for meat as well as plants, which suited their ever-changing environment. Thinking the tail to be some sort of insect, it tensed its muscles, ready to pounce. As it's back legs left the ground, the mother Scalla lunged foreward, snapping her jaws around the Marcii, swallowing it whole. A thick lubricant covering the entire inner passage of the Scalla allowed them to swallow things whole in a matter of seconds; a useful evolutionary trait developed after too many Scalla were killed while trying to swallow their prey.

As she slipped back to her child, the snake-like being readied herself to provide nourishment. Small pores opened up near her belly, a digested version of the Marcii seeping slowly out, just in time for the baby to lap it up with it's long tongue. As the father Scalla had been killed defending his mate and child, there was only the mother to provide everything for her offspring. Usually, Scalla would mate for life, unless their partener died in some way; the remaining partner would either spend its life without a mate, and constantly thinking of its dead counterpart, or it would move on, finding another mate to help rear and produce the one to three offspring the Scalla produced only once a year.

The Cloud is the first stage of Scalla growth, and the one in which they are the most vulnerable, to everything from the weather to their own parents. The colors and markings on the cloud do help to tell what the youngling and adult stages will look like, but only a little. The Cloud may be handled, but only carefully, and only by the beings that will make up the Scalla's family, later in life.

The Youngling is the second stage of Scalla growth; the creature has now begun to form into something that looks remotly like its parents, with the same snake-like body, and tiny wings. The Youngling is much less sensitive and vulnerable than the Cloud, but still needs to be treated with extra care; in this stage, the young Scalla wants more than anything to discover the mysteries of its world, and that sometimes leads to trouble. Keep an eye on your Youngling at all times, and it should grow to be a happy, healthy Adult.

(Not actual size - They're larger.)

The Adult is the third, and final, stage of Scalla growth; the creature is now fully formed, and can take on the responsibility of breeding with another Scalla. Also, by the time it reaches Adult form, the Scalla should know quite a lot about the world around it, and anyone it has interacted with during its Cloud and Youngling stages. It is now ready to go out in the world without your constant watch, although it will always stay by your side, if you treat it well.

In order for a pair of Scalla to breed, they must first have expressed their love through roleplay. Only in certain circumstances, and with a hefty bribe, will the colorists mate two Scalla without love. The price is up to the colorist, so inquire if you are interested. As explained earlier, the Scalla mate for life, so make sure your little creature is choosing wisely; the only thing that will break apart a pair of Scalla is death, and we hope that will not be happening by anything but natural means here. Both Scalla must be adults to breed, and the colorist breeding the two Scalla must have written permission from both owners before going ahead with the breeding.

Current Breeding Scalla: Torokye & Sara (LeeAnn_R)

1.10.06: The Sanctuary is looking for a colorist; are you interested?
12.31.05: Happy new years everyone! The raffle is back up and running, and we have a new affiliate!
11.27.05: Raffle event has its first customer! rimedragona bought the first ten tickets, THANK YOU! ^__^
11.24.05: Raffle event is on! I am thinking of extending the time limit, since NO ONE has bought a ticket yet. crying
10.23.05: Sorry for the lack of updates; lots happens, but I forget to put it here. XD Anyway, the Scalla RP thread is working nicely, thanks to everyone who takes time to RP! ^^ Also, we have found a nice certist, Kaiyumi, and that means that the long-awaited growings and certings have been finished. <3 I have been planning a raffle event for a long time, and now I can finally hold it! Look out for it soon. <3
8.15.05: Flatsale officially over! Congrats to owners! <3
7.3.05: Thread (finally) set up! First flatsale coming soon. <3

% :: Baleno :: Male :: CapricornSunchai :: 1

% :: Squall :: Male :: Zannda :: 1

% :: Unknown :: Male :: TMSS :: 1

% :: Sterling :: Female :: Stereochrome :: 1

% :: Riana :: Female :: Spy//Alex :: 1

% :: Citrus :: Female :: MermaidKitty :: 1

% :: Nyoka :: Male :: Tsuki :: 1

% :: Torokye :: Male :: LeeAnn_R :: 1

% :: Yuna :: Female :: rimedragona :: 1

% :: Nil :: Female :: geminimaeve :: 1

% :: Brainstorm :: Female :: Draconis)Wyrm :: 1

% :: Lator :: Male :: Torikonero :: 1

% :: Bakurin :: Male :: LeeAnn_R :: 1

% :: Sara :: Female :: LeeAnn_R :: 1

% :: Taawna :: Female :: rimedragona :: 1

% :: Randy :: Male :: LeeAnn_R :: 1

% :: Storm :: Male :: Fujico & Sozan :: 1

% :: Swami'zsa :: Female :: KiiMeLwi :: 1

% :: Allanon :: Male :: rimedragona :: 1

% :: Cassandra :: Female :: SunFireDemon :: 1

% :: Narria :: Female :: SunFireDemon :: 1

% :: Nagini :: Female :: Riftwing :: 1