The Hiro live primarily in cooler, dry climates, such as tundras and cold deserts.
Average Lifespan: 175 years
They reach maturity at the age of 18, but they are considered an adult at the age of 25. They are considered Elders around the age of 145.
Average Height: 6'5" upright
Defying all natural laws, the Hiro have extraordinarily flexible bodies. Their bones are extremely bendy, allowing them to coil around themselves like a snake, and to reach fully behind themselves. Despite this bendability, the Hiro are able to keep a rigid state and support their head. This is due to their bones being hollow, like an avian's.
Hiro bodies consist of an upper torso and three lower torsos (usually referred to collectively as the lower torso). Despite this, they can stand fully on their hind two legs, or walk on all ten of their hands. They simply choose to walk on their back six legs.
They have two sets of arms on their upper torso. One on their shoulders, and one on their lower backs. Their pectorals stack on top of each other in the front. Their pouch (if they have one) sits between their secondary upper arms and their lower torso.
They have three sets of arms on their lower torso. These are often stronger and sturdier as they are walked on the most. They have two larger sets of arms, with a smaller set in the middle. This set is only marginally smaller than the other two. Their bodies end in a long, prehensile tail, with a hand and two thumbs.
All Hiro have claws. They resemble human nails but grow to a point. Some allow their claws to grow out, while others trim them.
As Hiro bones are super flexible, their necks can turn fully around. They can turn their heads 110 degrees, allowing them to see behind themselves.
Hiro have large ovular ears which raise when happy and lower when sad. Ears can turn over horizontally to further express emotion. Turned over and back ears indicates aggression. Hiro eye colour is separate from hair and nose/antenna colour. They have two eyes. Their noses are the same colour as their antenna. They have four nostrils; two above their eyes and two below, and their noses are made of the same spongy tissue as their antenna.
Hiro antenna are used for many purposes and act as an external sensory organ. They can detect pheromones, hold light objects, judge if a Hiro can fit in a space (like cat whiskers), and they are used socially to wrap around the antenna of another Hiro as a form of greeting amongst close friends or mates. Their tips are spongy and have a small hole in the center.
Hiro patterning is a reaction to the Prime Nexus, specifically the element Neuterium10. This element heavily corrupted the Mother Trees responsible for the Hiro, resulting in many distinguishing features, such as their unique patterning. The patterning itself resembles spilt paint with swirling colours inside and white flecks. Their patterns are made up of three to four colours.
Unlike most species, the Hiro have a designated organ for storing magical energy. This is because the Hiro body uses magic in its immune system to improve circulation in their lengthy bodies. This organ is called a Dhilu, and is only found in Hiro biology as the Hiro Mother Tree was corrupted by Neuterium due to improper set-up. This corruption erased a significant portion of the Mother Trees' genetic reconstruction data, causing it to create its own solutions.
The Dhilu's primary responsibility is storing magical energy from the Cords. This energy is used in the immune system and circulation, but not spells. Hiro still cast spells in the same way as other species of the Prime Nexus. This energy storage also gives the body extra strength and helps the Hiro to stay awake longer than other species. A Dhilu has a finite charge, which needs to be replenished regularly, similar to consuming nutrients. If a Dhilu isn't recharged, their bodies steal energy from the rest of the body and the Hiro becomes extremely cold. If a Hiro doesn't recharge their Dhilu within a week, they become too exhausted to function and slip into a coma. If this coma persists for 72 hours, they die. Hiro can still cast spells when their Dhilu is low on charge/has no charge. However, these spells are weaker and have less of a chance of success.
The Hiro require warmth to recharge their Dhilu. Clothing is often enchanted with warmth spells to aid in this - especially if they live in colder climates. Primarily, the Hiro rely on sunbathing and enchanted devices that generate heat. Sunbathing is still upheld as a traditional practice, and some rooms will have nests exclusively designed for sunbathing.
The Dhilu's role in the immune system is crucial - and also a crux. While it improves the Hiro's immune response to magical infections and diseases, it has negatively impacted the Hiro's immune response to non-magical infections and diseases. Thus greatly weakening their immune system to common ailments and making them extremely vulnerable.
The Hiro have a plant-based diet. While they are omnivores, their diet is only 1/4 meat, 2/4 plant-based and 1/4 carbohydrates. Insects are also part of some Hiro diets. However, not every Hiro culture incorporates insects into their dishes.
Hiro reproduction is far more complex than most species. The Hiro have a Z chromosome due to their malfunctioning Mother Trees. Hiro sexual and waste expulsion organs are located around the base of the tail and hind legs.
The Hiro have two primary sexes:
The Dosa go through heats once every six months, which last for three to four days. During which their bodies constantly produce slick and prepare themselves for pups. They will overeat two weeks before their heat (pre-heating) and eat very little during their heats. During their heats, they feel an overwhelming urge to have sex with an Ago to produce pups. They will prepare a nesting space to spend their pregnancy out of clothing and blankets with familiar scents. Their bodies release scents to attract nearby mates, and their body temperature raises significantly to be enticing to mates. A Dosa can go through their heat without a mate, but during which they endure a painful ache as their instincts scream at them.
The Ago undergo ruts once every twelve months, that last for three to six days. During their ruts Ago have strong impulses to seek out a Dosa to knot and breed. The rutting Ago have the ability to trigger Dosa heats by biting them, as their saliva contains a potent heat-inducing venom during their ruts. Similarly, Dosa can trigger Ago ruts through a pheromone detectable through their antenna. Ago have a denning instinct during rut, seeking out the most ideal space for a potential Dosa to make a nest in.
Out of heat/rut, Dosa and Ago produce individual pheromones. These pheromones can indicate their mood and be used as a form of identification, as no two pheromones are the same. Pheromones are detected via Hiro antenna.
Hiro develop their secondary sex characteristics (Dosa and Agro behaviors) at the age of 16-18. However, they are not considered an adult until they are completely physically mature (18).
In regards to genitalia. Hiro with y chromosomes will have a pseudo-phallus that produces a slick, viscous fluid with no semen. Ago (Hiro with a z chromosome) have a functioning phallus that produces semen. Dosa carrying an x chromosome have a womb and vaginal canal; Ago do not (even if they carry an x chromosome). In the absence of a y chromosome, the Dosa will have a clitoris. Ago with a y chromosome have a vaginal canal, but no womb.
Hiro are biologically polyamorous out of necessity, as pouches are determined by a gene rather than their sex. If they want to have pups, they need to find a Hiro with a pouch, in addition to a Hiro with a vagina. Both Ago and Dosa can have pouches. The Hiro with a vagina does not need to have a pouch to get pregnant. Pregnancy lasts six months, and litters are usually three to nine pups (though a margin of one or two pups is not uncommon). When pups are born they are three to six inches.
Pregnant Hiro produce an antigen in their saliva, they then bite a Hiro with a pouch. This antigen will trigger the pouch to start preparing for pups, and it will begin to produce milk within twenty-four hours. Hiro with pouches will develop breasts, regardless of their sex or genitalia. Pups will stay in their pouches for six to eight weeks, and when they are ready to leave, the Hiro' breasts will start to produce milk. Pups are breastfed for up to a year after leaving their pouch. Pups are usually a healthy twelve to eighteen inches after leaving their parent's pouch.