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“By now, the kavkema are well adapted for high-altitude life – especially the temperatures. They'll have many more feathers than you may remember them having.” A Thread Between The Stars: Satellites
kavkema (singular kavkem) are a sapient Nekenalosan species (“nyaqena”) evolved from Cretaceous Deinonychosaurs. Unlike the Nayabaru, they have barely physically changed since the Cretaceous.
Their name likely etymologically stems from the word kavama (which to them now means hatchling capable of speech).
History
The kavkema on Nekenalos have been in steady decline ever since Terenyira entered the picture, helping the Nayabaru with the “de-facto genocide”1) of the kavkema.
Biology
See also: kavkem colour vision
Kavkema are bipedal, with their spine held horizontally, leading into balancing tail. They have long, flexible forearms that they can use to walk quadrupedally, the additional support of which they prefer when low on energy. When running, they prefer bipedal locomotion, tucking their arms against their chests, partly to streamline themselves and partly to prevent wrist damage, since their wrists are not designed to bear the increased associated forces. Their tail is rudder-like as that of their ancestors, assisting with rapid changes of direction during a run.
While fast, they're sprinters and ambushers and can claim no notable endurance.
Typically, they are superprecocial once they hatch (after six weeks of growth in the egg), though if left to their own they certainly will only ever be a wild animal. To save them from the very specific dangers of Nekenalos and to educate them in language, religion and potential sciences, they require parental protection at least until they are one year old (at which point they may have learnt as many as two languages and many practical survival tips), and usually stay with their parents for up to four years, circumstances permitting.
In captivity, kavkema may get as old as 40 years, assuming they are treated well (the kind of captivity in the Pens tends to reduce their lifespan, not raise it - 40 year old kavkema tend to be pets). In the 'wild', they often die before they are 25, though cases of 30-year old wild kavkema are known.
Body language
Apology is denoted with a significant dip of the muzzle. Greetings follow a similar gesture, although less pronounced. A confirmation is given with a raised muzzle's side to side swerve; the gesture can range from very subtle to an enthused shake of the head, but there is always a sway or twist to the motion. Negation is expressed with a single upward flick of the muzzle, with intensity conveyed by the distance covered by the tip of the muzzle.
It is courteous to be facing each other at all times, and it can cause quite some distress if a kavkem is approached from behind or even just the side, and this is generally viewed as an act of aggression if not announced beforehand or a strong emotional bond exists.
See also
- Glyphs for Kendane͡ivash
- Society @todo write about the importance of stories