PRIORITY: URGENT

PURPOSE: ANNOUNCEMENT

SUBJECT: NEW SPECIES DISCOVERED

Attention all scientists!

While taking a break from his historical studies, Professor C. Roote stumbled upon a new species within the forests around our outpost. Not one to be hasty in his field research, he studied them for some time, then began venturing further abroad to find more of this species he has dubbed Arbara Krono.

After a few months of meticulous exploration and with some help from the adventurous Erin Pontifis, Professor C. Roote’s search has been a success, and maps are available for several regions in which Arbara Kronos have been tracked and tagged for further observation.

His brief 50-page report is also available upon request, and a few excerpts can be seen below.

Included below are a few selected observations from his research:

Dietary Preferences:

Although I have mainly observed the consumption of simple fare such as grass and various nonpoisonous leaves, Arbara Kronos show a distinct liking for a small, blueish berry that grows with profusion in temperate areas. One herd traveled over a hundred miles to a berry field, arriving just as the berries began to ripen. Having sampled a few of the berries myself, I believe they may be onto something—the taste is quite fruity with undertones of honey. They enjoy the berries dried as well, and I’ve been able to accustom them to my presence with such offerings.

Social Behavior:

Arbara Kronos are constantly alert for danger, their eyes and ears almost always in motion. They don’t appear to sleep but rather doze in short bursts, perhaps akin to the microsleeping behavior observed in overtired humans. Tensions in the herd grow high during mating season, but otherwise, there is a loose social structure usually centered around a particularly strong male or female who leads the herd through their migrations. If the leader is injured or killed, another is chosen through what appears to be mutual agreement rather than fighting, which is both unexpected and exciting to observe. Given some of the sordid history I’ve come across in my research, we humans could take a page from their book.

Transportation Possibilities:

Given their size and build, I believe that with some careful training it may be possible to use Arbara Kronos for transportation. Wild ones are far too skittish, but those raised in the laboratory, with the right temperament, may serve well for this purpose. I will be working with Erin Pontifis to research this, so feel free to stop by either of our labs to see how it is going or offer your assistance.