|
Sexuality |
|
All kirnivaals possess both male and female genitalia. Because they are considered both male and female, individuals can identify as whatever they prefer. Gender is a concept of little importance to them so it does not affect their society. However, to avoid confusion, social etiquette provides that a kirnivaal be referred to as "they" until they announce otherwise.
RelationshipsKirnivaals very rarely stay with the same partner for long. Due to their lack of a sex drive, they have no motivation to really have partners at all. In addition, a kirnivaal very rarely raises their own young, so there is no need for a pair to remain together during a pregnancy. In some cases, kirnivaals with a strong bond (romantic or not) may stay together throughout their lives, however.
|
Sex DriveKirnivaals lack a sex drive, and normally only engage in sexual acts for the sake of reproduction. As such, sex is almost taboo and most kirnivaals find it disgusting, only putting up with it to produce young. Even in the rare cases where a kirnivaal has a permanent partner, they rarely have sex. Kirnivaals do not go into heat, however they have a sense for when they are most fertile, and either aim for this period or avoid it.
|
|
Reproduction
|
|
The hardest part of reproducing for a kirnivaal is finding a mate. Since they travel far, sometimes they may go years without seeing another of their kind. Due to this and their long lives, they only become fertile for a year every 10-20 years (15 is an average cycle). During this year they become able to impregnate as well as be impregnated. At this time, a kirnivaal wishing to reproduce begins to actively search for a mate whose cycle lines up with theirs. To do this, their smoke crystallizes, almost like a trail of breadcrumbs, to alert nearby kirnivaals. After a mate is found, the two decide upon a carrier and breeder and engage in intercourse to aim for conception. When the carrier has conceived (this may take a few months), they split up and the carrier begins the journey home.
Pregnancy |
Birth |
After a kirnivaal becomes pregnant, they return home to Apsis Major. It is here that they go through the pregnancy and birth. A kirnivaal's pregnancy is very long, about 5 years on average. Most development doesn't happen until the end of the pregnancy, giving the carrier time to reach home safely.
Kirnivaals only carry one young, and multiples are rare (multiple fawns puts too much of a strain on the carrier). Pregnant carriers are tended to by nursery kirnivaals, who have chosen to stay behind on Apsis Major to raise the next generations. Kirnivaals can become very stressed during pregnancy due to hormones and the inability to travel. They are often fed certain berries and herbs to keep them calm so they don't cause harm to the fawn. Pregnancy milestones: -2 1/2 years: carriers become able to clearly sense their fawn's life force -3 years: carrier begins showing -3 1/2 years: heartbeat can be heard -4 years: fawn begins moving; most of development is done -4 3/4 years: carrier begins to produce milk |
Due to the placement of their sexual organs, kirnivaals often have difficulty giving birth. They either stand, or lay on their back or side. This becomes tiring, and births can last for days. Most kirnivaals birth alone for privacy, though a first-time carrier may have another help.
Newborn kirnivaals are helpless and completely dependent on their carriers for the first week. They are born without smoke trails on their back legs and their ear tips are pressed together. They have poor motor skills at this time and cannot even stand until almost a week has passed. After birth, the carrier cleans the fawn and encourages it to start feeding immediately. Three days after birth, the fawn gains its smoke trails and is named. By the end of the first week, it can at least stand, and its ear tips have separated. Some kirnivaals can even walk at this time, signaling fast growth. For the next two weeks, the carrier continues to feed the fawn. Though all it does is eat and stumble around with no significant growth, the milk gives the fawn many nutrients it will need. When the fawn is three weeks old, it is common for the carrier to leave it behind. Some may stay to witness the fawn's growth, but the majority trust the nursery kirnivaals to take care of their young and raise them. Kirnivaals often have little to no connection to their birth parents, and instead look to the nurses who raised them. |
|
Sex Organs
|
|
Please click the link below to be redirected to the genitalia page. IT IS NSFW SO PROCEED WITH CAUTION!