Female Hatchling
Name: unnamed
Species: Ankh Parabuthid
Birthday: Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Owner: Sheva
Element: Neutral
An ankh parabuthid hatches like many other scorpions, in a communal nest watched over by an attentive mother. As soon as they hatch, the mother scorpion offers the young their first meal, usually a small deer or rabbit, and places them atop her back. The young grow slowly, and will ride with their mother for years, even decades on occasion, as she wanders the desert in search of food. The young grow at different rates, and if the larger hatchlings grow hungry, they may begin to compete with their siblings. Smaller scorpions will often drop off of their mother's back before any of the others to avoid such confrontations, and because their smaller size reduces their food requirements. As desert animals, parabuthids can go for weeks without food or water.
Parabuthids are venerated inhabitants of the Etain Desert, though it is rare to come across one these days. The ancient civilizations of the desert raised scorpion hatchlings in the safety of special temples and milked their venom for use in life-giving potions. The toxin of ankh parabuthids was especially prized, given the name of "ichor ambrosia" in old inscriptions, and widely reputed to be a key ingredient in the fabled elixir of life. The venom of both species of parabuthid can be used in a variety of ways, and though the wadjet parabuthids are generally considered weaker than the ankh, they are still revered as symbols of protection and good luck.
Sprite art: Jrap17 (hatchling) | Description: PKGriffin