Vickie's Beacon Cat OW + Non-OW (P4)

• Created by Vickie @ VPZ.
• Overwrites Siamese.
• Works in Petz 4.

Lore

A colony of stark black cats lived in dense forests. These were no ordinary cats. They used bioluminescence (like lightning bugs) to signal each other while hunting at night in packs. They would recognise family members by both the color of their glow and the pattern of their "light songs."

While cautious of people, many cats take advantage of human settlements near their habitats. They leaned that they could steal food or beg for it. (A pretty glow and well-timed purr always wins a tasty treat.) People enjoy and often encourage the unique cats, making them more common in villages than in their native forests. The glow of the night cats' prowling became a signal of shelter and warmth to weary travelers, who began calling them "Beacon Cats."

Over time, people found that for the right incentive, the cats could be tamed (and were intelligent) and would carry lamps or lanterns for festivals or to help light the way for their human friends. Colors other than black became more common, especially in cities where cats no longer needed to hunt for their food. Some people, especially travelers, would select the cats for small size, and a "pocket" variety was developed. The "pocket" cats were smaller than standard kittens and kept kittenish proportions as adults. They required less food and were perfect travel companions, flashing to cats in nearby towns as they approached. Larger cats were more common within cities due to their value as pest controllers. ("Pocket" cats would hunt mostly insects, while larger cats would take on rats and larger pests.)

The appendages on their back evolved as "signal towers" of sorts, but held at an angle the cats use them to glide short distances and to help balance themselves when jumping too. They are not "wings" by any stretch of imagination and have limited mobility. While the cats can't fly, they are exceptionally agile and able to move silently and quickly.