Pinnate Hummer

No, there! I'm not making it up, damn it! The bird just... disappeared!
— Exasperated child in Brineveil Forest

The pinnate hummer is a small marvel of a creature, one of the magical species which can be found in the forests of Nimavi.

Nectar on the Leaves

With the dual emergences of the Leylines in Nimavi, many strange creatures find their homes in its forests. The Leyline of Genesis alone is known for its curious interactions with life and its many forms, but the addition of the Leyline of Potency further allowed for strange transformations to unfold with time. One such example is the pinnate hummer: the small, flittery creature that is more plant than bird.

Location

Nimavi

Classification

Magical Creature

Fairy Tales

Those who see these creatures outside of their natural habitat often compare them to fairies, often believing them to be exactly that. Savelan fairy tales do not often reference fairies of any kind, their concept likely brought by travelers from other lands.

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Leafy Pin Feathers

The life cycle of these birds begins simply, but not as one might expect a bird's life to begin. Rather than from eggs, these creatures begin their journeys in this world as small bulbs, which sprout into delicate plants resembling ferns in the right conditions. In the springtime, these plants will blossom with soft purple flowers, growing from buds at the joint of every bi-pinnate leaf. At the peak of summer, these flowers close off and some begin to fruit. Small flowerbuds grow heavy as they transform and shift from a bright green ball to an elongated form, the leaves coating the bulb growing longer to keep the fruit coated, the way the scales of an artichoke protect its heart. These fruits dangle almost weightlessly from their stems, taking one segment of bi-pinnate leaves with them as a tail at the bottom of the fruiting body.

Riverside Myths

Though these creatures seldom stray from their forested homes, often risking their own forms should they decide to journey too far, some do choose to make minor migrations to the bounds of their magical homes. Stories and tales have popped up all throughout the Kingdom of Arsavela's southwestern lands of curious hummingbirds who emerge from the forests across the river, only to quickly disappear the moment they are spotted. It is unknown what causes these appearances and disappearances — they may disappear due to outranging their local leylines' effects, or they may simply be exceptionally shy creatures.

Entry for Worldbuilding Summer Camp 2025

Answering: "A species that undergoes a metamorphosis"

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Pinnate Hummer