Wild Moontails live every day like it’s their last, because on Tersca, it very well could be. Moontails have the same level of intelligence as a Viritail, but are locked in the stone age by the Viritails that control the very ground they walk on.
In Moontail society, sexuality and gender matters very little. They only influence individuals' behaviors during courtship and rearing moonlets. Moontails have been shown to be able to be trans, proven mostly by the clothes that they wear, as feminine and masculine presenting clothing are slightly different, even in a society such as this. Wild Moontails of course are unable to medically transition.
Wild Moontail’s diet varies based on the colony they live in, the traits they have, and individual preferences, but is almost always omnivorous. Aggressive Moontails that are unstable have a tendency to be more carnivorous, or even hypercarnivorous. Those with aquatic traits are often better suited to hunting in the water, and therefore eat primarily an aquatic diet. Viewers of the Moontail Documentaries can pay to airdrop a specific kind of food onto Tersca, and through this some more popular Moontails get access to synthetic or processed foods.
Most Moontails live together in small communities called Colonies. They have developed their own culture and language, with different groups having slightly different, yet still primitive lifestyles. Examples of primitive behavior are using basic tools, making clothing from pelts, and gathering fruits. They will either live in burrows, caves, or on river shores in rudimentary huts made of mud and sticks. Moontail’s haven’t cracked farming yet. Moontails with more aggressive tendencies tend to be loners with no language. Males will usually disperse from their original colony to find a new one or make their own.
Groups that aren't aggressive with one another will mingle quite a lot, which is how their language has managed to stay consistent. Their desire to mimic has also kept their language universal, although those from different colonies may have a different “accent”. Colony on colony fighting is pretty rare; Moontail’s usually aren’t known to be territorial. The adults in a colony may puff up and hiss at one another if there is a dispute, but this rarely ends in violence. The scientists watch how different traits merge, interact, and become more prevalent. They use this information to see which traits are most valuable for their endeavors. The split jaw trait was one of the earliest proven to be exceptionally useful, which is why the Endring war monsters were developed with this trait.
Moontail colonies are female dominated. Most, if not all Moontail colonies are led by the parents of the rest of the colony with the mother slightly more in charge. This dominance increases when she is gravid or raising pups. All Viritails's hormones when gravid or nursing makes them more aggressive, dominant, and stronger. Since Moontails share their base genetics with Viris, this passed over to them.
Moontail eggs are incubated by both parents. They switch off, taking turns to hunt for eachother. Moontail pups are basically their parents' shadow for the majority of their lives. They are independent and mature by 18 years of age, but may live in their parents' colony for their entire lives. Males will usually disperse to find their own mates, but they sometimes will bring their new family to live close to their parents. This is how mega-colonies form.
Just like Viritails, Moontails are genetically pre-disposed to have genetic gigantism through a gene mutation. These would be considered “Royal” Moontails, but due to Viritail politics, they are not called this. It is unlikely that this gigantism would cause a similar cultural shift in Moontails as it did in Viritails, and sexual cannibalism has not been recorded in Moontail colonies.
Moontail’s engage in many different activities to calm the nerves caused by living in a hostile environment. Young moonlets can be seen play-fighting, playing pretend, climbing, swimming, or attempting to craft various objects with their environment. Adult Moontails will often groom each-other to bond and relax, but can also be seen playing games from time to time. They have invented their own ball-related sports with a ball made of pelt, but no one other than them knows the rules. Moontails also have made instruments out of woven fibers, pelts, and reed plants. Different forms of art, such as carving and painting are the most common pass times. These art forms often aid in storytelling.
Moontails have a complex body language with naturally unspoken rules. Similar to how we view a smile as intrinsically positive, while another animal may see it as a threat display, this language comes naturally to most Moontails and is reinforced over time. Below is a list of notable motions and what they mean
An upwards tail indicates confidence. A stiff upwards tail with the point towards the sky may indicate a sense of dominance, while a more relaxed position with a curled downward end is a relaxed, happy, and friendly Moontail.
During times of excitement or happiness, a Moontail will wag their tail. However, a flicking or lashing tail means the individual is aggravated or focused.
A low tail is a submissive position. One that is tucked near the legs is highly submissive, possibly scared, while one that is low but curled towards one side is prepared to defend itself. A tail that is dragging on the floor is a very bad sign, and can either mean exhaustion, depression, or illness.
When startled, all of the fur on a Moontail’s body will stand on end, but specifically their tail will puff up to appear much larger than it already is. A defensive or angry Moontail may also puff up their tail to appear even more threatening.
Tail thumping is when a Moontail very quickly smacks the end of their tail on the ground. This is a threat display, a warning that you’re about to get clobbered. However it can also be a startle response, or a nervous tick in the case of rapid small thumps.
Unlike Viritails, Moontails do not curl their tails to show strength and dominance, showing that for Viris, this is a cultural practice, and not a biological one.
Ears turned backwards show discomfort either mentally or physically, while tightly pinned ears show anger, distress, or pain. Ears flattened outwards instead of backwards show fear, nervousness, or sadness.
Moontails will rotate and wiggle their ears in the direction of sound, so ears that are uneven means they are paying attention to their surroundings.
Ears that have been brought as far forward and as far up as they can be are intensely interested in whatever is directly in front of them. Also can mean they are very shocked.
Baring one's teeth is a sign of hostility, along with growling, hissing, and jaw clacking.
Barking is a sound made when startled, frightened, to intimidate, or to communicate at a decent distance.
Whining is a sound of fear or submission.
Some Moontails will howl to communicate at very far distances.
When relaxed and happy, Moontails purr, chuff, chitter, squeak, and make any number of other noises.
Moontail language is considered a Noise Language, being made up of intricate however seemingly random different noises. They are excellent at mimicry, and will mimic the sounds of other animals. They may intermingle other creatures' communication noises with their own.
Many traits that Moontails can have come with their own unique communication methods. Moontail courtship consists of a lot of dancing where individuals will show off their traits and skills for potential mates. Because of this, Moontails with similar traits will often congregate and form colonies with one another.
A Moontail’s antennae are highly sensitive, hypermobile organs. Oftentimes the movement of the antennae will track the movement of the ears. Antennae that are pinned back show anger, distress, or pain. Antennae that are pointed upwards or raised indicate shock or interest.
Antennae lashing is a sign of hostility or discomfort, not to be confused with antennae twitching, which could indicate confusion, but often holds no meaning and is simply a tic or stim.
Antennae vibration can mean a few different things depending on their position. Antennae that are pinned back and vibrating indicates intense anger or fear, while ones that are more relaxed and vibrating means extreme happiness. When a Moontail puts their antennae in a defensive or an attacking position and quivers them, this is a sign that they are about to attack.
Moontails with split jaws will often perform a “dance” where they vibrate their jaws in a specific pattern. The dances between 2 split and 3 split jawed Moontails don’t match up perfectly, and therefore these individuals are often incompatible romantically.
Individuals with quills will clack or vibrate them together either to dance or to make a loud warning buzzing noise. The meaning of this display depends on other body language that the Moontail in question is showing.
Moontails with wings in any location on their body may perform by showing off their feathers. The more pristine the feathers, the more suitable they are as a mate.
Similar to how split jawed moontails clack their jaws, a Moontail with insect mandibles or pedipalps may do the same. Pedipalps however are mostly used as feelers.
Moontails with fins may swim in a particular way to show off their radiance. Fin fanning is also a way to show off.
Moontails with display frills are the most obvious display. These frills fan out either to intimidate or seduce. They may also flush with blood to change colour.
Those with chromatophores within their fur and skin will use colour to communicate. The meaning behind the colour depends on the individual and the context surrounding it.
Some Moonian holidays mirror Virilian ones, but Wild Moontails have completely different holidays from both Soldier Moontails and Viritails. Below is a list of the different holidays, listing their in-universe date, gregorian date, and if applicable, the earthly holiday they are meant to mirror.
Emorior 7th - 13th (August 22nd - 28th)
For one week in the warmest part of the year, in the forests of Tersca, Moontails have what is known as the Fire Bug Festival. Fire bugs emerge from the ground and make their way into the air to mate. Their mating dance is a dazzling display of light flashes from their abdomen. This light show pacifies usually hostile nocturnal creatures due to the dust that sheds from the fire bugs wings as they fly. In the morning, the dust clears, and they hunt again. But at night, all is peaceful.
The festival started slowly. One colony of Moontails started to dance with the fireflies bugs at night. Pups would catch them and watch them crawl on their paws till they took off into the air again. This behavior spread over time as colonies joined or passed each other. Now, almost every colony celebrates the fire bug festival. Moontails with antennae that don't light up still participate by dancing. Colonies meet with each other to feast and share the night. They will watch the stars, and admire the tiny parts of life that are beautiful.
Soldier Moontails live life completely differently from their wild counterparts, as soldier Moontails are integrated into Virilian exoplanetary society. These Moontails have been raised from a young age on whatever exoplanet they were chosen for. Their schooling is harsh, usually leaving all soldiers in the same class “pack bonded”. Until Minx’s rule, they were not allowed on Hysia, and would only be stationed on any of the 4 exoplanets. They are poorly treated, being considered “less than” and more “mentally primitive” to Viritails. Neither of these things is true.
For soldier Moontails, gender and sexuality are not on the top list of their concerns. The standards of Virilian society apply to them as well in this case. Trans soldier Moontails are medically supported if they can make the case that their mental distress is causing them to perform poorly at their tasks. Sexuality isn’t questioned, but soldier Moontails are not supposed to have offspring unless specifically paired with another soldier. It is absolutely taboo for a Viritail and a Moontail to be romantically involved. It’s even more socially unacceptable for them to have a child together; a hybrid known as a Viriluna. However, this stigma is slowly torn down during Minx’s rule.
Soldier Moontails eat the same diet as the Viritails on whatever exoplanet they are stationed on.
Androlla’s diet includes mostly fruit, fish, and fungi, most of which is farmed locally. Fungi that is farmed here is also used in processing protein alternatives for the rest of the system. Vegetables are imported from Citrios, along with grains, nuts, and more.
Ignit utilizes the local insectoid, crustacean, and reptilian populations for consumption, putting to use the bodies of hostile creatures that the soldiers stationed there slay. None of the creatures on Ignit can be domesticated for their meat. The only plants that can be farmed here are fruit producing cacti, but they are difficult to grow and harvest, and thus are an Ignit exclusive delicacy. Foods imported here are often dry, stale, or pumped full of preservatives.
Veniscis exclusively farms fish and crustaceans. There are some species of wild fungi here that are edible as well and are routinely harvested. All other nutrients must be imported. Fruits must be dried or frozen to make the trip, and other foods must be preserved too.
Citrios’s workers have the highest fresh fruit and vegetable intake. This farm planet grows the most produce out of any other exoplanet. Domesticated animals from Hysia have also been imported to be farmed for their meat and other products. Despite having easy access to fresh meat, culturally, there are more vegetarian or mostly vegetarian Viritails here, so Moontails follow suit. In addition, there is some unrest around the farming of Hysian domesticated animals here, as it has destroyed the local ecosystem.
A great percentage of the food found across the Virilian system is highly processed or even synthetic. Sugar and sweeteners are used in a similar fashion to how we use them, and they are just as addictive to Moontails as they are to us. If you can think of a food that humans have, Soldier Moontails probably have some sort of equivalent to it.
Soldier Moontails spend practically all of their time working whatever tasks they are given by their commanders. Moontails are stationed specifically where they are deemed to be the most useful for the environment. For instance, a Moontail on Ignit would need to have heat resistance and immense strength, while one on Androlla must be able to persist through heavy downpours and spot stealthy predators. Those on Androlla and Ignit have the hardest lives, constantly being sent out to patrol and slay any intruding dangers. Moontails on Veniscis and Citrios almost have the exact same tasks as any other worker there. Soldier Moontails live in separate quarters from their Virilian cousins. Moontails that are retired from age or injury will spend the rest of their lives wherever they are stationed, usually doing smaller easier tasks such as housekeeping. Those that are unable to fall in line are eliminated without remorse, being seen as nothing more than weapons or tools.