Creating alien animal species is one of the most enjoyable parts of writing science fiction stories for me. You can learn so much about a character’s personality in a story through observing how they interact with animals. This principle is true for both humans and aliens. Animals also influence setting and atmosphere in a story. They can do anything from helping create lighthearted moments to ratcheting up suspense in a scene.
Readers are introduced numerous alien animals throughout my Alien People Chronicles series. Treemas, Maniogos, Odocos, Calas, Mokais, and Russakins are all featured within the series. Some of these animals exist in the background. Other species help move story threads forward.
This article will focus specifically on Calas — a friendly domestic animal native to the exoplanet Lathos. You can read a similar feature devoted to Treemas in my newsletter archives.
Cala Origins
The cala is a small mountain-dwelling carnivore originating on Lathos, a planet orbiting 61 Cygni A approximately 3.495 parsecs from Earth. Calas are a furry animal and possess large ears and eyes. They have long slender paws and bushy tails. They have sharp claws and teeth. Earthians who have encountered calas describe them as resembling a blend of a large squirrel and a domesticated cat.
Calas are energetic animals and crepuscular by nature. They love to play with their owners. They are also affectionate, rubbing their snouts against their owners’ hands and cooing when they want attention. A typical cala prefers to sleep in nests high above the ground. Given their small size, calas are startled by loud noises and sudden movements. A cala may bite someone it perceives as threatening. Cala bites are painful and can become infected if not treated with water and medicine right away.
Wild ancestors of calas lived throughout the northern Lathoan continent. They ranged from the Cassian Mountains in the west to the Aurora Mountains in the east. Calas first became domesticated 10,000 years ago and are now found all over Lathos. Healthy domesticated calas typically live for 12 to 15 years although some can live as long as 20 years.
Notable Calas
One cala named Bella plays a prominent supporting role in the Alien People Chronicles series. Bella is the beloved pet of Calandra Menankar in the series. Calandra adopted her after finding Bella injured and abandoned on a hiking trail in the Aurora Mountains. She took Bella home to her apartment in Luma and nursed the little cala back to health.
Bella becomes Calandra’s loyal companion and is a source of comfort for her owner during moments of emotional distress. This is especially true when Calandra’s husband Xttra goes missing for a year following his abduction at the hands of agents from the Confederation of Northern Tribes. Bella later becomes a friend to Calandra's daughter Alexa. They form a close bond in Alexa's childhood and become inseparable playmates.
If you enjoyed this article on Calas, check out my newsletter archives for past Behind the Page features.
I love these world building articles. I know they're not for everyone but I'm the kind of person who reads every in-game piece of lore.