Fire Lizards/Flitters
The Fire-lizard, also known as a Dragonet or Flitter.
The DNA from fire-lizards was used to develop the much larger dragons needed to defend Pern from the deadly Thread. Their benefits as pets were acknowledged, and their natural abilities were augmented through 'mentasynth' to allow better communication with people.
Fire-lizards average around 2 feet from nose to tail, although size varies with age and coloration. While both all female colors (Queens and Lessers) of fire-lizards can lay a clutch of eggs, only the queen fire-lizards devote enough time and energy to protect their eggs until they hatch.
Fire-lizards also have the ability to go between. Theoretically fire-lizards should also be able to move other objects through the process of telekinesis, however this has not been extensively studied trough anything more interesting than the tying of a message to a Fire-lizard's leg.
During the 'long interval' human contact with and knowledge of fire-lizards was lost. The practical rediscovery of the species and their abilities culminates in the discovery of a unique ability. Fire-lizards not only remember specific events of importance, but genetically transmit those memories, in good order, for many tens of generations.
Fire-lizards are very similar to dragons, but have three claws, one working opposite to the others, blunter muzzles, and less defined headknobs.
All fire-lizards can and do chew firestone without becoming infertile.
Firelizards return to the wild when their humans die. They do not suicide like dragons do.
Note that fire-lizards communicate by emotion only, and do not speak with words. They also communicate via the use of images- for example, a hungry fire-lizard may project an image of its owner feeding it, along with a strong hungry feeling.
Fire-lizards are available in all the colors, as follows:
Gold, Bronze, Brown, Blue and Green are available EVERYWHERE;
Platinum, Pewter, Onyx, Blood and Tanzanite are ONLY available at NIMDIN Weyr, Hold, and Seaport.
