Gemstealer

The Gemstealer is a Very Common creature released on Protochroma. It is found only in Mining Site S, its associated Regular Delve, Kyanite Corridor, and its associated Limited Run Delve, Cave Entrance. Its standard variant is Blue.

Baby
''A light brown, cave-dwelling mammalian that's extremely defenceless. It has claws, but opts to run and hide instead of defending itself when threatened.''

Juvenile
''While as a baby it would mostly walk on all fours, it grows a habit of standing up as it continues aging. It has quite the affinity for rocks and gems, collecting any it happens to find. Often mistakes other objects for rocks, if said object is sufficiently shiny or rugged in texture. Feelers have started to grow on its head and tail, allowing it to sense and quickly react to seismic actions. Its claws only see use for digging through dirt, and prove to be quite good at that task.''

Adult
''Gemstealers are plentiful in Mining Site S despite being the preferred prey of predator creatures such as Vullux and Tunnelwyrm. Adults are most often seen carrying a large gemstone, presumably the favourite of that particular individual's rock collection. Any random pile of mixed rocks is likely to be a Gemstealer nest, though they spend more time digging for insects to eat than they do at their nest. In order to keep themselves concealed when sleeping, they bury themselves in their nest. This offers them some protection from predators while sleeping, usually granting them enough time to escape if disturbed.''

''Their numerous feelers are perhaps the most interesting part of their biology. They're extremely sensitive, allowing them to sense anything from earthquakes to footsteps. When young they are extremely skittish in response to someone approaching them. Adults raised in captivity appear to be able to distinguish between different vibration patterns and will react accordingly. A dropped item might pique their curiosity, while stomping will most likely scare them into hiding. It is presumed that adults in the wild display similar such behaviours, but in ways that aid their survival such as distinguishing between different types of predators.''