Ostrich

OSTRICH

OSTRICH

Basic Information

Anatomy

Pähian ostriches are found near all of the rivers in Pähia. All ostriches have very dense bones and stand about twelve feet tall and six feet wide. They have two wings that are not used for flight, but act as rudders when the ostriches run very fast. The ostrich can run about 30 mph unencumbered and 15 mph encumbered and can sustain these speeds for up to half an hour. Their feathers are fluffy and soft and include colors like black, white, brown, gray, slate, and dull orange. The colors are used to help blend in with the surrounding areas, but as certain ostriches have become well-integrated in Pähian society, people have bred them for different purposes.
The older and less specialized use of the ostrich is for transportation. These ostriches, Working Ostriches, have strong, solid bones and stand about 12 feet tall from the toe to the top of their head. Harnesses are attached to their front and they are often used to carry farming equipment or people back and forth. They can be ridden safely if they're properly trained.
They have been used militarily in some cases. They have very sharp claws and powerful legs that can slice through skin and their kicks are very powerful and have been known to kill people outright from the blunt force.
The other use case for Pähian ostriches is as service animals. Pähian ostriches can serve as guides for people with low vision. They can be used to navigate obstacles, signal changes in elevation, and locate/retrieve objects. These ostriches have been bred to be more dexterous and have friendlier demeanors. They are not as fast as Working Ostriches nor can they carry much weight. These ostriches have also been bred into different colors for various reasons. Brighter plumage helps people with low vision identify their animals primarily. Because ostriches can only hiss and roar, they do not have a very wide range of sounds. They primarily use motion and halting to help guide people with low vision.
Famous Pähian ostriches are Princess Teresa's ostriches: One, a black and gray Working Ostrich, that she rides and Two, a yellow and blue service ostrich, that helps her navigate the world with her low vision. Two also uses its wings to help shield Teresa from the sun given her photosensitivity.