nebulium (ID: opFI)

Grouping: Elemental, Celestial

Mobuluma are strange creatures commonly seen in the skies around the world, where they soar so high that they were previously believed to be passing comets. Almost strictly nocturnal, Mobuluma are most visible on clear nights in areas with little rainfall; they are instinctively phobic of water as it can damage the solid light energy that composes their bodies, and so have evolved to fly above the clouds to avoid rain.

Curious towards anything it deems to not be a threat, the Mobuluma glides lower to the surface of the planet to nest; its offspring splits off from the floating pieces of its exoskeleton and attaches to any sort of hidden cover it can find, to avoid rain and predators. Though the newborn carries cracks in its body to vent heat as it grows, once its exoskeleton has developed enough to protect it these cracks merge shut again and the energy pours out of the back, forming the body of the Mobuluma. As it reaches adulthood, more pieces of the armor develop and detach, slowing its growth by venting the heat again until it finally reaches adult size.

Mobuluma are vulnerable to any predator which uses water to hunt, or which is unaffected by the effects of intense heat and light. Thus, they avoid both diurnal and colourful predators, as evolution has generally lent itself towards these traits signifying a dangerous encounter for their species.

Artwork: Keileon