In Gildraen, all animals are wild and belong to no one, transforming every person–animal interaction into a relationship based on agreement and reciprocity rather than ownership or mere barter. This is not a transaction but a recognition of mutual respect and choice.
Animals freely offer their labor—transport, wool, milk, or eggs—in exchange for respectful treatment and terms mutually agreed upon. Large-scale animal farming is rare; typically, individuals or small households care for a few animals, preserving natural bonds without selective breeding or altering species for increased yield, which would violate the animals’ freedom and agency.
Forms of Reciprocity
Animals may be ‘paid’ or honored through:
- Food: Carefully foraged or grown offerings tailored to species preferences, never mere scraps.
- Sanctuary: Safe nesting or resting spaces, often subtly marked or scented to signal protection from predators.
- Access: To healing herbs, salt licks, or mineral-rich earth—rare resources offered to build trust.
- Companionship: Some animals seek gentle presence, stories, or song; Beastcallers may hum or speak softly, fostering bonds through kindness.
- Ceremony: Acts of acknowledgement and honor, such as leaving a woven thread or feather, recognizing the animal’s contribution.
Meat and Mortality
Meat is extremely rare and treated with reverence, never taken from a living being unwilling to offer themselves. Animals with long, honored lives may offer themselves as their bodies fail, becoming part of ritual meals shared with gratitude. More commonly, meat comes from:
- Natural deaths, preserved and respectfully shared.
- Accidental kills, such as a bird caught in a bramble.
- Pacts with predators, where hunters trade knowledge or healing for a share of the kill.
Many people choose to avoid meat entirely—not out of dogma but reverence—relying instead on eggs, milk, and honey, which can be freely given.
Fishing and the Water’s Gifts
In keeping with the respect for animal agency, fish are not taken indiscriminately. People maintain and offer healthy, well-protected spawning sites as a form of honour and invitation. Only fish that die naturally after spawning, such as salmon and eels, are taken for food—never those still alive or during vulnerable stages. This practice ensures the balance of life is preserved and the cycle of renewal honoured.
Beastcallers and Communication
Fae known as Beastcallers possess the rare gift of communicating meaningfully with animals to negotiate fair and nuanced exchanges. Humans without this gift rely on making their offerings visible and attractive to invite willing participation.