Croriss

The croriss split from its ancestor and lives in close symbiosis with the Inzcrek. The croriss is composed of a Shield-like base with leaf like needles extending upwards. The base is honeycombed with chambers and passages making it lighter than it may appear. Many of these cavities are filled with air, but some are home to vascularized tendrils of inzcrek flesh which act as an actively pumped circulatory system for the croriss. The croriss will take nutrients and carbon dioxide from the inzcrek's blood stream and release oxygen and excess sugars. The growth of these tendrils is directed to were it is most beneficial by hormonal signals from the croriss. The air trapped by this porous structure also makes the croriss a good insulator, allowing it to keep its symboint warm.

The roots of the croriss extend into the inzcrek’s body as well to both anchor itself and further integrate with the inzcrek. Notably, these roots extend into the inzcrek’s reproductive system were they terminate in spore-producing tissues alongside the male gonads. During the inzcrek’s mating theses spores will be released along with the sperm. Another set of roots extends into the uterus and the spores bond with these concurrently with the inzcrek’s eggs being fertilized. These roots engage in conjugation with the spores producing genetically distinct daughter cells which elongate into hair-like structures. These hairs then attach to the developing embryos and form a placental analog. This placenta-like structure will eventually detach from the parent and develop into the base of a new croriss.

The spread of the inzcrek and croriss has also lead to the spread of the crystank flasprout to Drake Boreal, Drake Rocky and Drake Temperate Woodland. In response to damage the croriss releases a chemical signal causing the crystank flasprouts near the injury to flash brightly in unison. This can startle a predator and give the inzcrek time to flee. The inzcrek’s tendrils are also sensitive to this distress signal, allowing it to feel when the croriss is damaged.