Animal Sidekicks

[goldhawk]

Let me guess, the primary function of this sidekick is to be an emergency food reserve.

Especially if it is named Spare Rations.

 

[Overread]

Let me guess, the primary function of this sidekick is to be an emergency food reserve.

Secret animal companions/familiars can be a huge sub/main plot device in a story. A dog or cat is fairly easy to slip in without needing much argument for why they are around. But now have a pig, cow, goat or other typical "meat" animal (or bird!) and suddenly your character has a challenge just to keep their companion from potential slaughter or other social expectations (you can't walk down London streets with a cow following you unless you're headed to market - assuming older times; in modern day you'd probably get a lot of attention and curiosity and likely police attention for abnormal behaviour

 

[Amelia Faulkner]

Pablo Escobar had hippos... Which have got loose and are now infesting the Colombian countryside

 

[Cli-Fi]

Let me guess, the primary function of this sidekick is to be an emergency food reserve.

haha they wouldn't even let you get near them with a fork! They are the badass protectors of time.

 

[Cli-Fi]

Secret animal companions/familiars can be a huge sub/main plot device in a story. A dog or cat is fairly easy to slip in without needing much argument for why they are around. But now have a pig, cow, goat or other typical "meat" animal (or bird!) and suddenly your character has a challenge just to keep their companion from potential slaughter or other social expectations (you can't walk down London streets with a cow following you unless you're headed to market - assuming older times; in modern day you'd probably get a lot of attention and curiosity and likely police attention for abnormal behaviour

My wip actually has two animal sidekicks. The flying pigs are more of a metaphor for that saying, "when pigs fly," and they only show up when humans royally screw up. It also has crazy metaphysical squirrels who can move between dimensions.

 

[zmunkz]

I agree with earlier posts — choose one that can be most useful given where you anticipate the story going.

As for what’s been done, well they all have, so I wouldn’t worry. Dogs, cats, and birds in particular come up a lot, which isn’t surprising.

 

[night_wrtr]

Pablo Escobar had hippos... Which have got loose and are now infesting the Colombian countryside

I feel like a hippo would draw a lot of unwanted attention! xD

 

[R.T James]

I suggest a ferret. It's small can be used to hunt, trained to steal coins, and is small enough to conceal, in theory... hijacks may ensue as ferrets have two modes on and off!

Also for scouting a ferret would be good. They can slide under doors and have no fear at all.

Also it's a ferret. C'mon!

 

[DragonAether]

I liked the hippo idea, you have a giant killing machine better than a dozer!!!! Against zombies would be great.

The ferret is also a very good idea, In general a smaller companion that you could carry on your shoulder would be pretty cool, it would add a closer relationship with the MC. And if the mc can control him indirectly he could work as saboteur in small areas.
Other good suggestions are cheetah, female lions, pumas or tigers, in my opinion they would fit more in a vaste environment where speed, precision and strength might be more useful.
(maybe small snakes or poison frogs can be something to consider)

But the ultimate companion will always be the penguin soldier. Power to penguins

 

[goldhawk]

I feel like a hippo would draw a lot of unwanted attention! xD

You good get a pygmy hippo. A lot cheaper to feed and clean up after.

 

[Vaz]

If you want to see how to write an animal sidekick story done really well, I'd suggest Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy.

She has dogs and a wolf sidekick and the way she writes them (especially the wolf) is fantastic.

Personally, I have a Lemur, a Jaguar and a Draptor. (Dragon - Velociraptor hybrid.)

v

 

[night_wrtr]

You good get a pygmy hippo. A lot cheaper to feed and clean up after.

I had no idea pygmy hippos was a thing!

If you want to see how to write an animal sidekick story done really well, I'd suggest Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy.

She has dogs and a wolf sidekick and the way she writes them (especially the wolf) is fantastic.

Personally, I have a Lemur, a Jaguar and a Draptor. (Dragon - Velociraptor hybrid.)

v

Read the first three and really enjoyed them. I agree it is a superb example.

+1 for Draptor.

 

[R.T James]

Snakes if controlled would be great for the psychological impact. Hide them in a hat up your sleeve.

Get into a brawl blam snake biting your face. Especially if venomous.

Also if the person could control the animal a ferret is a quite a little thief with sharp little teeth. So if your person is tied up or locked in a cell.

They used to use ferrets in ww2 to run wires through the ships when they were making them. Right through the walls.

Here's the thing if it's something rare exotic or even huge a trophy hunter might want it on a wall!! Walking around with a puma might get you targeted because somebody wants to stuff it!

 

[DragonAether]

Venomous, that's the word I was struggling to find. Nice historical information.
But the puma would be an armored puma with lasers, psichic powers and even a scar on the face, yeah!

 

[Amelia Faulkner]

If you're wanting hippos, I totally recommend Sarah Galley's River of Teeth

 

[DelActivisto]

Dogs are cool. Could turn things up a bit and use a fox, which people would fall in love with immediately. They recently domesticated some in Russia.

 

[nixie]

What's wrong with Crocodiles? Wally has served me well over the years

 

[goldhawk]

I had no idea pygmy hippos was a thing!

Also pygmy elephants and pygmy rhinos.

 

[night_wrtr]

Dogs are cool. Could turn things up a bit and use a fox, which people would fall in love with immediately. They recently domesticated some in Russia.

A fox could be a real fun idea. Widespread in many environments and elusive. Has some attack ability. Would be susceptible to larger predators for added tension.

Also pygmy elephants and pygmy rhinos.

Add in a pygmy owl and I think we have the perfect squad for a heist novel.

 

[DelActivisto]

A fox could be a real fun idea. Widespread in many environments and elusive. Has some attack ability. Would be susceptible to larger predators for added tension.



Add in a pygmy owl and I think we have the perfect squad for a heist novel.

As a person writing a story where the two main species are feathered, I could totally vibe with a Pygmy owl. Cue Guardians of Gahoole or something.