Raising young companions

Companions hatched from eggs or similar animal items start young, and befriended cubs do too. If your active party is full but the roster still has room, the new companion goes into the stable. A wild cub will refuse your offer while an adult of its pack is within eight tiles.

Young companions grow through hatchling, juvenile and adult stages. Most need 1,000 growth points for each stage. Each world turn adds one point, or two if the pet has been fed in the last 500 turns or has at least 80 happiness. These two boosts do not add together. Stabled companions keep growing too. Some species take longer, including wyverns.

Hatchlings stay passive in combat. Health, damage and armour increase as a young companion grows, while its basic movement speed stays the same. A growth spurt restores it to full health. Growing up keeps the pet's existing combat order, so a pet raised on Passive will still be Passive until you change it.