Rork!

In Avram Davidson's science fiction novel Rork!, protagonist Ran Loman seeks solitude on the remote planet Pia 2, tasked with uncovering the mystery behind the dwindling harvest of the essential medical plant, redwing. As he navigates this isolated world, Loman encounters its peculiar inhabitants—the Tocks, both Tame and Wild—and the feared "rorks." When a murder and a kidnapping disrupt his mission, Loman is thrust into an adventure that challenges his initial desire for peace and solitude.