The Stinky Life I've Accepted

Some Information about Shifters

Hi guys, I wanted to go more into length about the world in which I am writing this story. Here are some facts about shifters and other things you need to know moving forward with this story I love so much!

1. The human world are unaware of shifters...of course, individuals and some groups find out such as shifter mates, hybrids (shifter parent, human parent), hunters, and other. Sometimes it is accidental, sometimes it isn't. 

2. ALL shifters are still part human, meaning they need socialization with other shifters and/or humans to remain mentally healthy. In fact, it is far easier for all types of shifters to form packs with each other, instead of just living with humans. Just living among humans isolates shifters, and they often have a hard time fitting in. 

                                     - there are some packs, like Maxon's that are mostly or all one type of shifter. In Maxon's pack, that is wolves, save for the exception of Ryker and Tibithia. Some packs prefer and only accept that one type of shift/animal, even going so far as to reject even mates that aren't their shift. 

                                      - for others, it just happens. For solitary shifts, like bears for instance, they still form packs and herds, but they live farther apart from each other, and don't need as much socialization with each other. 

3. Just because shifters are half human, half shifter, does not mean nature changes. Whatever shift a shifter is, their bodies follows the nature of their animal. For instance, nocturnal and hibernation. Which is another reason most packs and herds are formed with similar animals and shifters. It is easier on everybody if the same customs are followed. 

                                         - shifters can choose to follow nature, but they can also choose to change their animal habits to fit more into human society. It takes years for a nocturnal shifter to overcome their want to sleep during the day, and stay awake during the night, but they do so just because they want to. Nothing is forced. It is up to the individual what they want, as long as they maintain balance with both halves of their being. 

4. From most common shifts to least common:

           - The wild canine classes (wolves, coyotes, jackals, etc.)

           - Domesticated animals (cats, dogs, cows, bunnies)

          - The wild cat classes (lions for instance) 

           - All other warm-blooded Prey Land animals (besides solitary animals and rodents) ...the more uncommon the animal in the human world, the more uncommon it is in the shifter world

           - All other warm-blooded Predator Land Animals (besides solitary animals and rodents) 

           - Prey and Predator Solitary warm-blooded animals (bears)

           - Prey cold-blooded/reptile animals

           - Predator cold-blooded/reptile animals 

           - Rodents (mice, skunks, and other) 

           - All other land animals that have thus not been named (there is so many it is just insane to name all) 

          - Insects 

          - Air animals! (Birds) 

          - Ocean Species