Shapeshifters Species

Shapeshifting (Shifting)

Shapeshifting (Shifting)

Shapeshifting is an innate ability that all shapeshifters have from birth. All shifters are able to shift into an animal form from birth, and no other sapient species can learn the skill. 

How to shift
In order to be able to shift into an animal form, the shifter has to first shifted into it. They only need to shifted into it once, and it needs to be a real, living animal specimen and not, for example, another shifter. No matter where one's opinion falls in regards to semantics, shapeshifting uses the same mechanisms as any other magical ability. The altus takes in and converts energy, which is then used to mutate the human body's cells and allow the shapeshifter to change their human form into their animal form. Shapeshifting is generally a deliberate act, though it can also happen unintentionally in times of great emotional distress and high emotions. The first time they shift into an animal form, it is very draining, but the more times they shift into that particular animal form, the easier it becomes until it can be done mid-sprint without affecting the shifter's energy. It takes practice to get there with each animal form, and each individual can only reach that level of comfort with a finite number of times. The exact number varies from individual to individual, and depends on practice as well as innate ability. Young children who are still learning control this ability are also prone to accidentally change their human form into their animal form, though this becomes rare by the age of about seven or eight.

Younger shapeshifters (younger children) are able to learn and adapt much quicker than older adult shapeshifters, and their first time shifting into an animal form will not drain them in the same way an adult shapeshifter would be drained when shifting into an animal form.

They can shift in between their human form and their animal form, and don't have to turn back to their human form in between sometimes. They can also stay in their animal form indefinitely, it takes no effort to uphold it.

Shapeshifters can remain in their animal form indefinitely, it being just as comfortable as their human form. Notably, they do not transform back to their human form if they injured whilst in their animal form. However, with each day they remain in their animal form past about day ten, the risk of becoming wild grows. Becoming wild is what it is called when shapeshifters completely lose their grip on their human side and embrace their animal side. They can slowly lose their humanity and become unable to transform back sometimes. If caught in the early stages, this thankfully rare condition can be reversed. 

Sleep shifters
As with sleepwalking, it is possible for a shapeshifter to sleepshift, and turn into an animal form in their sleep. This normally happens with an animal form that they are familiar enough with that it takes no effort.

Alternate way of learning
Some very rare individuals are able to learn to shift into an animal form by studying it hard, rather than shapeshifting into it. This takes a great deal of studying and a deep understanding of how the animal species is built and functions.

Forgetting forms

Appearance
The base form of a shapeshifter is a humanoid form, and there is no way to distinguish between a human and a shapeshifter when they are in this humanoid form. When shifting to an animal form, the shapeshifter retains colouring, markings, and scars that they have in their human form as well - in a way that is naturally incorporated into the morphology of the animal species they have turned into. If they have a birth mark, that will turn into a darker patch of fur or feather or whatever the animal species has.

The animal form of a shapeshifter will have certain distinguishing markings retained from their human form. Any scars will still be present, and as will as birth marks and such things - potentially in the form of a darker patch of fur and so on. Colouring will also depend on the shapeshifter's natural colouring. A dark haired person will have dark fur or dark feathers, if the animal species they shift into can have dark fur or dark feathers. They will always look like a natural animal, but someone who knows them would be able to recognize them from these colourings and markings.

Potential animal forms

They can turn into:
Mammals
Fish
Amphibians
Reptiles
Birds
Insects(?)

Instincts vs sentience
When they have shifted into an animal form, the shapeshifter gains the instincts of the animal form, but retain their own sentience as well. This means they might have an urge to chase a mice as a cat, or peck at seeds as a hen, but they can choose not to. Presumably, it gets easier from them to ignore the instincts the more they are exposed to them. There is, however, a risk in overriding too many instincts at once, as "overthinking" might happen. If the sentient mind tries to take over too many behaviors at once, that might result in "forgetting" how to use muscle memory to gallop, fly, and so on.

Cost of shifting
In theory, shapeshifters can shift however often as they like, and once they are used to an animal form, the shifting itself doesn't take much effort. Shifting again in a short period of time, however, is draining as the human body has to quickly adjust. If this is done too much (what done too much is depends on the individual), they will eventually run out of the energy to shift back, and have to stay in one form for a while before they are able to shift back again.

Terminology
Shapeshifters refer to their forms as the animal form, so "horse form" or "hawk form." Their humanoid form is referred to as "the human form."

Effect Duration
Indefinitely, or until shifting again.
Effect Casting Time
Instantaneous.
Range
Only affects the shifter.
Level
All shapeshifters can do this ability from birth.
Applied Restriction
Restricted only by the shifter's energy levels.