Species Guide

Shifters

Additional information on all shifters!

Werewolf, Werecat, Bear Shifters, Kitsunes.

All shifters have shortened pregnancies, believed to be from their lives being more dangerous. It most likely developed in the times were they fought each other profusely and nine months pregnancies left the shifter parent and unborn child vulnerable for far too long.

Shifter children grow physically faster in the womb, and once born they physically age like a human (until age slows at 18), but mentally develop faster than humans in regards to talking, walking, understanding, and even teeth come in sooner. This development gives them a higher chance of survival if separated from their parents or guardians. A shifter toddler is significantly smarter than most human toddlers.

For children of two (or more) different Shifter species!

No, they can't shift into both/all

No, they don't shift into a hybrid animal

It's a gamble of which they'll be, like the gamble for gender in genetics.

Two different shifters- 50/50 odds of being one or the other.

If one or both parents are children of two different shifters, the odds can change. A child of a werecat and fox shifter has a small chance to be a wolf shifter if one of their grandparents was one. But it's more likely they'll be fox or werecat (unless a grandparent on both sides is wolf then the odds shift).

*In regards to Alpha and Chief Titles*

Ways to become an Alpha- werewolf and werecat.

Birth- born with Alpha blood

Combat- an individual that challenges and beats an Alpha in combat via Alpha challenge. This creates a new alpha bloodline.

(Not common, most aren't willing to risk challenging a shifter that is significantly stronger than them. Most Alpha Challenges are done between two shifters with Alpha blood with the pack or Pride on the line.)

Vampire Hybrid Alpha- it is believed in cases where a shifter is part vampire with a powerful bloodline, that they can become Alphas in their own right.

Testing for Alpha blood.

Sometimes bloodlines get so branched off that those with alpha blood get lost and have no idea. There are a couple of ways to check.

Command Test- on shifters who are old enough to shift, they are given commands by an Alpha. If they waver or defy the command, they have Alpha blood.

Magic Test- on young shifters, a sample of their blood is taken to be tested for a particular magical reaction. Alpha's, and others with high rank, have reactions that are distinguishable from others.

(Beta's and Gamma's can be born and made, and can be made by an Alpha granting the title)

Ways to become a Chief

While they don't have an Alpha title, the Chiefs of a Bear Shifter Unit can inherit a title by birthright, and a New Chief line can be created by a Bear Shifter challenging the current chief for the title in an official fight. (Ambush's don't count)

It can be passed peacefully, but it is a very rare occurrence.

*In regards to Heat*

Heat is when a female shifter is overwhelmed by an intense lust that becomes painful if they are marked by a mate but have not consummated their bond sexually.

Something I have not addressed in my books is that female shifters do not have periods— specifically because of their healing abilities. Shifters, both male and female, almost never have fertility issues and maintain peak health in that regard for far longer than humans do. It takes very specific scenarios for a shifter to be unable to have children.

Shifter females don't need periods to regulate their fertility and ovulation.

Heat encourages mating, which usually isn't an issue. The instinct comes from older generations, where not mating after the bond is made was seen as a danger to not just the bond but survival of the bloodline- especially with Alpha bloodlines.

Heat pushes the body into craving physical pleasure, and alters the scent so the mate is drawn in and relieves the craving.

*Another note is that it's not just a one time thing, but it's only painful for shifters the first time, after mating it is more subtle and returns with each full moon- mated shifters are restless and clingy with each other during these times.

Vital Notes!

* Males (shifters, vampires, and humans) are affected to a degree by full moons,  though it's not painful for them. (Unfair, I know) They have an increase in lust and become far more territorial.

* Heat can occur with two females mated to each other, and mating still eases it. This is because mating is not about penetration but orgasm, having one by the mates actions is what ends the heat- especially the painful part.

(If you have additional shifter questions I haven't answered, ask in comments here!)