Tips and Guidelines For Shifters [READ]

[B E A S T I E!]

Here's everything you need to know about what you are, pup. Better read up, or find out the hard way. -Caleb Dawes


TABLE OF CONTENTS;

SHIFTING
BEHAVIOR
PACKS & RELATIONSHIPS
LIFESPAN
THE CODE

[B E A S T I E!]

STARTING OUT:

• Though it isn’t known how we get our ability, having a shifter somewhere in the family tree really improves your chances. Most people are like this. People shift for the first time when puberty hits.
  
  
• Usually before your first shift, you have flu-like symptoms, hot and cold flashes, and just generally feel like hell. This is normal, it will go away after your first few shifts.
  
  
• On that note, during your first season you shift back and forth uncontrollably. it’s a pain in the ass and can scare you to death if you don’t know whats going on.
  
  
• No, you don’t keep your clothes. Shifting in public is definitely not advised for this reason among others.
  
  
• Shifting is not painful, unless you resist it. It kind of feels like when you crack your back or knuckles.. Just all over. Oh, it itches a bit too.

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MATURING: (IMPORTANT)

• After your first season, you’re in control of shifting. You soon learn that although through most of the year you can shift freely, each spring you are forced into a permanent wolf body. All shifters do it the same way, its just what happens. You can fight it if you'd like, but all you'll end up doing is shifting back and forth out of control and feeling like hell.
  
  
• interestingly enough, you can stay wolf longer, if you'd like. If you stay in wolf form for more than twelve seasons, you get stuck. If you’re happy as a wolf, then good for you the problem is you also inherit the wolf’s natural lifespan- most people only live a decade tops after this permanent change. its advised you spend no more than four seasons in your wolf form, and that’s pushing it.
  
  
• Extreme emotion, usually anger or defense can trigger a shift. Be careful of your environments- public shifting is a mess.

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[B E A S T I E!]

• Unfortunately, we do not have any of those cool superpowers like in the movies- no super strength or speed anyway. We’re average wolves and we communicate through body language, sound, and smell just like the old wild ones did. The one thing we can do is to communicate telepathically, and form conversations between one another with words. Luckily we don't receive any other information besides what we wish to transmit.
  
  
• We’re smarter, but not by much. Its as if our human brains go to sleep, and we take on a wolf one, full of instinct. Our human lives are like dreams, hazy and indistinct. We can remember things, but only as distant vague memories.
  
  
• There is one more thing different about us: we’re tethered together strongly, especially in our packs. We can find each other without even trying. Sometimes this is a problem between rival packs, but usually its and advantage, especially when hunting.
  
  
• We live in our packlands and the forest when in our wolf season. No one ever goes into the town, probably because in our wolf brains we’re afraid and uncomfortable with humans and the city. We stay away.

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[B E A S T I E!]

• If an Alpha summons the pack, it doesn't matter what season you're in. You will shift, at some point, and will be drawn towards your alpha, even if you attempt to resist.
  
  
• Most of us hang out with our packs in human form. We’re drawn to them, its hard not to.
  
  
• In human form, ranks don’t really matter. Except alphas can shut you up pretty quick, they still have a weird kind of power like that.
  
  
• Most of us don’t care about pack boundaries when we’re human. But a lot of shifters don’t encourage friendships or relationships between packs, unless they’re allies.
  
  
• As a wolf its all instinct, dominance is fought over or given, and the rules are followed.
  
  
• We have no desire to reproduce as wolves. We have mates sometimes, but nothing sexual ever happens. Definitely no puppies.
  
  
• When you have a mate as a wolf, you will be forever drawn to that person in your human form. Which is complicated if you’re in a relationship with someone else… eesh.
  
  
• If a female gets pregnant in her human form, she cannot shift until the baby is born. Usually mothers wait an additional season. The baby will not definitely be a shifter, they, like everyone else, will find out when they hit puberty.
  

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[B E A S T I E!]

• So, you start shifting at puberty and say you do what is advised and shift every spring. This will continue without a hitch through your twenties and usually some of your thirties.
  
  
• By your mid thirties, its harder to shift. Eventually there will come a season where it extremely difficult to shift somewhere in your forties. This is known as the choice period.
  
  
• The choice is when you either shift your last time into a wolf, and stay a wolf, or refuse a shift and finish out your human years. As stated before, if you stay a wolf, you’ll only live a little while longer, usually 5-6 years in this case. If you pick human, you live an average human lifespan from then out, but cant shift anymore. Its quite a dilemma- some love being a wolf so much, they prefer to die that way. Others have families and ties to human life, and cant bear to let that go.
  

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[B E A S T I E!]

The code is an unwritten set of rules all shifters follow. Its like common decency and stuff.

• 1- Don’t tell outsiders about us.

[/b][/size] All the locals- shifter or not, know. But they keep it quiet, because we’re one big community that watches out for each other. Outside of the territory we’re a distant rumor, people know but usually don’t believe. One things for sure- shifters who’ve been caught outside the territory usually don’t make it back home. We’re not well liked.

[/li][li]2- Everything that matters in human life doesn’t mean jack shit as a wolf.[/b][/size] its true. Feuds, friends, family, loves, hobbies. If the pack doesn’t promote it, then it doesn’t exist.

[/li][li]3- Don’t attack humans.[/b][/size] The human locals have saved our asses once or twice. They’re our family too. Sometimes we cant control it and it happens, but usually its to outsiders who don’t know to calmly walk away when facing us in a dark wood. Its respect, and our unspoken deal.

[/li][li]4- Don’t shift in public.[/b][/size] it’s a private thing, and again its respect for humans. Besides, we’re often skittish and mean if we shift into a confusing place.

[/li][li]5- Have each others back.[/b][/size] If someone needs help, ie they’re shifting in public on accident, are hurt, in need, whatever, you help. Doesn’t matter if it’s a rival pack member, at least get them somewhere quiet. This is the only rule of the code that some don’t follow- there are a good number of over serious attack dogs that would rather die than cross pack lines. Don’t be one of those.
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Well, those are the tips and all you need to know really about your new life. If you ever see me around, feel free to ask some questions. I don’t bite… often.