Shapeshifter Information

How do I become a shapeshifter? 
Generally, you don’t. You would be born from a line of shapeshifters… the oldest families are the ones that have last names which mean their species, like the Drache dragons, the Namir leopards, the Arnold eagles, the Renard foxes, and the Schwanhild swans. You can’t be made into a shapeshifter by another shapeshifter. Rarely, a human may become a shapeshifter if they are cursed by a witch. 
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Can a shapeshifter be more than one animal?
No. You can only become the animal you were born into. The only exception to this is the Drache family, who are descended from ancient dragons. They can take any form they wish—but only if they have had physical contact with that species at some point in their lives. For example, a current-day Drache could not shapeshift into an extinct species, having never been able to touch it. The physical touch is important.
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What is a shapeshifter like in human form?
Very much like a human. Shapeshifters are a lot like witches in that way; their emotions, needs, etc are human-based first. However, in human form, shapeshifters do retain some of the senses of their animal counterpart. For example, a leopard would still have good night vision; the falcons, excellent distance vision; the foxes, excellent tracking skills—and so on. It’s more like heightened human senses.
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Why did the werewolves break away?
Honestly, because they are so very different. Shapeshifters are like humans with the ‘superhero’ ability to take the form of another animal. They don’t act more animal than human, they aren’t tied to the moon, nor do they have an inner ‘beast’ side to contend with. Shapeshifters also have to be trained, or taught, how to shapeshift their first time—either that, or their first shift will be seriously delayed. An untrained shapeshifter could go into their twenties without ever having shifted once.
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Can silver injure shapeshifters the way it injures werewolves?
Yes, because the two groups do share common roots. Shapeshifters are injured and heal at the rate as humans, but silver is like a poison to them. The way wood is for vampires and iron for witches is how silver is for all folks who take the form of animals, be they human-leaning or wolf-leaning. 
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Werewolves are very pack-oriented with wolf-related rituals. How do shapeshifters act towards each other?
Shapeshifters are very much individuals. They don’t tend to ‘pack’ because their instincts are more human-driven. Even two or three shapeshifters of one kind—like three leopards—still each act as individual people and wouldn’t ‘group.’ Again… more like citizens of the United States under the President, the shapeshifters are like citizens of Shapeshifter-land under the First House of the Shapeshifters.
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How are the shapeshifters ruled?
All shapeshifters are governed by the First House. This is because the very first shapeshifters were dragons. The dragons could take on the form of any animal, even a human. The Draches are descendants of the sole dragon princess left alive from when the witches overthrew the shapeshifters ages back. The Drache family forms the First House, which is currently comprised of Nathaniel Drache and his children: Galen, Aurora, and Amira. Galen is the current acting ruler. All Draches have the ability to communicate via telepathy with other animals. 

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What is the symbol of the shapeshifter?
In the Night World, the symbol of shapeshifters is the black lily. In Briar Creek, The Black Lily is the shapeshifter-only club. The bottom floor is a nightclub, the top floor has one giant meeting room as well as smaller rooms. Others species are allowed in by invitation only unless they are a ruler.