#laenai

1. Yes, the ability to combine with other creatures is a Laenai specific trait. Rynd would not be able to pick up a new shift from a Mondian animal or a Kannard animal.

2. negated because question 1 was a yes

3. A shifter might be able to “hack” another person into a shift but it would be a horrible idea all around and also the person in question would probably need to be a familiar because non-Laenai people do not have melding capabilities. Also, two sentient minds don’t really meld at all very well, and so rather than the two souls joining you’d end up more with two fully realized individuals trapped together and vying for control, likely causing themselves an extreme amount of pain as they both struggled to agree on form. 

4. Two shifters trying to meld would run into the same “two sentient minds in one body” issue as before, but they at least wouldn’t have the body meld problem, so, that’s a step closer?

5. Shifters’ bodies are... not shaile (unless they’re a familiar), but have a remarkable similarity to shaile, actually. Not quite as changeable as pure Mondian shaile would be (which could mimic just about any living form) but their bodies’ ability to stretch and adapt is reminiscent of the way a familiars’ form works.

Worldbuilding spoilers: the soul in this universe is extremely and intrinsically tied to memories. Familiars’ bodies look the way their soul remembers their body is supposed to be, and familiars do something similar. When Rynd shifts to give herself wings she’s basically allowing herself access to the part of her avian mind that remembers what it feels like to have wings.

Fun note: Rynd actually only has one of each aspect of her form. For example, though she can give herself wings and place them where she wishes on her body, she only has one set of wings, because she only has one avian form. Sure, she could put them on her head to mock Vanaline if she wanted, but she couldn’t give herself three pairs of wings to complete the look.