#rynd

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.

Basically, shifters are born with a fully human form, but they’re somewhat malleable actually. They themselves can’t really change anything about their bodies on their own, but with help, their bodies are capable of being changed.

With training and focus, shifters can learn to create a bond with another creature or multiple, though usually not more than four or five. This bond is a permanent connection between the two, and a bit like summoning contracts, it must be consensual on both sides. Shifters often have to work with and learn about the creature they wish to bond with for months before the two know each other well enough to connect.

So, gem fusion comparison. When the connection finally happens, the shifter and her creature combine into one. They are, for a moment, two souls living in one body, and then even their souls merge. Now, these combined souls have two different physical memories, two distinctly different physical forms they can take. With focus, they can switch between one or another or they can combine the two into something new, expressing some traits from one body and some from another. 

Shifters can bond with multiple animals this way, and can then mix and match between a variety of traits, but it is an intense process each time. Shifters with many forms at their disposal are considered very prestigious and worthy of respect.

The “human” mind usually stays dominant, because of a shifter’s training, but they can access the memories and knowledge of their creature’s mind when needed. So a shifter who has gained an avian form doesn’t need to be taught how to fly. 

However, shifters must be careful not to give away too much of their headspace to the animal forms. Their animals’ minds do not have the training or intelligence to return control to the shifter mind after it has been given away. Many times, a shifter who has gone “feral” like this, whether intentionally or accidentally, will forget that they were once a sentient creature and never be able to return to their original self. Many feral shifters can continue to shapeshift (especially if they have multiple animal forms) on instinct, but rarely does the feral mind return to sentience.

Rynd has two forms aside from her base form, an avian shift and a feline shift, which she combines in a variety of ways, but often expresses as a griffon. In a very unique turn of events, Rynd was feral when she originally became Len’s familiar, but was able to be returned to sentience thanks to a very clever loophole in her contract.

As for why she’s awesome I’ll let her answer:

Rynd: