I have a thing I call an “instinct amalgamation”, which is basically where I feel like I have instincts from various different creatures - it’s not quite different thereotypes as I don’t think I actually am the critters, but it’s still a part of my identity. I blame my autism. I think it makes me take comfort from different methods of communication and existance. Growling, purring, and more recently, thrumming (from project Hail Mary. Please read the book if you get the chance). It brings me comfort and makes me feel safe. There’s some overlap between parts of the amalgamation and my thereotypes - growling in particular - but overall it’s a separate entity from that. Honestly I feel like the amalgamation is more present in my life than my thereotypes sometimes
