History, Background & Basic Facts

Animal-Walkers (Lyaries)
- ALL WALKERS ARE DIRE (abnormal sizes, shapes & weight) -
This was thought up and created by me please DON'T steal!!
History
Animal-Walkers started out as just ordinary humans, living their day to day lives as normal. Working, playing taking care of their families much like today, however, a few humans began to think about wanting more. Believing there had to be someone to better protect the ones they care for than just with what small weapons they had on hand. So some began looking into other ways, alternatives to help but nothing seemed to be found just a few simple changes to some of their modern weapons, yet nothing that seem to give them a little more peace of mind.

It wouldn’t be till a few years later that something totally unexpected or even sought after would come to pass and bring about a whole new change to human life. During a time when disease, war were running wild and few had the means or money to seek help or medical unlike the royals a third alternative would come to present itself. While out hunting in the woods a man, Micah, would come upon something unique and for him more like an omen or sign from the spirits.

A panther lay dying on the ground in front of Micah from what it wasn’t clear, but as he drew closer it seemed to sense him and the eyes opened. Causing Micah to halt his movements a moment before his dark brown eyes locked with the panther and images began flashing through his mind. At first not understanding what it was he saw before they seemed to slow and the images themselves became clearer. What he saw made him gasp with shock, though he didn’t try to break the hold or connection. One image showed him and his family sitting around a fire, laughing, joking and just enjoying their time, than it changed.

The image became darker, Micah doing his best fighting off an animal attack only to not be strong or fast enough to stop it. Watching his family being torn apart Micah could only cried out the pain obvious on his face. Than the image was replaced starting out much the same only as the attack came to past, Micah watched as his body changed. He grew longer, more muscular and stronger, every inch of his human side vanishing slowly only to be left in its place was a panther. Fur that was as black as night with eyes that almost looked to glow in the dark. If left him in shock and awe really as he than watched the creature proceed to jump in front of his family and attack the animal bent on hurting his loved ones.

To say the fight was brutal wouldn’t be far from the truth, but the end result proved it was worth it. Seeing his wife and two children still alive and him standing over the now dead leopard before his new form proceeded to tear into the animal eating it and went so far as to share the rest of the meat with his family. As the visions faded Micah was left gazing at the panther and as if almost giving it’s on approval the panther nodded its head faintly to the man before it died.

After a few moments having to fully comprehend the visions and meaning he took the panther’s body and quickly removed the meat for his family. Understanding that it was because he was such a strong willed person, wanting to do more for his family but wasn’t sure how. This was a sign for him. A person who in their heart, their soul and in their veins wanted to be more to keep others safe would be able to achieve this change. It wasn’t just a whim, this was something deep down that you felt completely about and each generation of that person’s family would continue to follow his or her ancestor. It would come to be that this was in a person’s blood to be a protector of loved ones. A little shocked by the whole ordeal but he truly believed it was a vision of something much greater and would so share his experience with his family upon his return home. The full understanding didn’t come till about five weeks later when Micah was out chopping wood only to hear his wife and children screaming suddenly for help. As he rushed back the sight before made his blood boil, the angry nearly impossible to bare, as there stood 2 very large and very much enraged wolves one with his wife pinned by its paws. Another with his youngest daughter, their oldest son was also off chopping word and had yet to appear. Though just as Micah was going to shift and attack, a few things happened that would halt him for a moment. First was the appearance of his son running towards them and suddenly as he jumped up shifting like his father into a panther and tackling one wolf off his little sister. Who was obviously too scared to even shift herself yet being only 3 years old. Her brother’s jaws snapping and ripping into the wolf, as he mother two shifted and shaking the wolf that once held her down. The sight of her oldest son, fighting to protect his sister had brought about her change.

Miach watching in awe for a moment but soon understanding he had been right, it was within the person to be this animal. The need to protect and he rushed forward to help, going for the wolf this son was fighting as it seemed to the bigger of the two. But this one moment changed their lives and soon each generation after would share this special talent, some turning into wolves or tigers, panthers, leopards and even bears. It was never known which animal and sometimes never the same animal at all would appear. All of it depending on what was within the area that person lived.

Characteristics
Animal-Walkers are by most standards just human by appearance, working, playing interacting like basic humans do even having jobs. It is when they have a feeling, a want and need both in their heart and mind that it will take more to keep their family and loved ones safe. The person has to be truly strong willed and believe. Remembering their history about the ancestors able to shift into this powerful beast and save their families and loved one. Only then would the ability the animal come to you. And it was always a surprise which creature came it was a call really to both the human and the animal, a calling to be one with each other. A creature dying either by fate, accident or something else but that creature would find its way to their specific person. Much like Micah’s story their too would be similar, a vision followed by an understand and ultimately the animal willingly accepting its fate and giving over to death and the person consuming and taking the meat to share with his or her family. Once more starting the chain reaction as every few months another animal but always the same species would appear before their chosen human always an understanding and acceptance on both sides.

Abilities
Their senses all more acute to the world and people around, able to heal injuries they sustain a little faster though usually only in their animal form. Human the injuries heal like they normally would slower. They have the ability to still communicate with others of their kind; although to outsiders, it would appear to just be basic animal noises nothing more. And depending on what specific species of animal you are could in tell other special traits you might have as well.

Animal Communication
Wolves – Don’t howl at the moon they are actually communicating with others. They communicate any time of day but at night with the wind dying down is when their vocals are easily heard. There are 4 basic sounds wolves use, barks, howls, whimpers and growls. Barking – A form of warning, mothers uses to warn her pups of danger; a bark-howl is a show of aggression in defense for the pack and territory. Whimpering – Is used as a sign of giving up when a submissive is being dominated over, or by a mother to show she is willing to nurse her pups. Growling – A show of dominance, warning of intruders or predators that may have entered the wolves’ territory. Howling – One form of communication wolves’ use over great distances. A defensive howl is to keep the pack together, protect their territory and pups from any danger. A social howl is used in greeting with others, maybe a call for fun or to find lost members. Big Cats – First let’s get the purr/roar issue out of the way. If a cat purrs it will not roar and therefore a cat that roar’s can’t purr. Cat’s can roar when their vocal cords are thick and their larynx is flexible with only 4 species being able to do this: Lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars. The rest are able to purr. Purring is able to happen when the vocal cords are thinner and the hyoid apparatus (the small bone that supports the larynx) is more rigid. Now aside from that main form of communication many cats have other sounds they emit for varies reasons.
Black Panthers - Aside from purring they also, mew, chirp, growl, hiss, whistle and can emit a distant scream known as a caterwaul.
Snow Leopards - Unlike other big cats and their leopard cousins do not roar. They lack the bone structure to support this form of communication. But they do mew, hiss, growl, moan, yowl, and make a non-aggressive puffing sound called prusten through their nostrils.
Leopards: Along with roaring, they grunt, growl, meow and make ‘sawing’ sounds.
Tigers - Besides roaring, they can make a subdued roar sound called moaning, growls and chuffing. (Soft brrrr sounds.)
Lions - Varies degrees for roars from ferocious to a soft rumble, and low or how growls. Although for a female lion her thrash tail can be a warning sign as well, and her roar is a show of protection on her part or just to say ‘here I am’.
Lynx - Rarely vocalize although they do yowl and hiss mostly during mating season. They communicate more with site, smells and touches.
Bears - Aren’t really vocal like other animals though will use varies grunts, moans and loud blowing sounds. Cubs have a slight purr like sound when they nurse and also a cry for help when they are in danger.

Strengths
Stronger, faster in their animal form though still carry some of those traits even in human form. Just not as good as in their animal form. Illnesses, disease tend to not have the same effect any longer. That isn’t to say they don’t get sick just the effects don’t last as long.

Weaknesses
1) Silver/ Lead – (L) When thrusted through the heart will kill instantly. Not just the animal but both sides. (Where as silver can kill just the animal side)
(S) – Can kill an animal side of the animal-walkers (if given a large amount in an attack or it doesn’t get removed quickly. Small cuts, scratches just make a animal-walker sick and weak for awhile till the wounds heal. 2) Vampire blood –It is toxic to animal-walkers and will kill them if they get a large amount in their system. (I.E – Ripping out a throat, or ripping off a limb they can possible get too much blood in their mouths and it will kill them)

Breeding
Animal-Walkers can breed within their species or out. (I.E. Wolf/leopard, leopard/bear and so forth) As well as just breeding with a human who has no special blood or anything in them. Although if breeding out of their own species it isn’t guaranteed the cubs, babies will carry the animal-walker trait, but if the mother does eat the dead of a particular animal the chances raise slightly.

Breeding is also based off the animal that resided in your body and therefore your habits, the length will follow with the according animal.
Wolf-Walkers - Breeding season is between January to April; Pups grow inside their mother for about 63 days before being born. At birth they weigh only one pound, and their eyes are closed. Pups grow quickly. About 12 to 15 days after they are born, they open their eyes. By two weeks of age, the pups can walk, and about a week after that, they may come out of the den for the first time. At first, they live only on milk from their mother. 10 - 13 days: the eyes open, 3 weeks: the milk teeth appear, they start to explore the den, 4 - 5 weeks: short trips outside the den, begin to eat meat, 6 weeks: moving up to a mile from the den (with adult wolf), 6 - 8 weeks: pups are weaned, traveling to rendezvous site. 12 weeks: begin to travel with the pack on hunts (with adult wolves), 15 - 28 weeks: milk teeth are replaced, 7 - 8 months: begin to hunt with the pack
Coyote-Walkers - Breed late January- March, have a gestation period like the wolf of 63 days and will give birth to 1 to 12 pups, will leave the den about 3-4 weeks of age to explore but usually stay with their parents till about fall.
Black Panther-Walkers - Can breed anytime of the year; gestation is 90-105 with a litter ranging in size from 2-3 cubs although sometimes 6, cubs are born with their eyes closed and faintly smoke-grey fur weighing about 450 to 1000grams. About 10 days they start to open their glazed eyes and are still fairly immobile. They won’t be moving around much till about two or three weeks after birth. Will follow their mother out to hunt about two or three months old prior they are to remain in the den and not venturing out no matter what.
Leopard-Walkers - The birth takes place in a hidden lair after a gestation period of 3 months. If the female carried her young for a longer period of time, it would restrict her ability to hunt, preventing her from killing enough food for herself and her cubs. But the short gestation period means that the cubs are born underdeveloped; they are helpless and weigh only 15-20 ounces. At this stage in their growth, the spots on their coats are so dense that they appear to be solid gray. Their milky blue eyes, characteristic of the young of all species of cat, open after 9 days. The cubs generally stay with their mother for 2 years.
Snow Leopard-Walkers - Mating usually occurring during the late winter months December to March. Snow Leopard are usually born from April to Mid-June. A normal snow leopard gestation period averages about 101 days were 1 to 5 baby leopards are born in a rocky den. Assuming the babies survive, they will become sexually mature in 2 to 3 years. When the baby cubs are born they have a full coat of fur and are blind for about a week; helpless until they are six weeks old; during this time they sleep and drink their mother’s breast milk. When cubs are born they weigh between .71 pounds to 1.56 pounds (or 320 to 708 grams) each, after they are born they typically gain around .11 pounds (or 48 grams) a day. It takes both males and females about two years to reach sexual maturity at this time, if they have not already, they will leave their mother and begin life by themselves.
Lynx-Walker - Their gestation period is about 70 days; with breeding usually in the winter and the cubs being born about May or June. They will have 2-4 cubs born blind like most animals and weighting, .54kg - .90kg. They are weaned about 6-8 months and at 10 cubs usually stay with their mother through their first winter and set out on their own in spring.
Tiger-Walkers - The gestation period for tigers is 100 days, but ranges from 93 to 111 days. After this time she will give birth to a litter of between 1 and 7 blind cubs, the norm being 2 to 4. At birth, tiger cubs weigh about 780 to 1,600 grams. The mother will not assist the cubs at all in finding their first meal, unlike other felines that help their blind offspring. If a litter of newborns dies, a female can produce another litter within five months
Bear-Walkers - Black bears have an average of 210 days, and polar bears have an average of 240 days. Bears have what is called delayed implantations to insure the babies are born at the right time of year and their mother is in good health to care and protect them. Polar bears usually only give birth to 2 usually one cub. More than that can be rare or in the case of twins unheard of. Black bears can have 1-5 cubs a year and like most animals the cubs are born blind and extremely tiny.

Of course with the human blood running through the body you can play around with the gestation period some and a lot will depend on how you’re wishing to give birth. If in human well you would probably more follow how humans have and give birth, but if your wanting to stay in your animal form than I believe you would wish to follow how that particular animal goes about having a litter or cubs. Same with behavior and how they interact with others you can play around with that some like body languages and such.