Become Your Fursona » Articles

About the Be-muse-d universe

Feathertail — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:45:45 +0000

Is your fursona also your muse? That’d mean that you are your fursona whenever you’re writing, drawing and brainstorming! It’d be interesting getting to meet your own characters as your fursona … just watch out for writer’s block!

The Be-muse-d world is licensed CC-By-SA by Jared Spurbeck, aka Tachyon Feathertail. Read on to find out how you can write your own stories set in this world!

Stories set in this world

Be-muse-d

How to write a story set in this world

Read this document all the way through.
Write your own story inspired by it!
Include a note saying your story is licensed CC-By-SA, and crediting Feathertail for creating the Be-muse-d world. A link to this page would be handy!
OPTIONAL: If you don’t want people to use your fursona in their stories, include another note saying your fursona belongs to you and can’t be used without your permission.
OPTIONAL: If your story abides by Virmir’s PG Rating and does not contain age-regression, cross-gender TF, or graphic TF scenes, contact me so I can link people to it.

Got a story you’d like me to link to?

[contact-form]

Your muse and you

Some people call it a muse. Others call it their creative side. Whatever it is, it’s a hidden depth to the character of creative artists and writers … those strange, often socially awkward creatures, who seem so ungainly on land but are in their element when they’re creating things. Has anyone who knows you “IRL” ever mentioned that you seem different online? Maybe it’s because you’re better able to channel your muse on the Internet!

Even to you, though, your muse may seem separate from your “real self.” Sometimes you may even argue with it. It’s not really a separate being, but since it’s rooted in your subconscious it might seem that way. That’s because this part of you processes the things that you see and hear without your realizing it, and turns them into creative ideas that seem to come out of nowhere. It’s the reason why writers are often surprised by their muses, and why their characters seem to think for themselves.

That’s not to say that there’s no spiritual component to inspiration. I personally pray for guidance before writing anything, and I like to think that it’s helped. This story concept is about personifying your subconscious mind, though, not about talking to or channeling real supernatural beings. (That’s for a different story.)

Different author, different muse

Everyone’s muse is different. Yours may be your fursona, or it may be a separate being. See, your fursona can be whatever you like; your ideal self, your “inner self,” or just a roleplaying character. Your muse, on the other hand, is your subconscious mind. It’s you when you’re in a state of creative flow.

Writers aren’t the only people who have muses. Digital painters, clay sculptors, fursuit makers and programmers all have their own, as do other creatives. Do you ever find that you lose track of time, and some creative thing you’re working on just comes easily to you? Even if only for a few minutes. That’s when your muse is being channeled. That’s when you are your muse.

Not everyone’s “muse” is an anthropomorphic animal. People who aren’t into that kind of thing might see their muses as eccentric-but-human friends, or even as actual muses from classical Greek mythology. If you’re the kind who’s inexplicably drawn to pictures and stories about “funny animals,” though, you’ll probably see your muse as one. And it’ll probably fit right in with your other characters.

Creative block: Enemy or friend?

You’d think writer’s block (and other forms of creative blockage) would be a muse’s worst enemy. In reality, though, it’s a message from your muse. You’re trying to create something that it doesn’t like, and it’s not going to cooperate. You can try scattershot brainstorming, writing any old thing that comes to mind and seeing what happens; you may have to, if you’re on a deadline. But if you want to get rid of the block, you need to get back in touch with your muse.

Question the premises you started with. Question your motives, even. Are you doing this project because you enjoy it, or because you want money or fame? You can lie to yourself, but you can’t lie to your muse. And even if you enjoy the process, you may have gotten hung up on your own expectations, or tried to shoehorn something in when it shouldn’t be there. Spend some time pacing, or knitting, or doing whatever repetitive activity you have that helps you think. That way your conscious mind can be occupied, while your muse gets to work on the problem.

This advice is probably nothing new to you. If you’re writing a story about becoming your muse, though, writer’s block is one of the biggest things that might keep this becoming from happening. Throw in some added pressure, like readers’ expectations or an empty bank account, and watch what happens. If you’re lucky, you may gain an insight into the reasons why you create to begin with.

And now for the fun part

Stories set in this world (or based on this premise, really) aren’t just about introspection. They’re also a chance to throw all of your characters from every story you’ve written together, and see what happens.

Even characters who wouldn’t usually talk to each other can, for this. The rebels can play foosball with the emperor. Your most annoyingly happy character can try to cheer up your inner angst! You can make up characters for this if you like, or if you’re writing about a fictional writer. But since you’re creating them out of nowhere, they’ll tend towards being stereotypes. It’s best if you use characters that you’ve already written for, assuming that you have permission to do so. They might even take the chance to say or do things that they otherwise couldn’t.

The part where you overcome your creative block doesn’t have to involve a Fantasia-style musical sequence, like it did in the story that I wrote for Traxer. It could be anything you want it to be, from a scene where you live out the story (or picture) yourself to just a scene of your fursona-muse, quietly, happily writing. Likewise, it doesn’t have to be at the climax of your story that this happens. You might have no trouble becoming your muse, and the conflict could come from some other source.

Your turn

If you write a story that meets Become Your Fursona standards for family-friendliness, and decide to set it in this world, let us know by using the form near the top! And if you have any questions, feel free to leave them as comments.

About the Harbingers of Change universe

Feathertail — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:03:27 +0000

You weren’t bit by a wolf, and your parents don’t howl at the moon. But somehow you’re a werecreature now, and that means fear … of the things out there that hunt your kind, and the chance that you could hurt someone by accident.

What’s going to happen to you? And what are these voices that keep thanking you for listening to them? Only one way to find out …

The Harbingers of Change universe is licensed CC-By-SA by Jared Spurbeck, aka Tachyon Feathertail. The Cynocephali were created by Caroline Faust, aka Yurodivy Kiranov, and are also CC-By-SA. Read on to find out how you can write your own stories set in this world!

Stories set in this world

How to write a story set in this world

Read this document all the way through.
Write your own story inspired by it!
Include a note saying your story is licensed CC-By-SA, and crediting Feathertail for creating the Harbingers of Change universe. A link to this page would be handy! Credit Yurodivy for creating the Cynocephali if you use them in your story.
OPTIONAL: If you don’t want people to use your fursona in their stories, include another note saying your fursona belongs to you and can’t be used without your permission.
OPTIONAL: If your story abides by Virmir’s PG Rating and does not contain age-regression, cross-gender TF, or graphic TF scenes, contact me so I can link people to it.

Got a story you’d like me to link to?

[contact-form]

Your First Change

Congratulations! You’re now a werecreature. Not necessarily a werewolf, mind … there are more kinds of werecreatures than that. Any real-life animal is a candidate for werecreature-ness, and possibly some mythical ones are as well.

So what’s your First Change like? Well, it depends on which form you first shifted to! You have more than one form now, see … that’s what makes you a werecreature. Besides your human form, you now have …

Kemono form — A human with animal ears and a tail, or other superficial features like whiskers or slitted eyes. Usually has animal senses, but not much else. Can pass as human if you’re very careful.

Anthro form — A “furry” version of yourself, like an animal walking upright with a more or less human build. Usually has digitigrade (reverse-jointed) feet, but can’t run on all fours. Capabilities-wise, somewhere between “yourself with fur” and a real-life member of your were species walking upright.

War form — Extremely powerful. Six to nine feet (two to three meters) tall, and weighs more than your human and animal selves combined. Good at fighting, fleeing, and pursuing. Not so good at manual dexterity, or talking in other than grunts and growls. Able to run on all fours!

You can also shift to full animal form, of course. In this form you look just like a normal member of your species, although you might have strikingly-colored fur. Also, you can talk normally in animal form, while you can’t in war form without a lot of effort and practice. Don’t spend too much time thinking about how that works.

Caveats about the war form

War form is where most of the werewolf legends come from, including their invulnerability. A werecreature in war form, even a smaller one, can sustain injuries that’d knock most humans or animals flat. What’s more, they heal rapidly, even regaining lost blood.

On that note, injuring a werecreature in war form leaves little to no visible evidence. Even if you get blood on your sword (for instance), it will evaporate within seconds. No one’s really sure why. Using silver weapons doesn’t change anything, and won’t make them heal any slower … it just stings if it touches a wound, like rubbing rock salt into it. It’s still noteworthy as the one real deterrent to werecreatures, since they aren’t used to feeling pain in war form and they might think twice about attacking someone who’s armed with silver.

Because of how dangerous it is, shifting to war form is like drawing a gun on someone, or at least waving one around. Other werecreatures immediately become tense if they see it, and may have to fight down their anxiety to keep from assuming the war form themselves. Humans, especially ones who don’t know what werecreatures are, panic.

How this all plays out

So what’s your First Change like? That depends on the animal and form you change into.

Changes into Kemono form tend to catch people by surprise. You may not realize you’ve changed until people start staring, or you look at yourself in the mirror. You won’t even notice you’ve grown a tail unless you sit on it … somehow your clothes will change to accomodate it. Some people quickly learn how to change back, but their animal features will keep catching them off-guard when they lose focus.

Like with Kemono, a change into Anthro or full animal form is also the kind of thing that happens when you aren’t thinking about it. You might be intensely focused on work and snap out of it to realize that you’re a furry; or you might just wake up one day as a tiger. What happens next may depend on how quickly you learn to control your appearance!

A change into war form is triggered by adrenalin. You go into fight-or-flight mode, and your form shifts to accomodate. These changes can be dramatic! They have serious consequences, though. Not only are you a danger to others in this form, but you’re going to have to find clothing immediately afterwards.

Another caveat regarding war form

Think twice before having your were commit murder. If people died every time there was a First Change, there’d be a lot fewer werecreatures around.

Your character is still him- or herself. You just had a moment of panic. Police officers need counseling after shooting and killing armed criminals on the job; soldiers have PTSD after coming home from warzones. Something inside of you dies when you murder a sentient being, and being part-animal is not going to change that. There will be consequences, and you will not like them unless that is the story you’re trying to tell.

Obviously, if your character is a sociopath this caveat does not apply to you. Just watch out for the Cynocephali.

The who to what now?

Along with the legends of werecreatures, people in dark ages Europe told stories of Cynocephali (see-no-SEPH-uh-lee) — men with dog’s heads, or so they say. Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers, was a “reformed” Cynocephalus, and whole armies of them were said to exist in the Orient.

They say dogs are man’s best friend, and with the Cynocephali weredogs that definitely holds true. Those who are part of the Order of Saint Christopher roam the world looking for werecreatures having their First Change, and they are uncannily good at finding them. They might not show up right away, but they almost always appear within a day or two.

Most Cynocephali aren’t a part of the Order, but even those who aren’t tend to integrate better than most werecreatures. Cynocephali are common, perhaps the most common weres, and they get a lot of help adjusting to their new lives. Those who are a part of the Order are even better organized, with chains of command and frequent reports and get-togethers. They know how to handle distressed werecreatures, and ease their transition to normal life … and they also know how to stop angry werecreatures without killing them, using the Tokens given them by the Harbingers.

Tokens? Harbingers?

These are the last two big concepts here, so pay attention.

The Harbingers are invisible voices that will deliver a message to you. You’ll be hearing from one pretty soon after your First Change. It may be male or female; its voice may be loud or quiet. Some people hear them in the wind and rain, speaking with the voice of the whole earth. Others hear them on the radio.

Harbingers are always polite. They never intrude; if you’re busy with something, they won’t contact you. One of the most important jobs for a member of the Order of Saint Christopher is to teach a new were to listen for them. This is because what a Harbinger says will usually help that were to clean up whatever mess was caused by his or her First Change.

You’ll first hear it address you by name. After that it will tell you something you don’t already know; what happened to the people you attacked or fled from, where your friends you got separated from are. It will usually give you a warning: “This thing will happen unless you do something.” Finally, if you’re still paying attention, it will close by thanking you for listening.

The villains of the piece

Why would you not listen to them? Maybe because you’re skeptical or distracted. Or maybe because you’re fed up with them. Maybe they’ve started making requests of you, and you’re sick and tired and no longer paying attention. Or maybe you don’t care what happens to the people around you, and you aren’t concerned with their suggestions for how to minimize violence and property damage.

At any rate, the Cynocephali have made a career out of listening to the Harbingers, which is why they always show up when they’re needed. They’re also given Tokens, or objects blessed by the Harbingers. Sometimes they’re something they already own; sometimes they’re objects they’re told where to find. Either way, their powers are useful and usually minor … although it’s said that Joyeuse and Excalibur may have been actual tokens.

There are other forces besides the Harbingers out there. They have their own powers and agendas, and may even have their own Tokens. Not all of them are friendly, to humans or werecreatures … and some of their powers are flashier, and more overt. Just because their followers can’t hear the voice of the Harbingers, though, doesn’t mean they’re not speaking to them.

Wrapping things up

That should be enough to get you through your first five minutes or so as a werecreature. Maybe even an entire day. But there’s a lot out there to discover, both good and bad. And I’ve only begun to touch on it.

Let me know what you find in your own adventures. ~.^

What’s going to happen to you? And what are these voices that keep thanking you for listening to them? Only one way to find out …

(Insert standard worldbuilding intro here!)

Your First Change

Kemono form — A human with animal ears and a tail, or other superficial features like whiskers or slitted eyes. Usually has animal senses, but not much else. Can pass as human if you’re very careful.

Anthro form — A “furry” version of yourself, like an animal walking upright with a more or less human build. Usually has digitigrade (reverse-jointed) feet, but can’t run on all fours. Capabilities-wise, somewhere between “yourself with fur” and a real-life member of your were species walking upright.

War form — Extremely powerful. Six to nine feet (two to three meters) tall, and weighs more than your human and animal selves combined. Good at fighting, fleeing, and pursuing. Not so good at manual dexterity, or talking in other than grunts and growls. Able to run on all fours!

Caveats about the war form

How this all plays out

So what’s your First Change like? That depends on the animal and form you change into.

Another caveat regarding war form

Think twice before having your were commit murder. If people died every time there was a First Change, there’d be a lot fewer werecreatures around.

Obviously, if your character is a sociopath this caveat does not apply to you. Just watch out for the Cynocephali.

The who to what now?

Tokens? Harbingers?

These are the last two big concepts here, so pay attention.

The villains of the piece

Wrapping things up

Let me know what you find in your own adventures. ~.^

About the Rebirth universe

Feathertail — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:21:00 +0000

What if you died and came back to life as an anthropomorphic animal? You might never be able to go back to your old life … but would you want to?

The Rebirth universe is licensed CC-By-SA by Jared Spurbeck, aka Tachyon Feathertail. Read on to find out how you can write your own stories set in this world.

Worldbuilding Summary

Rebirth is a “realistic” superhero-style universe. “‘Morphs” are one of the most common kinds of metahumans.
‘Morphs have two closely-related powers: DNA absorption and bodily regeneration.
This regeneration allows them to revive from death, possibly in a new form. Hence, “Rebirth.”

Stories set in this world

Bat Girl

How to write a story set in this world

Read this document all the way through.
Write your own story inspired by it!
Include a note saying your story is licensed CC-By-Sa, and crediting Feathertail for creating the Rebirth universe. A link to this page would be handy.
If you don’t want people to use your fursona in their stories, include another note saying your fursona belongs to you and can’t be used without your permission.

So what is the Rebirth universe like?

Have you ever watched the TV show Heroes? I’ve only seen bits and pieces of it, and I’ve heard that its recent eps aren’t very good. But I loved the idea it started out with, of a realistic take on a world where people suddenly got superpowers.

Rebirth’s world is a lot like that one, except that there are a lot of people with superpowers compared to how many there are in Heroes. Like maybe one in a thousand, which means there are thousands of them in most first-world countries and millions of them worldwide.

This is the first generation of people who were born with superpowers, and while most of them aren’t as flashy as those featured in comic books they’re all cause for concern … at least, among “normal” people. How do we keep supers under control? There should be a law …

Where does rebirthing come into play?

‘Morphs, short for zoomorphs or anthropomorphs, are one of the most common kinds of superpowered individuals. Remember how the cheerleader in Heroes could recover from any injury? ‘Morphs are sort of like that. Even if their heart has stopped and their brain has stopped functioning, they’ll all of a sudden “wake up” several hours after their deaths, taking in gasping breaths through newly-patched lungs and remembering their demise in vivid detail. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is not uncommon in ‘Morphs who have rebirthed.

So why call them ‘Morphs? Well, their bodies don’t just heal themselves; they also assimilate foreign DNA rapidly, like by absorbing it through the bloodstream. It has to be reasonably close to human DNA, however. Insect bites and infections won’t turn you into bugs or bacteria.

All ‘Morphs are born as ‘Morphs, but they don’t know it for awhile. Sometimes they find out when they suddenly start growing the features of their family pet, or of people or animals that they work with. Other times their abilities lay dormant, even their healing factor, and are triggered all at once by their rebirth. Imagine waking up after being mauled by an animal, only to realize that you now look like your attacker …

What’s it like being a ‘Morph?

Once a ‘Morph has absorbed a particular genome, she finds it easiest to be in a physical form that is a cross between it and her other(s). She can assume any combination she likes, with a bit of practice, but if she is killed (temporarily or otherwise), she will revert to a form that is a cross between all of them. ‘Morphs also revert to this form while asleep.

‘Morphs can change shape rapidly, as their forms are extremely plastic. Their feet can change shape from planti- to digitigrade in seconds, and they can store tails inside their spines, extending them when needed. They can’t conceal extra limbs, though … ‘Morphs can grow wings (and regrow lost limbs), but it takes at least a week or two, as they have to eat and replenish the nutrients needed. Once a ‘Morph has wings, she has them for life unless they are amputated.

Sadly, having easily-mutable DNA comes at a price … ‘Morphs are very susceptible to cancer and other genetic diseases, and often don’t live past their teens. The longest-lived ‘Morphs are in their thirties and forties, and are already coming down with geriatric conditions. Eating organic food and avoiding synthetic chemicals and plastics might help, but “natural” things can contaminate their DNA also, and it may be awhile before anyone figures out a way of helping them.

How do other people see ‘Morphs?

Most people are too confused by the sudden appearance of ‘morphs (and other, more powerful supers) to have very concrete opinions about them. Plus they’ve got an economic meltdown to deal with, on top of things. But there’s no law against discriminating against ‘Morphs … in fact, they aren’t allowed to perform certain jobs, legally.

What kinds of jobs? Well, when people found out what ‘Morphs could do, they were quickly barred from any profession involving children, the elderly, hospitals, blood banks and animal care. ‘Morph teachers and nurses lost their jobs in most countries, and pet owners were forced to give their animals up for adoption or put them to sleep.

These laws are debated, yes, but what few debates there are are always along the lines of “How do we keep these things under control?” And if there’s any opposition to them, it’s on account of those laws might infringe on other people’s rights.

There are some European countries that aren’t quite so hostile towards ‘Morphs, but even in more tolerant ones they’re starting to implement mandatory genetic screening for all citizens. Canada and the UK have already made it a prerequisite for receiving government health care. There is no genetic screening in the United States as of yet, but people are gunning for it.

That seems a bit harsh!

Don’t think that these laws exist for no reason … there have been recorded incidents of ‘Morphs taking DNA forcibly, even from endangered species and other human beings. Environmentalists are up in arms about it, as are animal welfare advocates and park rangers.

Many ‘Morphs — possibly most — changed by accident. There’s a lot of ignorance of how they can have their genes contaminated; just because blood is the easiest doesn’t mean it’s the only way. There are a lot of cat and dog ‘morphs. But they’re not as sensationalized, so there’s a lot of distrust.

‘Morphs aren’t arrested on sight for being criminals, even if they appear animalistic. But they’re seen in about the same way as a punk with a purple mohawk, twelve piercings and tattoos up and down each bare arm. People look at you and they just know you’ve been up to no good, and they want you to stay far away from them.

Any questions?

If there’s anything you’d like to ask, just leave a comment and I’ll get back to you! I’d be happy to help authors write stories set in this world.

Are hyenas as crazy as they sound?

Feathertail — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:54:14 +0000

Hyenas have a bad reputation. The Lion King painted them as half-insane lackeys, while Dungeons and Dragons featured brutish “Gnolls” who worshipped a demon god. Is their reputation deserved? Or can these african predators give even wolves a run for their money, when it comes to pack organization and intelligence? Find out, as Tachyon Feathertail interviews Yurodivy — the site’s resident animal expert!

Yurodivy: It’s unfortunate that Gnolls are one of the only examples of anthropomorphic hyenas I can think of, because aside from superficial physical resemblances and having a matriarchal society among some groups of Gnolls, they’re really not that much like hyenas.

Feathertail: What are they like? ^.^

Yurodivy: Evil slavering savages who kill things and eat corpses and worship demon gods. Oh, and they’re stupid savages. They infight constantly, and have no real social structure outside of individual clans if I recall … either way, it’s not really a flattering portrayal.

Feathertail: Oh, but everyone knows anthro hyenas are savages! Just like werewolves and other animal people! ^.^

Yurodivy: Hey, at least werebears got a sympathetic treatment in WoD and D&D.

Feathertail: Remember the house-ruled Gnolls we were making for that alternate D&D campaign world? What were they like?

Yurodivy: Ahh yes. The alternate universe Gnolls were second-class citizens at best, subjugated by Gnomes. Their Intelligence penalty was taken out because it’s extremely inappropriate for hyenas, which are incredibly intelligent animals. They weren’t brutish so much as the equivalent of the lower class during the Industrial Revolution — no less bright than other people, just oppressed and uneducated. They were perceived as being dumb savages, though.

Feathertail: Of course! Because everyone knows that’s what anthro hyenas are like. ^.^

Yurodivy: Recent research shows them to be extremely smart (moreso than most mammals) and highly social, however. ^^; I still have no idea where the perception of them being stupid came from.

Feathertail: Maybe it’s that laugh of theirs. It doesn’t sound sane, does it?

Yurodivy: The fact it’s unsettling is what makes it interesting, though. ^_^ Interestingly enough, hyenas don’t actually laugh when they’re happy, per se. Rather, it’s a vocalization used when waiting for their turn at a carcass, or when in an excited state. And even then, I believe only spotted hyenas laugh.

Feathertail: What do other hyenas do, then? Giggle?

Yurodivy: They don’t use near the range of vocalization spotted hyenas do, I believe.

(For the curious, other hyena species include the Striped Hyena, Brown Hyena, and Aardwolf.)

Feathertail: I was going to ask about that. ^.^ So they communicate between each other a lot, then?

Yurodivy: Well, it might be a misnomer to say other species of hyena don’t communicate … Aardwolfs are primarily solitary, so they don’t need vocalizations quite as much. And although the other species are social animals, they aren’t prolific hunters like spotted hyenas are, which negates the need for calls used to coordinate hunting tactics. They still use a wide range of body language, but their vocalizations aren’t quite as rich as those of the spotted hyenas.

Feathertail: So spotted hyenas are what most people think of when they think "hyena," then, and the other animals can be thought of by the layperson as "hyena-like?"

Yurodivy: Actually, someone who looks at an aardwolf would probably think "weird fox/dog creature" and not "hyena." They are, admittedly, a lot more appealing in terms of appearance than other hyenas are. I think Spotted Hyenas are cute, but I also think possums are cute, so it might be best to take my opinions with a grain of salt.

Feathertail: Heh. ^.^ Let’s talk more about spotted hyenas, then. They seem to have a very complex society!

Yurodivy: They definitely do! The first thing most people would notice about spotted hyena society is that they’re matriarchal — or in other words, female hyenas are dominant. This is unusual among animals, to say the least. The only other social animals I know for a fact are matriarchal are some species of lemurs.

Yurodivy: Hyenas live in a very tight-knit pack society, similar to wolves. And like wolves, there is usually a strict hierarchy among members. Evidence shows they’re able to recognize individual hyenas and connect that to the other hyena’s personality traits, and any family relationship they might have to them. Which, again, is a fairly advanced trait in the animal kingdom.

Feathertail: So they recognize each other, and treat each other differently based on the other hyena’s personality?

Yurodivy: Yes, in short.

Feathertail: I already know how wolf society works, in general. With alphas getting all the privileges, pack members ritually challenging each other, and omegas getting picked on by everyone. How does hyena society differ from theirs?

Yurodivy: Aside from the matriarchal elements? As I mentioned, they’re more tight-knit. Hyena mothers will nurture cubs from different litters, or at least tolerate the cubs of a different set of parents in their vicinity. And while the concept of a "lone wolf" is familiar, lone hyenas are extremely rare. Hyena clans are usually bigger than wolf packs, as well.

Feathertail: So it sounds like they get along with each other a lot better than wolves do, then. Would you consider them "nicer," or at least more gregarious?

Yurodivy: Gregarious, perhaps — hyena siblings will still fight viciously amongst each other, sometimes even in the womb.

Feathertail: How do they curb these aggressive tendencies enough to build larger societies than wolves do?

Yurodivy: Well, considering it’s usually just siblings who fight amongst each other … seriously enough to cause injuries, anyway. This is not counting dominance fights, which are less common than most people would assume since dominance is usually transferred down family lines — the daughters of a hyena matriarch already have a very high ranking in hyena society.

Feathertail: Very interesting! So compared with wolves hyenas tend to be better organized, and to get along with each other with less infighting?

Yurodivy: Let me put it this way … wolves fight more, but probably have few fatal fights, while hyenas don’t fight as much but when they do it tends to be more violent. Make of that what you will.

Feathertail: Again using wolves as a point of reference, what’re these African canids like physically? How do they differ from the wolves of North America and Europe?

Yurodivy: Technically hyenas are more closely related to big cats than wolves. ^^; As for physical differences, they do have much better eyesight, and a frighteningly powerful grip with their jaws.

Feathertail: Interesting. ^.^ Are there any ways in which they are weaker?

Yurodivy: I believe their sense of smell is not as acute, which I imagine would make them weaker trackers.

The Upshot

Feathertail: It looks like hyena stereotypes are wildly inaccurate. So why would someone choose a hyena for his or her fursona, then, and not some other animal?

Yurodivy: I see hyenas as a representation of female strength because of their matriarchal society. And due to their negative portrayals in … well, most everything, they could also represent a united stand against oppression, or just a general feeling of being misunderstood. Of course, I tend to go for a more complex and symbolic interpretation. I’m sure a lot of people just think they look cool or cute.

Feathertail: Nothing wrong with that, I’m sure. That’s how I was first drawn to my fursona. ^.^ But if they learn something about the actual animal along the way, then so much the better!

Yurodivy: Of course. ^_^

And that concludes our interview! If you’d like to learn more about hyenas, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyena. Also, a positive portrayal of hyenas is given in Ursula Vernon’s webcomic, Digger. Thank you for reading!