Genekits take their name from the words “Genesis” and “Genetics”. Genesis for the new beginning created by the collision of the two realities, and genetics for the adaptability of their species. After the collision of the two realities, Genekits rose alongside humans as the two predominant intelligent species of this world. Genekits’ ability to adapt and their intelligence means that similarly to humans, each Genekit has its own personality and talents. As such Genekits will often take on jobs within society (whether that be an exclusively Genekit community or a human/Genekit mixed community) that are related to their talents and interests.
Anatomy
Due to their extreme adaptability and status as shapeshifters, anatomically Genekits are unique. Due to their constant adaptation of new traits, it is hard to pinpoint what the “standard” Genekit looks like, but generally they maintain mammalian features. Their most common feral forms are often described as similar to that of large wild cats, or various viverrid species such as genets and civets. Nearly all Genekits seem to fit in with the other Feliform species, though seeing one that may fit better in the Caniformia suborder is not horribly uncommon.
Mammalian features, including the supremely common rabbit nose, are the most common traits for Genekits to possess. Non-mammalian and more unique traits are also possible, but less common than mammalian traits. Genekits can also vary dramatically in size, from the size of a housecat all the way to that of a grizzly bear.
Magic
Genekits are innately magical, as is the reality they are natively from, which is the source of their magic. Each and every one of them has the capacity for magic, however there are some that are stronger magic us than others. The strength of a Genekit’s magic has many variables, including their family lineage, the environment they are in, and whether they chose to hone their magic.
While each Genekit has the capacity for magic, being able to use it and channeling it to do specific things is very much a skill that must be practiced and honed. Not all Genekits end up being proficient magic users. In fact, most do not do anything more with their magic beside some minor shape shifting. Even then, some find even that too difficult to do much of, and stick with the traits they have rather than adopting new ones regularly. (And sometimes, a Genekit is just happy with how they are, and do not feel the need to change up their traits!)
One of the few things a Genekit cannot drastically change about themselves is their pattern. They will always retain a similar fur pattern that keeps them recognizable.
Traits
Thanks to their shapeshifting abilities, Genekits are able to learn new traits if they wish to change up their looks, or find these new traits necessary for their environment. Some traits are easier for Genekits to learn, while others take a lot more focus and practice before they can keep that form consistently. Mammalian traits are the closest to their anatomical starting point, and thus they find these traits the easiest to learn. Non-mammalian traits are harder to learn as they are further from their starting point, and unique traits not seen on other creatures are some of the hardest traits to learn as the Genekit has nothing to model themselves after and are creating the shapes completely from their imaginations.
Healing
While Genekits’ magic can be honed to do a lot of very cool things, shapeshifting and healing/restorative magics are two areas that tend to come the most naturally to them. As such, limb (and other body part) regeneration is possible with their magic. However only those who have extremely strong magic are able to produce this result. This level of magic is not available to all Genekits, so often prosthetics are used after limb loss. Depending on the strength of the magic user involved, the limb that regrows may or may not match the original limb. (i.e. different fur colours/patterns, different anatomically, etc.)
Human Shifting
Due to living in close proximity to humans in some parts of the world, Genekits have learned to easily shift into a humanoid form, as well as several other forms somewhere between their natural feral form and humanoid. This does also include keeping humanesque hairstyles, even in their feral forms!
No matter the size of their feral form, housecat or grizzly bear, Genekits will typically take on standard human sizes when they shift (so anywhere typically between 4 and 7 foot tall.) The size of their feral form and their human forms do not always correlate.
Reproduction
Genekit’s reproduce exclusively through magic. As such, this does mean that sexual orientation has no bearing on their ability to reproduce. When Genekits reproduce, it is through a powerful spell, triggered by an intense emotional response between all Genekits involved. This is typically love, but on rare occasions it can be brought about by other emotions, even negative ones.
After the spell is completed, a floating, glowing crystal begins to form. It starts out as a tiny glowing speck, and continues to grow until the new young kit bursts out, shattering the gem it had been forming inside. These crystals tend to take on the colour of the kit growing inside it, and tend to gain more colours the closer the Kit is to being born. Most of the time, the spell is intentional and planned. The parent Genekits will build a pedestal for the crystal, covering it in ornamentation and decorations, as a token of their love and devotion to each other. This is where the crystal will stay as it grows. When the Kit is almost ready to be born, the parents will transfer the crystal to a padded bed where it can emerge safely.
Typically, it is a pair of two Genekits who will come together to create a new Kit. However, multiple Genekits are also able to combine their magic to create a new Kit with the help of certain items. There are documented instances of polyamourous Genekits in polycules all being able to add their magic to the spell so the resulting Kit shares a resemblance to all of them. In the same vein, a Genekit can reproduce by themselves (with the help of certain items) if they are determined and powerful enough. When this happens, the kit does have a resemblance to their parent, but does seem to have traits and genetics that do not match as well, as if there was a secondary, unknown parent. These genetics appear random. This means that, typically, kits from the same singular parent that are produced this way will typically only appear as half-siblings.
Aging
Genekits, being magical creatures, have very long lifespans. Aging is unique to each Genekit, and none of them will experience it quite the same. There are many things that affect how a Genekit ages; time, environment, capacity for magic, stress, as well as how they feel about their age. Those that feel young at heart will typically keep their youthful glow longer than those who tell themselves constantly that they’re getting old. The effects of physical aging, to a certain extent, (an adult Genekit will always remain an adult Genekit) can be reversed should the Genekit have a change of heart regarding feeling old, or if they drastically reduce their stress levels. This is fairly common when a Genekit falls in love at a later age, as that spark has a tendency to bring out the youth in everyone.
Regardless of how old a Genekit may feel or appear, a Genekit’s age will be tracked by the actual number of years they are on the planet, for at least the first 18 years. This is because it takes 18 years for a Genekit to properly mature and come into their magic. While Genekits do start exhibiting their magic at a young age, they are not at full strength until the age of 18, at which point they can produce more powerful results.
Baby Genekits do not have very much control over their shifting abilities. Often they will mirror the traits of whatever they are looking at without realizing it. As soon as they look away,however, their traits revert back to the baseline ones they were born with. Some Genekit families will celebrate a type of “transformation ceremony” as a rite of passage where a young Genekit will demonstrate their ability to control their shifting ability/magic. Often this is done by the Genekit changing and briefly holding their form in a trait that is not natural to them, and not mirroring any of those present.For example, they may turn their ears long and floppy while there are no Genekits with that type of ear present to mimic.
Special Forms
Occasionally you will find Genekits with special traits - some awesome, and others horrifying. These Genekits are the Fabled and the Afflicted.
The Fabled
The Fabled seem to be Genekits that are very magically gifted. They possess traits that are above the capability of most Genekits to learn; things that go beyond uniquely shaped ears and tails, such as elemental traits, halos, and sparkles among other things. Due to their enhanced magical gifts, these are the Genekits most likely to possess the strongest healing abilities, some of them are even able to regrow limbs on themselves and others.
The Afflicted
The Afflicted are Genekits that have been afflicted with a magical disease of some kind, which has caused some guesome traits to develop! Afflictions can cause things such as excessive drooling or frothing from the mouth, chronically open wounds, and exposed bones and organs, among other horrible things. With the help of a healer, afflictions CAN be cured, though they can sometimes leave permanent or semi-permanent marks that they were there. (See our prompt guide for more information on afflictions!)