Sifter Lore

Shifters are only a genetic race; one cannot be bitten or turned, only inherited from a bloodline, and similarly this can then link to different types. If one bloodline is solely one type, let's say cat, the offspring is more likely to be a cat shifter, however genetic mixing (so lets say their parents were a cat and dog shifter), it becomes more of a 50/50 chance depending of the further bloodlines (Grandparents and great grandparents), so think of it like inheriting eye colour.

A shifter has two forms, their human and then their animal form. In human form they do not gain any form of benefits from their race, however depending what they can shift into then affects their abilities.

They turn entirely into the animal, gaining their physical attributes as well as things such as strength or flight. Shifters can frankly be anything; birds, cats, dogs, lions, deer etc. And then different subspecies within. All, especially in human form, live in coexistence but clan rivalries following a race rivalry (Cat and dog for example) can be known to occur.

Packs are like the witch clans, a group of the same or similar shifter race living within close quarters, perhaps in the same town, following a head/pack which is often decided by tests of strength and depending if their parents were heads before them. Shifters are known to be in an alliance with Werewolves, and a rivalry with Vampires which, depending how a shifter is raised, may see a vampire as an enemy, and a werewolf as someone they can trust.