Ulves

Basic Information

Anatomy

Ulves can best be described as bipedal wolves. On average, they are about 20% more physically capable than Hoomans. Ulves can be born as one of two different physical builds, Alpha or Beta.
They have been observed to have up to three different colors. The colors depending mainly on the location they have grown up in. For example, in more snowy areas, Ulves of white, beige, and grey appear while, Ulves near the base of a mountain will likely be brown, sable, cream, or fawn. Nocturnal Ulves are likely to have darker colors such as chocolate, blue, or black. There are some rare cases of Ulves having irregular natural fur colors like green, silver, gold, cyan, and pink.
An Ulfa's coat can have one of many patterns. The most common patterns are solid, agouti, urajiro, and saddle, but it is not too uncommon to see Doggu-like patterns such as piebald, spots, merle, brindle, or roan.
Alphas can easily grow to over 7ft—and up to about 9ft. Both male and female alphas generally weight about 180 to 250 pounds. They are about two times as strong as betas. Betas are more Hooman-like as they have can grow to be about 4 to 7 feet and weight from 125 to 210 pounds.

Genetics and Reproduction

Ulves are viviparous creatures that reproduce through sexual intercourse. Both males and female go into estrus. While in estrus, thoughts become more sexual in nature as they produce more reproductive cells and release sexual pheromones. Gestation can take anywhere from ten months to a year and a half depending on the litter size and health of the mother. During the pregnancy period, female Ulves generally go through the same changes that female Hoomans in addition to growing up to three extra pairs (size and amount varies on litter size) of breasts. There are largely more betas born than alphas due to alpha zygotes needing a specific set of conditions to be fulfilled.

Growth Rate & Stages

The most accurate way to gauge how much an Ulfa has grown is to observe the color and shape of their iris. Infancy occurs from birth to three years, then childhood from three to eleven, next is puberty from eleven to twenty, followed by adolescence from twenty to thirty, after that is adulthood from thirty to eighty, and finally retirement from eighty to death.
Infancy (Birth to 3yrs)

• Blind for first two months
• Irises are wide and black
• Short white fur grows
• Quadrupedal

Childhood (3yrs to 11yrs)

• Natural fur color and pattern appears
• Irises becomes a dark shade of the natural color
• Claws and teeth start to grow
• Bipedal

Puberty (11yrs to 20yrs)

• Large growth spurt
• Sexual dimorphism becomes more apparent
• Fur grows into a thicker coat
• Irises becomes close to their natural color
• Estrus cycle begins

Adolecence (20yrs to 30yrs)

• Irises becomes their true color
• Physical growth ends
• Highest point of fertility and virility

Adulthood (30yrs to 80yrs)

• Irises fade to yellow and become slit-like
• Sensory organs reach peak perfomance
• Fertility and virility decline

Retirement (80yrs to death)

• Females become infertile
• Decline in physical and mental state
• Sleeps longer and more often
• Fur fades to gray

Ecology and Habitats

Ulves prefer inhabiting cold, wooded area, usually near the base of a mountain or similar structure. Living in a more temperate environment is feasible if an Ulfa were to trim its fur.
They are capable of creating building to live, but, when trying to conserve materials, they will dig spacious underground dens for themselves. These burrows can become home to a community of Ulves as each member adds their own room.

Dietary Needs and Habits

While Ulves are able eat fruits and vegetables, their diet mainly consists of about 75-90% meat. However, there are said to be Ulves that are able sustain purely off of plants.
Ulves tends to hunt in packs of two or three in order to maximize efficiency with the least effort.

Biological Cycle

Ulves are able to shed naturally and will when living in an environment that is constantly above 86° F (30° C). If it is around 23° F (-5° C), the fur coat of an Ulfa will begin to grow about two times as long over the span of roughly fifty days.
Hibernation in Wulves are possible and usually will happen when food is in short supply. During hibernation, Ulves will not be able to sense anything but pain and heat.

Additional Information

Domestication

An Ulfa that has been domesticated is considered to be a Doggu.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Ulves have a extremely heightened sense of smell when compared to humans. This allows for Ulves to develop a nearby field of echolocation. They have a nose that's over 100,000 stronger than a typical Hooman's, letting Ulves perceive smell in an unimaginable spectrum. Ulves have claimed to be able to smell emotions as well as appearance. Their second strongest sense is hearing, which allows them to hear things from great distances. Despite having deuteranopia (red-green color blindness), their eyes excel in tracking movement on objects they focus on, even in dark environments.
Mentally, Ulves are not quite as intelligent or intuitive as Hoomans. Their working memory allows for the memory of about five (plus or minus two) things at a time. As for their short-term memory, they can remember things for about ten seconds before forgetting. However, Ulves are particularly good at "chunking" information, allowing for better recalling of more complicated things.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

The naming scheme of Ulves vary per gender. Males' names are derived from their father and can be changed after emancipation from their parents. Females' names are derived from name if their pack. Any Ulves' last name is the name of their pack.

Beauty Ideals

Beauty standards in Ulvian societies often revolve around motherly and fatherly traits. Being fatherly, in general terms, includes having a tall and muscular build, wide snout, and "strong" pheromones (the word strong is difficult to define and explain due to Ulves having a different spectrum of smelling) while being feminine typically involves have a shorter and curvaceous shape, "hospitable" pheromones, and a well groomed coat.

Courtship Ideals

Courting an Ulfa can be as simple as dating and keeping each other company, to performing multiple life-or-death tasks. The difficulty and complexity of courtship depends on the pack of the pair. Some packs require that tests of a certain characteristics like compassion, trust, loyalty, status, athletics, wits, and several more.

Relationship Ideals

In Ulvian relationships, there are always two partners: a submissive partner and a dominate partner. The submissive partner follows the demands of the dominate partner while the dominate partner spoils the submissive partner with gifts and affection. It is common, but not consistent, for female Ulves to be the submissive partner and for male Ulves to be the dominate partner.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Over 95% of all Ulves claim that Ulvas is their native language. Most Ulvian mothers feel compelled to communicate with their (Ulvian) before any other language.

Common Dress Code

In most public area, Ulves prefer to wear clothes in order to nearby save people the inconvenient of being distracted by their scent. In the comfort of their own den, it's not uncommon for an Ulfa to be found either naked or clothes; It is mainly a personal or packtal preference. Though it is not always the case, Ulves in estrus tend to dress in a more revealing manor to purposely gain more sexual attention.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Every Ulfa that isn't born into a pack has to go through "Initiation". Initiation is a test that checks for certain qualities needed for joining a pack. Most initiations that are currently known are capable of being life threatening, but Ulves do prefer to minimize risk by providing a supervising Ulfa.

Vocabulary

Ulvian (Adj) - Relating to Ulves - Ex: Ulvian tradition.
Ulfa (N) - An Ulvian person - Ex: A lone Ulfa.
Ulves (N) - Multiple Ulfa - Ex: A pack of Ulves.
Packtal (Adj) - Related to (Ulvian) packs.

Side-view of a typical beta Ulfa.

Genetic Descendants

• Foxxo

Scientific Name

Ulv Ulv

Lifespan

125yrs

Average Height

Alphas: 8' 3" Betas: 5' 9"

Average Weight

Alphas: 221lb Betas: 179lb

Related Myths

• The Howling Hour