Therian

Not to be confused with Therianthropy

Therians are a groups of therianthropes that are unware that they are truly therianthropes, and believe that they had the ability to shift from when they were born and their shifts connect them to their "animal spirit." Therians do not believe entirely that they have shifted completely when they do, and instead believe that they simply connected enough to their animal spirit to see through their spirit's eyes.
Therians happen to be masters are "quarter-shifting," when they shift something small like teeth, eyes, ears, nose, or claws. They perceive these changes as something they can see but others cannot, and as something they can use for the function that comes with it (such as an increased sense of smell when they quarter-shift their noses.)
Unlike regular therianthropes, therians are primarily of human-origin. They favor gathering online as opposed to in-person, perhaps in fear of being attacked for their "outrageous ideas."

An outsider might view therians as crazy or delusional. This is the perfect example of why other therianthropes tend to be quiet about their therianthropy. Other outsiders may view therians as dangerous, as if acting like one's theriantype may put other humans in danger.


Therians also tend to be isolated from each other, only really meeting online. It may be hard for a therian to find another therian so they can share their ideas and be themselves. Therians are sprinkled throughout the world, often with only one or two per town. Being a therian and trying to find friends that are similar to you can be very lonely and very hard without internet to connect you to others.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

While therians commonly communication online using their native language, it isn't too uncommon to see, if they get together, a group of therians playfully imitating the sounds that their theriantype makes.

Shared customary codes and values

Some therians share the diet that their theriantype has. For example, if one's theriantype is a wolf, the therian would eat meat as available. And if this therian has access to elk or deer meat, they might prefer eating that instead. Another example would be a therian whose theriantype is a rabbit or other prey animal. This therian may be vegan or vegetarian, and would especially not eat the meat of their own theriantype.

Common Taboos

Eating the meat of one's own theriantype. It isn't as bad if done unknowingly, but it is still pretty bad.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Beauty ideals of therians tend to be spilt. While some prefer to be nice and well-maintained, some prefer taking care of themselves in the way that their theriantype does, which may cause messy appearances.

Courtship Ideals

Therians tend to prefer having a relationship with others of their kind, so they usually court like their theriantype with another that shares the same animal as they do.

Relationship Ideals

After successful courting, the couple may treat each other as their theriantype does, with maybe some improvising based on how one prefers to act. Improvisation is not looked down upon, as acting like one's theriantype is simply a base that can be improved upon.