Shapeshifter (Anita Blake Mythology) - Transformation

Transformation

Body temperature spikes before the transformation occurs. For non-alphas, the change is generally slow, painful, and graphic. Bones visibly change shape as the new form splits the skin and emerges from inside. A large quantity of clear, hot, sticky fluid is produced, and any clothing on the body is generally damaged or destroyed in the transformation. The body of the transformed animal is generally dry and clean afterwards, but the violence of the change can throw the transformation fluid and viscera left from the old form all around the lycanthrope. Transformation to animal form brings on hunger for flesh (of any kind). Non-alpha lycanthropes, remain in animal or hybrid form (if they have one) for 6–8 hours, after which they transform back to human form and fall into a sleep coma (from which they cannot be wakened) for 6–8 hours. Weres appear to have a relatively constant cycle; some, if not all weres who are beyond their first 6 moons or so may choose to shift back to human form early, but if they do so, the remaining time they would have spent in animal form must be "slept off". Alphas vary in their ability to resist this cycle - some can shift back to human form without having to rest at all, while others may require only a few hours of coma time. Weres CAN be forced (or may choose) to maintain their animal form longer than the time required by their metaphysical potential. The more powerful they are, the longer they can maintain this form without without ill effects. However, once they reach a certain point, they begin to loose the ability to return fully to human form. This loss generally begins with the forced retention of animal features (such as eyes or fur) but eventually ends with loss of their sense of self and human intelligence, or ends in insanity.

The first six months of forced transformation during the full moon is particularly traumatic. Most lycanthropes have no recollection and lose all sense of humanity during their first change, and only gradually over their first year start to retain their memory and regain control over their actions during the full moon. There does not appear to be any significant loss of memory or control during voluntary changes, although changes brought on by stress seem to lead to episodes of lost control as well.