MoonShards Dictionary

Were: A human that has animal blood; they have the ability to transform any part of themselves, at any time, to that of their animal; every full moon they MUST transform, if not by their own free will, it will be forced painfully by the animal blood in them; they can live longer than humans, and have very fast metabolisms.
Tribe/Pack: A group of weres who live and den in the same grounds, and follow the rule of the same alpha/chief/chieftess.
Chief/chieftess: The leader of a tribe/pack.
Alpha: Another title for chief/chieftess.
Second: The alpha’s right hand were; if for any reason the alpha cannot make decisions due to sickness or absence, the second automatically steps in to cover until the alpha recovers, or until a blood-related heir is produced; if neither happen, the second will take up the alpha position, and pass it on to their cubs.
Beta: Another title for second.
The Ritual: Turning a human into a were by means of a painful, dangerous blood transfusion. The human is sliced down the front of their chest from their jugular vein to the end of their rib cage. Then they stab the were’s jugular, and spill it’s blood into their chest cavity. The blood mixes, and turns the human into a were. The human is not always the same type of were as their maker, their own animal spirit decides what type they are.
Joining: The intimate bonding between a two who have hallowed.
Hallowing: Go here for a whole page on it.
Three Names: Each were has three names: a human name for their human selves; a were name for their were selves, and an animal spirit name.
Animal Spirit: A reincarnated animal spirit in all humans; determines what type of were a person is unless they are a hallowed pup.
Transform: The shape-shifting from human to the were form. Humans can also transform into the complete animal form of their were selves.
Moonmate: When two weres do not hallow, but den together as mates without cubs, they are called Moonmates.
Dam: The mother of a were.

Sire: The father of a were.
Truemate: When two weres hallow, and continue to be mates after the birth of the hallow pup.
Pup/Cub: A child were, they are called Cubs or Pups until their first transformation.
Seasonling: A were is called a Seasonling from the moment they transform, until they reach the age of 100, half of their life expectancy.
Elder: A were is called an Elder from 100 until their death.
Grounds: The area where a tribe/pack lives together. It normally covers a wide area, including an open plain, a secluded forest, a den area, and a stream or some sort of water supply.
Mooning: Sort of like ‘courting’. When a male were seeks the admiration, or love of a female were. Often ends in Moonmating.
Growling: No, not like the noise. When a pack member ‘growls’ the Alpha, they are challenging them to fight for their position. 1) A picture of two wolves growling. 2) This will be in the fic, Moonshards. It's Tycho and another wolf during a growl. 3) This is another part in Moonshards.. This is of Tycho watching the announcing of a growl between two pack members.
Denning: The time during the last few days of pregnancy when a female were will spend all her time alone, or wishing to be alone, and clearing out a den for her coming pup.
Moonsiblings: These are bonds developed between two good friends, it is stronger than any other bond, even that of a hallowing bond. Once they give each other their spirit names, they are connected much in the fashion of twins... IE: if one is wounded, the other will feel it. They can also speak to each other using their windvoices.
Chief’s Tassel: A small tie that fits around the waist that has been passed down since Inam’s time. It’s golden brown, with a small red eye in the center.
Dub: The dubbing of a were occurs during their first transformation. Normally a ceremony is held, and the dubbing is when the were is completely transformed, and when he/she howls out his/her name.
First & Second Waves: The First & Second Waves were the years spent traveling from Florence (where it all started) to Rome, where they are now. They were times of great losses and hard times.
Unknown Illness: This has only been seen in the weres, and as far as they know is not transferrable to humans. It causes convulsions, bleeding, loss of apetite, loss of vision, poor coordination, and very frail bones in weres. It is incredibly fatal, and the tribe doesn't know how it's passed, who gets it, or when they get it. And it can't be cured.
Windvoice: These voices are only able to be used between Moonsiblings. It's much like telepathy, only it's an actual sound that's set at a frequency so high, or so low, that only the two moonsiblings can hear, and respond to it.

Email: Windarcher2001@yahoo.com