The BouWa

The BouWa (Bow-wah) are a more primitive cousin of the Bauru, and very rare to come by. As the Bauru only come in Five Colors, the BouWa come in any and every color possible. BouWa usually have two forms, a wolven form, and a domestic canine form, depending upon their species, also, like the Bauru, the BouWa almost always come with two pairs of wings, though a single pair isn't shunned in their society as it would be within Bauru society. There are currently 16 known breeds of BouWa. BouWa, even in wolf form, usually have tails that are the same length as their body, sometimes longer or shorter. Their tails are often useable for gripping with, but not all that well. Even though they are Quadra pads, they also have limited use of their paws, as they can curl their fingers in slightly when needed. They can also walk bipedal, Another thing that separates BouWa from their distant cousins is the fact that they are inclined to wear jewelry and clothes, usually of similar craft to that of the Native American's. They to can craft weapons and other tools for everyday life and it isn't uncommon to find a BouWa with a hut or Tee-pee. They are the "intelligent" race of the planet, as humans are to Earth and are highly sentient.
Males and Females don't often differ all that greatly, though females are generally lighter in build then males. Both can come with various different types of markings, from spots, to stripes, to octagon or diamond shaped markings of any kind. Runes are sometimes even common. Any shape possible, -is- possible, though they usually have markings to fit their breeds BouWa also don't believe in keeping a creature as a 'pet', animals aren't something that's there for their amusement, but companion animals aren't rare to find, as each BouWa have a natural ability to communicate with up to three types of different animals.

Cross breeding

Because all BouWa have a certain domestic canine, crossbreeds have many open options. They can end up with the canine breed from one of their parents, or end up with a canine mixed breed that’ll have certain traits of both parents’ domestic canine breeds. A BouWa with up to four breeds mixed in sometimes ends up with -two- domestic canine forms, but no more then that.

The Land

The BouWa live upon the planet Sheiridan, the "sister" planet of Xearin. Sheridan is about the size of Saturn. The atmosphere there is quite different, as they don't breath air, but instead a variety of gases that form a thick atmosphere with multiple painted skies, usually in tones of reds, oranges, and yellows. Blue skies are unknown. The Plant life, however is much like that of the plant life that grew upon Earth in the time of the dinosaurs, but the animal life is like that of the present, including all the extinct species that were there before man. Humans are non-existent upon this planet, of course, but it isn't uncommon to find occasional documents of common Lore about them, as they have been described to the BouWa by other races passing through, and like the Lion to the Chinese were given their own many legends and customs, sculptures, decor, and what not were crafted after the BouWa vision of a human, which looks nothing like a true human at all. Other Species of canines, dragons, and generally Fantasy creatures are welcomed upon BouWa lands but Felines and humanoids may have a higher risk factor. Felines especially.

Beliefs

The BouWa have many different belief systems, much like humans, but the "Christian" belief system of the BouWa world is actually a mixture of many different beliefs, and tends to be very deep. The most Common beliefs are much like thoes of the Native American's. They worship only one Creator but also pay thanks and honors to the land that they live on, the animals that feed them, and everything else within Natures Balance, or the Circle of Life. All things have a spirit in their eyes. There are 13 Elementals within the main system. Not all BouWa within this system will have a liking for -all- Elementals and will often only pay Honor to a certain few, depending upon their full belief system.

The Four Paws

BouWa also often grow up believing they were given four paws in which to carry them in the four cardinal directions, and all thoes in-between. BouWa without all four paws were usually exiled. This is the old way, however as BouWa have advanced over the years and are capable of building golem replacement limbs, and so a BouWa born missing a paw is given one to replace it. BouWa's tend not to like bipeds, as they believe two feet, or paws, only allows one to walk either forward or backwards, and never any other way. Metaphorically speaking.

The Elementals
The Air
The Weather
The Earth
The Fire
The Water
The Metal
The Light
The Dark
The Life
The Death
The Spirit
The Time

The Motion
The Gravity

Tribes

BouWa do not live in packs like most wolvens, they live in Tribes, or 'Clans'. Each Clan has their own style of life, ways of living, and specialties within the trade, as well as their allies and enemies. Trade is very important across the lands, as BouWa can't just head down the road to the nearest convenience store, they have none, Unlike humans whom have destroyed most of the land to suit their own 'needs'.

Chiefs

Chiefs are not born like kings, but picked by the Elementals. Like common wolf packs, each BouWa Tribe has -two- ‘chiefs’, one being male, and the other female. Tribe Chiefs are always the Origin Color of their breed. Chiefs themselves can be born any color, or combination of colors but after a while, if the ‘Elementals’ see them as being worthy they will be gifted with their true Origin Colors, this usually occurs around the time of their Coming of Age. New Chiefs, however, are not chosen until the current Chief BouWa are in the middle of their Ancient Age cycle, as all Chiefs live to be Ancients, but how long they live as Ancients is never known by any others but the Elementals themselves