Thing

Weres and shapeshifters can assume both human and animal forms. A variety of different types of weres and shapeshifters exist in The Southern Vampire Mysteries, including werewolves, werepanthers and weretigers. In this universe, a were child (who will transform at the full moon) can be conceived when the parents are a shifter and a werewolf, but only pure couples (both Weres or both shifters) conceive children that can change at will. Shapeshifting conditions manifest in puberty. Shapeshifters can assume the form of any animal, but most often change to the same animal every time, some creature they have a special affinity for. On the other hand, wereanimals are those who can change to only one type of animal and they call themselves by that animal: weredog or werebat. Within the shapeshifting and weres community, the term "Were" is only reserved for the wolves. The Weres consider themselves superior within the shapeshifters, but they all cooperate with each other. Most of the two-natured beings organize themselves into packs; each pack is led by a packmaster.

Unlike vampires that have announced their existence to the world, the two-natured beings still maintain their secrecy. In this series mythology, the shifters decide to publicize their existence in the ninth book, Dead and Gone.