ATLA SHAPESHIFTER AU
A RELATIVELY SAFE STORY
TERMS TO KNOW;
Ager: A person who can change the age of their animal form at will. Extremely rare as they were hunted down around the same time the war started.
Baby ___ / Grandpa ____ : an insult used to imply that one is unable to maintain their animal form, much like an ‘ager’ with their form’s maturity. An insult of some sort will usually be tagged onto the end of the terms. Ex: “Baby Blockhead” “Grandpa Bozo”
COMMON FORMS IN THE NATIONS:
MISC:
Being the Avatar does not change your other form
Bending is possible while in your animal form, but only if you’ve practiced connecting to your element - for instance, Aang has connected to the air on a deep enough level he can airbend easily in his animal form
Agers are not inherently evil or more chaotic - they simply change ages as well as forms
Possible Excerpt:
“Mai, what’s that?” Azula’s voice rang clear through the trees, straight to where her friend was walking back to the procession. Mai didn’t respond, simply choosing to keep walking forward with her prize. Without saying a single word, she dropped it into Ty Lee’s arms and moved to mount her rhino.
“It’s... a sabertoothmooselion?” Azula and Ty Lee exchanged looks for the first time in a long while, wondering what had gotten into the knife-wielding girl.
“I’ll explain at the ship, but don’t let it go.”
“Alright.” The other two mounted their steeds and led the procession towards where their ship was docked. Luckily, despite the failed ambush, the Avatar’s group was now separated, and would be a lot slower as they tried to find one another.
Ty Lee took the time while they were riding to inspect the little cub in her lap. It was male, and very small. Definitely the kind of baby that his mother would never have let out of her sight at this age. His horns hadn’t begun growing out yet, and it was a bit hard to tell that the little beast had fangs. He was extremely cute, though, and seemed to be rather calm for a cub without his mother.
They made it back late that night, but not once did the sabertoothmooselion whine or growl or even sleep. He was wide awake the entire time, and looked around at the ship as they embarked. The girls headed to Ty Lee’s personal quarters, where it had been decided they would meet to discuss private matters.
“So, Mai, where’d you get this little guy?” Ty Lee asked almost immediately after the door had shut. The cub perked up, as though it understood it was being talked about. Sabertoothmooselions were intelligent.
“He was alone in the woods. No mother in sight and seemed terrified. I thought you might like him as a pet.”
“You do realize it will continue to grow into an enormous and extremely carnivorous animal?”
“Yes, Azula. But we can also train him. Might make this place less boring, too.”
The three stared in thought at the cub, who stared right back at them. Something lit up in Ty Lee’s mind, an inkling of why the creature was causing her so much pondering.
“Well, I vote yes. He’s too cute to get rid of, and Mai’s right. If we trained him, who knows the possibilities we’d open up!”
“It’s true. It would be an excellent negotiation tool. Or an asset in battle.” The cub whined, then, the first sound he’d made the entire time. His legs began to claw the air, and Ty Lee found nothing wrong with letting him onto the floor.
Azula did, as, in the next moment, he’d jumped onto her lap and made himself comfortable there. Her hands raised into the air, and for the very first time in years, she seemed uncertain.
“What is it doing?” The cub looked straight up at the princess, eyes staring into hers. She was a bit unnerved, though only Mai and Ty Lee would ever be able to see it.
“I think he likes you!”
“Why?”
“...”
“...”
“So, are we keeping him?”
“Fine!”
~ ~ Note: the last bit will definitely be revised, and the cub shall not leave Azula’s lap ~ ~
~ ~ Note note: the cub is actually Sokka ~ ~
