The First Change
The First Change is the first transformation a shapeshifter undergoes. It determines what type of shifter the shapechanger breed is as well as their Auspice (and in some cases, like Bastet, their Tribe). They will have access to all the forms available for their species.
It is most often a process of long bodily preparation and finally triggered by anything but most often intense emotions. The process involves years of steadily building aggression, appetite, emotional volatility, increase in muscle and bone densities and structures, and dramatic hormonal changes. Naturally, this can-and often does-coincidence with puberty in all those with the shapechanger gene. When they have developed sufficient spiritual strength-a process that most often grows within them naturally but fastest within areas of high spiritual energy concentrations like Nodes and Caerns-the Change will be triggered. If the spiritual strength does not grow to sufficent amounts, the result will be a Kinfolk. If there is no gene present, but the spiritual strength is, then the result will be a Medium.
The trigger for this final Change can be anything, but is often some emotionally intense event, often but not always caused by fear, anger, excitement, or joy-but never sadness. It is most common for fear or anger to be the event, an understanding that does not surprise most Garou due their role as Gaia's warriors. It is also believed among the Garou Nation that any Garou whose First Change is triggered by joy and feelings of the excitement of freedom will be naturally gifted.
The final part of the First Change is determined by the prospective shapechanger's own strength of will. The process of Changing is extremely painful as bone snaps and moves, muscles twist and restructure, skin tears and heals over, and the very physical body of a werecreature attempts to attune itself to a different form (what form varies but it is often the one most opposite of one's Innate Breed).
If the member of the Changing Breed cannot accept the pain and its changes, can't breathe through it, and thus resists and fights the Change, their body will continue to tear itself apart. The result of this is most often death. Sadly, among the Garou Nation, this often results in a stigma against the Kin parent's family while in truth, it could be the effect of any number of factors both genetic, spiritual, or individual not to mention the variables of context and circumstance.
Should the shapeshifter manage to accept the pain and try to breathe to calm their frenzied minds, they will shift fully into their proper form and emerge as a fully-powered member of their kind. While they will still need to be Rited and Pledged to their respective groups, such as the Tribes for Garou.