Name: Sivefi-rasarde [see-VEFF-ee rah-SARD]
Homeworld: Sivef
Height/Length/Weight: Sivefi-rasarde have two "bodies," an animal-body and a person-body. Females tend to be slightly smaller than males, but not enough to extend the average size range. In the animal-body, 'rasarde range from 2.5' to 3' at the shoulder, and from 5' to 7' long, not counting their tail (which is normally two or three feet long). In the person-body, 'rasarde range from 4.5' to 5.5' tall. In both bodies, their weight ranges from 150 to 200 lbs, though they tend to be slightly heavier in the animal-body.
Physical Description: Sivefi-rasarde are non-magical shapeshifters; they have an animal-body (quadrupedal) and a person-body (bipedal). (The terms are taken from the translation of their language's terms into sivefan; the 'rasarde likely don't really have the same regard for the differences in their bodies to distinguish them between 'person' and 'animal'.) In the animal-body, they tend to be somewhat stocky and compact, but not brawny; their fur is thick and coarse (think german shepherd, getting denser to wolf-level in the cold). They have three-toed paws, which are somewhat lupine; their forepaws have sharp, curving, retractable claws, and their hindpaws have unretractable, dull, similarly-curving claws. They have a somewhat-short muzzle, a cross between ursine and canine (Dane-like canine), with feline eyes and nose, a humanoid lower lip (dark), and darker/thicker eyebrow-fur. In the person-body, they are leaner and longer-limbed, but not skinny; their fur is thinner and softer (think hamster, getting denser to housecat-level in the cold). Their hindpaws/feet are three-toed still, but elongated; they still walk digitigrade, but their toes are very deft and dexterous. Their forepaws/hands have no thumbs, simply three long fingers with the same retractable claws and pawpads on the palm, heel of hand, and fingertips. Their faces have a slighter muzzle, but still noticeable, with the same nose and eyes, but no brows. In both bodies, they have a 'mane' of short quills (think hedgehog, not porcupine) that starts at a point between their brows, covers the skull in the same areas a human would have hair, and then runs down the spine in a thick line to the base of the tail. Their ears are thick, velvety, floppy, and long, dangling a few inches past their bottom jaw; they also have spiral-textured, backwards-pointing horns that extend a few inches past the back of their head. They have long whiskers and small, sharp dewclaws present on all four wrists/ankles in both bodies. Their tail is long, rather flexible and coily, and long-furred/plumed like a wolf's tail. They're omnivores with ursine sets of teeth in both bodies. Sivefi-rasarde also have mostly internal genitalia, except for breasts on nursing females and a penile sheath on males in both bodies.
Senses/Capabilities: Sivefi-rasarde are quite keen in the animal-body; their sight is very bland and motion-centric, but their hearing is fairly good and their sense of smell is very good. They can also run up to 30 mph in the animal-body, though they can only reach about 13 or 14 mph in the person-body. In their person-body, as well, their sight is sharper and longer-ranging, but still has the same very short range of colors (mostly greys, a little brown and green - very dull, both - thrown in. They can also see blood-red.
Coloration/Clothing: Sivefi-rasarde do not wear clothing. They have a wide range of colorations, largely influenced by race/breed. (Sivefi-hyunnin consider them breeds; the few offworlders who get to know a 'rasarde call them races. Sivefi-rasarde themselves don't care.) They often have markings just below their eyes and along their undersides (chin, throat, chest, belly, loins), which can be small spots, rosettes, or striping. (If striping, it often stripes their shoulders and hips, as well.) Their ears are always black. Fur color ranges the gamut from silvery-white to greys to almost-black to browns to tawny to almost-white; markings are always darker, either a darker shade of the base fur color or black. Eyes are green, gold, or brown.
Races/Breeds: There are three primary 'rasarde races/breeds, mainly distinguished by build, coloration, and social structure. Sivefi-rasarde'ko are the most widespread, thriving in woodlands; they tend to be medium to light brown with dark brown or black rosettes or spots, and green eyes. The 'ko are hunters, plain and simple, and tend to be muscular and compact (animal-body), strong and lean (person-body). They are the closest to the Sivefi-hyunnin, especially the Sivefi-hyunnin'ko, and often guide offworlders through the forests or guard/guide Sivefi-hyunnin outside of their settlements. Sivefi-rasarde'chuw are savannah-dwellers and the only breed with gender-separated coloration; males tend to be very pale tans and creams with medium brown spots, whereas females are very dark brown, almost black, with barely-visible black stripes. Both genders have brown eyes. The 'chuw are very long-legged and lean, even in the animal-body, and are by far the fastest runners and the most efficient hunters; they are mostly nomadic, following a large herd across the plains and even herding it to keep it safe and healthy. Sivefi-rasarde'tas are very water-centric, living around rivers, in deltas, along shorelines, or in marshes and swamps; they tend to be average in build, excellent swimmers, and generally greys with darker grey or black dappling, and yellow eyes. The 'tas are somewhat reclusive and quite territorial, unlike the other races and most of the mutts; they are very aggressive towards outsiders, but extremely protective of their families. 'Tas packs are much more hierarchal and dominance-based than the rest.
Language: Sivefi-rasarde speak sardan, their native tongue, and many have learned sivefan, the Sivefi-hyunnin's language and the official language of Sivef. (Most 'rasarde speak sivefan very rapidly, in bursts of words with no actual spaces or pauses; their voices are also very rough and can mangle some of the longer, more delicate words.) Sardan itself is a surprisingly poetic language, having a vocabulary largely devoted to describing and admiring the world around them, rather than analyzing and understanding things. In sound, however, sardan is an affront to the ears of most humanoids; it's growling, croaking, screeching, crooning, and coughing. Sivefi-rasarde love to sing and think their language and their voices (which are quite bestial in the animal-body) are rather pretty. Most offworlders and 'hyunnin disagree heartily.
Technology: Sivefi-rasarde do not use technology.
Magic: Sivefi-rasarde do not use magic.
Values: Sivefi-rasarde values are difficult to understand by most non-'rasarde; they value life, and the experience of it, and all the trials and discoveries. They value learning and growing and watching the world. They value beauty, in that they find beauty in most things and people. They value each other immensely, and all the aspects of interpersonal relationships - friendship, companionship, trust, love, comfort, security, fun. Sivefi-rasarde will not harm another thinking being unless that thinking being crosses a well-defined line, as in the case with 'tas territorial markers and hierarchal structures; they are as pacifistic as a predator species can be.
Social Groups/Society: Sivefi-rasarde live in packs led by a mated couple who tend to be old enough to be wise and young enough to be strong, though physical fitness is not the sole requirement for leadership. The leaders are collectively called 'mother' and 'father', as they are, effectively, the parents of the pack. Packs can be anywhere from six to forty or fifty individuals, based on the available land and food supplies. Except for the Sivefi-rasarde'tas, packs tend to be loose-knit groups of cooperative individuals, lacking any hierarchy other than the difference between the 'parents' and the rest of the pack. Individual family units are also quite important, often taking priority over the pack as a whole. 'Tas packs are far more strict, with two 'parents' and a subsequent style of ranking the rest of the individuals; 'sons' and 'daughters' are just below the 'parents', with 'cousins' being the average pack member, and 'granddaughters' and 'grandsons' being the lowest-ranked. The 'parents' of 'tas packs are also nearly always fine hunters, sometimes even warriors, and must be physically fit and strong to lead.
Habitat/Settlements: Sivefi-rasarde don't build towns, and only the 'rasarde-tas establish firm territories that they will defend against other predators, sentient or otherwise. They are quite hardy creatures and will survive in nearly any reasonable climate and terrain, including high mountains, wide deserts, cold tundra, and steamy tropics; however, most try to avoid the extremes of hot and cold. Wide stretches of forest are preferred by most 'rasarde.
Religion/Beliefs: Like the Sivefi-hyunnin, Sivefi-rasarde accept that their lands are patrolled by mostly-physical gods and that they must respect the balance of the ecosystem in order to avoid the gods' wrath. They hold no particular beliefs in afterlives, karma, or deities/spirits outside of the gods that they see.
Interaction w/ Other Species: Most Sivefi-rasarde regard Sivefi-hyunnin good-naturedly, as brothers on the same planet and as people they'll help if given the chance. (Sivefi-hyunnin take advantage of this and usually put them to work, but the 'rasarde don't realize quite what's going on.) The 'tas are the one exception; they seem to see through the 'hyunnin's nature and dislike them, going so far as to attack them if a 'hyunnin enters their marked territory. However, the 'tas won't attack an offworlder unless the offworlder is presenting a clear threat; they refuse to harm the ignorant for their lack of knowledge. The rest of the 'rasarde are either wary of, curious about, or outright friendly towards offworlders.