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W E R E F O X E S
B r e e d b o o k : V u l p i n e
The genus Canis includes nine living species of canines. It contains the Coyote, Dingo, and Dog and various Wolf and Jackal species, and it also contains the Foxes. Among the Bete, Garou are bred from the Canids that hunt and live in packs; Wolves and Dingos. Abyssinian and Ethiopian Wolves for the Silent Striders, Dholes for the Stargazers, Dingo's for Australian Red talon, Husky, wild dog, Artic wolves, Timber wolves etc for other Tribes. The Nuwisha spring from among the Coyote and unless the vile rumours about the Bone Gnawers and the Black Spiral dancers are true, no domesticated Dogs have born Were-creatures to date. There are, however, other canine Shapeshifters in the world, shifters whose canine halves are traditionally singular and solitary; the Kitsune of Asia, the Pha-ra (Jackal-Were) of Africa and the Were-Foxes that roam the entire Western world. Separated by geography, history and philosophy but not biology, the Eurasian Fox shifters are no different in shape and size than the Kitsune. However myth, society and civilization have bred a diametrically different tribe of Foxes. So much so in fact that few of Gaia's children even realise that the Jackal-Were and the Kitsune are simply two tribes of the same breed. Shape shifting Canines who live and hunt alone, the flip side of the Garou pack society.

The Were Foxes have no singular name for themselves, few can even agree which tribes are truly foxes and which are not, but in the modern age of Information, many have taken the name Vulpine, from the Latin, to describe the youngest of the Changing Breeds. The Vulpine scholars include the Kitsune, the Nuwisha, the Pha-ra Jackals and all Were-Foxes as members of their breed, even if some of those creatures choose not to recognise the kinship. The similarities are strong, from a distinct lack of rigid structure to the self reliance and jovial nature, all Vulpine consider themselves a step above the Isengrim in their packs. The Nuwisha remain aloof and outside of the Vulpine structure, harbouring their own myths and legends, while the Oriental Kitsune are almost as exclusive in their character, but between the two extremes rests a race of shape shifters wholly unconcerned with the traditions and legacy born during the wars of rage.

LEXICON
Dirah Tribal territory, also reffers to place of Birth or the reach of the Vulpine influence. laughter and survival are the Dirah of the Were-Foxes in the same way that Warfare is the Dirah of the Garou.
Isengrim Wolves, derogatory name for the Garou. Isengrim was the dullard Wolf of many latin Beast tales against whom Raynaerd played his tricks.
Itonga Gifts - (East African Safwa)
Pha-ra The Were Jackals of Africa
Tsau Gnosis - (West African Tiv) the essence of witchcraft
MYTHOLOGY

STATS AND RULES

NUWISHA. Friend or Foe?
Throughout our history the Foxes and the Coyote have skirted around each other. Their creations tales claim they are alone and unique, but ours tell us that they are part of our tribes. Perhaps if they were Garou they'd kill us for claiming kinship, but as they are less bothered by rules and detail, they simple smile and shrug. The coyote, Canis latrans, is a wide-ranging animal similar to wolves in some ways but different in others, it is the Vulpine they resemble the most. They are thought to be the most intelligent of the wild canids because they have been able to survive and thrive despite human efforts to exterminate them for hundreds of years, a definite Fox trait. Like us, Coyotes tend to live in smaller groups than wolves, often leading solitary lives. There are more than a dozen subspecies of coyotes ranging throughout North and Central America, and their proliferation in those lands has reduced both the need and wish for the other Fox tribes to spread across America. So, are they friend or Foe, cousin or brother? It depends on who one asks, as a Fox I believe they are one of our Tribes, no further separated from us than the Kitsune or the pha-ra. The Nuwisha tend to ignore the question or disagree.

NATURE OF THE BEAST
 Natural history details for the Fox and Jackal Species
The Canine family, also called Canid, includes any member of the family Canidae (order Carnivora), which includes about 14 living (and about 70 extinct) genera of dogs and doglike mammals (wolves, foxes, and jackals). Found throughout the world except in Antarctica and on most ocean islands, canines are adapted for running and tend to be slender, long-legged animals with long muzzles, bushy tails, and erect, pointed ears. They have four- or five-toed forefeet; four-toed hind feet; blunt, nonretractile claws; and well-developed canine and cheek teeth. Canines depend mainly on hearing and smell. They run on their toes and can endure long chases. Largely carnivorous, they prey on all types of animals, and some also eat carrion and vegetable matter, or both. Canines probably were the first animals to be domesticated (as indicated by remains in Neolithic campsites).

The term Fox is used to describe a variety of members of the dog family (Canidae), usually but not always those resembling small to medium-sized, bushy-tailed dogs with long fur, pointed ears, relatively short legs, and narrow snouts. In a more restricted sense, the name refers to about 10 species of true foxes (Vulpes), especially the red, or common, foxes, V. vulpes of the Old World and V. fulva (included with V. vulpes by some authorities) of the New World. The native Old World form ranges over virtually all of Europe, temperate Asia, and northern Africa; the New World red fox inhabits most of North America north of Mexico.

Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the fox family, as compared with wolves and coyotes, is the eyes. They are yellow with elliptical pupils. All other canids, including dogs, have round pupils. Foxes are monogamous and do not live in packs. They are among the smaller species of canids, ranging from only 10 to 15 pounds. Wild red foxes, although they are often destroyed for raiding hen houses, are highly beneficial in controlling undesirable rodents. Red foxes are widely held symbols of animal cunning and are the subject of a considerable amount of folklore.

The majority of the Old world, just like the Vulpine Shape shifting breed itself, is dominated by the Red Fox, sometimes called the common Fox. Red foxes, with their coats of long guard hairs and soft, fine underfur, are typically a rich reddish brown with white-tipped tail and black ears and legs. Colour, however, is variable; the colour phases known as black and silver fox are found in North America, and the cross, or brant, fox is found in both North America and the Old World. Variations to the Red Fox are listed below.

Foxes hold very little fear of man, confident as they are in their own wits. The Vulpine share this daring nature, lacking the requisite fear of Garou and Bastet that one might expect from such a small breed. Like their natural cousins they have a better survival rate than wolves and are far less endangered as a species. Foxes are less specialised than wolves, surviving as much by opportunity as by skill. Whether stealing chickens from farms, hunting and killing their own prey, scavenging rubbish from refuse tips and dustbins, stealing kills from others or consuming the remains of animals killed by larger predators, the fox can always find a way to feed himself and his family. Often the fox will instinctively kill more than they can eat and then hide it for later, planning for leaner times and displaying a marked intelligence unseen in most predators.

For the fox, the social group revolves around a mated pair, strong pairs will mate for life, rather than a pack, although stragglers from previous litters often return to aid in the raising of pups. Males are territorial, the odour of another male is like a red rag to a bull and the Fox will fight to the death for the chance to mate and for control of their patch. This ferocious nature is in direct contrast to their nurturing side. The male is programmed to give food to any youngster who begs him and is often fooled by waifs or the immature pups from previous litters. This behaviour might seem natural in pack animals like the Wolf, to whom each member is important, but Foxes do not live in packs and the fending for smaller and weaker members of the species could be regarded as simply altruistic. Females only come into in heat and are receptive for a short time, males must constantly follow her and make numerous advances, hardly eating or sleeping and taking a great deal of abuse from his prospective mate until she is ready. The fox is driven not only by the biological urge to procreate but also by the fear of another male impregnating his mate.

The den is a strong centre of this family unit, especially during the early days of the pups life as over 50% die within the first year. Males spend a large deal of time hunting food and they feed the family from without while the Vixen remains sequestered inside the Den and does not allow any others inside. Natural predators are a real danger, as are other males who might kill the pups in order to breed with the vixen, added to this are the real and constant danger presented by parasites such as Mange and fleas which could kill the young. At 3 months the pups have strong teeth and begin to indulge in rough play that often results in injury and sometimes even in death. By 6 months the young are ready to leave the den, juvenal foxes need to be hardy and adaptable and quick to mature to stand any chance in the world.

MANS IMPACT
Red foxes are hunted by man, one of their few enemies, for sport and fur. Fox pelts, especially those of silver foxes, a mutant form of the red fox, are commonly produced commercially on fox farms. Several varieties of canids are important to the fur trade. The raccoon dog is still raised in some regions of Russia. The more important canids whose fur is utilized are the raccoon dog, red fox, gray fox, Arctic fox, and timber wolf. Coyotes, kit and swift foxes, Jackals, the Corsac fox, the hoary fox, the dhole, the South African silver fox , the Cape fox, the maned wolf, the crab-eating fox, and South American foxes are occasionally used by the fur trade. Other canids, especially the red fox, are hunted primarily for sport. Some hunters call or lure foxes by using an imitation of the sound of an injured rabbit to attract the attention of the fox. The Antarctic, or Falkland Island, wolf (D. australis) was hunted to extinction in the late 1800s.

AFRICA
FENNEC (Fennecus zerda)
A desert-dwelling fox found in north Africa and the Sinai and Arabian peninsulas. The fennec is characterized by its small size (head and body length 36-41 cm, weight about 1.5 kg) and large ears (15 cm or more in length). It has long, thick, whitish to sand-coloured fur and a black-tipped tail 18-31 cm long. Mainly nocturnal, the fennec spends the heat of the day underground in its burrow. It feeds on insects, small animals, and fruit. The name fennec is sometimes erroneously applied to the South African silver fox and to Ruppell's fox. The Fennec Tribe of Vulpine are considered wise and knowledgeable by the Were Foxes, and are often sought out by pups for guidance. They lack both the rascally nature and wide ranging traits of other Were Foxes, preferring to remain deep within the earth where they can commune with Spirits and indulge in Dream quests.

BAT EARED FOX (Otocyon megalotis)
also called Cape Fox, Big-eared Fox, or Motlosi, this is a large-eared fox, found in open, arid areas of eastern and southern Africa. The bat-eared fox is like the red fox in appearance but has unusually large ears and 48 teeth, 6 more than any other canid. It is yellowish gray with black face and legs and black-tipped ears and tail. It grows to a length of about 80 cm, including a 30-centimetre tail, and weighs from 3 to 4.5 kg. It lives alone or in small groups and feeds primarily on insects, especially termites.

In these desert areas the Fox must compete with countless other carnivores for food and shelter, and the shape shifters of this Tribe are perhaps the most skilled at dealing with other bete. Simba, Swara, Ajaba, Ceilican, Silent Striders and several other African tribes pose a threat to their smaller cousins and life is a continuing battle of avoidance and counter tactics. The Motlosi Tribe are both the spies and infiltration agents of the Vulpine, gathering as much knowledge as possible about the other creatures of the World of Darkness. Far more daring and capable of combat than other Tribes, the Bat Earred Foxes are not warriors like the garou but if cornered they can and will fight allcommers!

ARTIC
ARTIC FOX (Alopex lagopus)
also called the White Fox, or the Polar Fox, this northern fox is found throughout the Arctic, usually on tundra or mountains near the sea. In adaptation to the climate, it has short, rounded ears, a short muzzle, and fur-covered soles. Its length is about 50-60 cm, exclusive of the 30-centimetre tail; and its weight is about 3-8 kg. Coloration depends on whether the animal is of the "white" or the "blue" colour phase. Individuals of the white phase are grayish brown in summer and white in winter, while those of the blue phase (blue foxes of the fur trade) are grayish in summer and gray-blue in winter. The Arctic fox is a burrow dweller and may be active at any time of day. It feeds on whatever animal or vegetable material is available and often follows polar bears to feed on the remains of their kills.

Vulpine of the Artic Tribe are hardy and opportunistic, always quick to turn the situation to their own ends. At the edge of the world they have managed to build a small society in their burrows, storing talens and Fetishes, along with spirit allies, away from the eyes, ears and snouts of other Shape shifters. The thin gauntlet in thier lonly homelands has made them skilled Umbral navigators and the Artic Foxes are recognised as the most knowledgable on matters of the Spirit in the WereFox breed. Alliances with Artic Wolves and the Polar Gurahl are less common than one might expect as the Foxes tend to steal both resources and credit from these breeds.

NEW WORLD: THE AMERICAS
GRAY FOX (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
A grizzled, gray-furred New World fox found in forested, rocky, and brush-covered country from Canada to northern South America. Distinguished by the reddish colour on its neck, ears, and legs, the gray fox grows to a length of about 50-75 cm, excluding its 30-40-centimetre tail, and a weight of about 3-6 kg. It is more retiring and less crafty than the red fox, and unlike other foxes it commonly climbs trees. It is primarily nocturnal and takes a variety of foods, including small birds and mammals, insects, and fruit. The gray fox, though it may sometimes raid hen houses, is beneficial in controlling the rodent population; its fur is often sold but is not of great value. A closely related but smaller form, the island gray fox (U. littoralis), is found on islands off the coast of southern California. Were Foxes of any breed are rare in North America, and it is unlikely that you will ever see two Vulpine of the Gray Fox Tribe in the same territory. They are shy, and unused to interaction with others, and their cultural heritage is indistinguishable from that of the Common Werefoxes. If it were not for the occasional appearance of a lost pup or an overly curious member of this tribe at Vulpine den meetings, their existence would have remained unknown.

SOUTH AMERICAN FOX (Dusicyon)
also called South American Dog, or South American Jackal, any of several South American carnivores of the genus Dusicyon, family Canidae. One member of the genus, the small-toothed dog, is sometimes considered to comprise a distinct genus called Lycalopex. There are about 6 to 11 species, depending on the authority consulted. In general, South American foxes are long-haired, rather grayish animals growing about 0.5-1 m in length, excluding the bushy tail, which is 30-35 cm long. They are found in open and forested areas, depending on species; they feed on small animals, birds, fruit and other plant material, and insects. They are generally nocturnal and live in abandoned burrows or in dens among rocks or trees. Both parents care for the litters of three to six young. At times, South American foxes become destructive to domestic livestock. They are, however, helpful in controlling rodent and bird populations, and their fur is of some value. The Antarctic, or Falkland Island, wolf (D. australis) was hunted to extinction in the late 1800s.

Although these canids are not actually foxes, they resemble true foxes and are counted among the Vulpine race. Rumours of cross breeding and accidental inter tribal mating between true Foxes and native Canids seep out of the S. American forests and the smattering of Lore known about this tribe hints that they may not have always had shape shifting offspring. Should this be true, it would add weight to the belief that the youngest race of Bete do indeed have a more progressive gene. The spread of the Were Foxes among the Canids of South America must certainly be a heart warming tale in a world otherwise unfriendly to the Shape shifting breeds.

ASIA
KITSUNE; The Nine Tails


The other members of the genus Vulpes and the varieties of red foxes include the following:
AFRICAN SAND FOX: pale fox.
BENGAL FOX (V. bengalensis), small gray fox common in southern Asia.
BLACK FOX, colour phase of the red fox; sometimes also used as a common name for the fisher.
BLANFORD'S FOX: hoary fox.
BRANT FOX: cross fox.
CHAMA (caama, cama, kama) FOX: South African silver fox.
CORSAC (corsak) FOX (V. corsac), small, steppe-dwelling fox of eastern Eurasia; coat yellowish brown or reddish brown.
Cross fox, yellowish brown colour phase of the red fox, having a cross-shaped black marking extending across the shoulders and down the back.
HOARY FOX (V. cana), Eurasian species about 60 cm in length; coat gray above, white below.
INDIAN FOX: Bengal fox.
KIT FOX (V. macrotis) and swift or plains kit fox (V. velox), large-eared pale foxes of western North American plains and deserts; possibly not separable as two distinct species; colour gray to yellowish brown with black-tipped tail; adult length about 40-50 cm without the 20-30-cm tail, weight about 1.5-3 kg; V. macrotis, smaller with larger ears; both forms live in burrows, feed on small animals (rodents, rabbits, insects); shy, uncommon, beneficial in rodent control.
PALE FOX (V. pallida), yellow to brown desert fox of northern Africa.
RUPPELL'S FOX (V. ruppelli), big-eared gray desert fox of northern Africa and southwestern Asia; sometimes also called fennec; length to 74 cm.
SAMSON FOX, genetic mutant strain of red fox found in northwestern Europe; guard hairs lacking, underfur tightly curled.
SAND FOX: Ruppell's fox.
SILVER FOX, colour phase of the red fox having a variable amount of white or white-banded hairs in the black coat.
SOUTH AFRICAN SILVER FOX (V. chama), long-eared, gray-coated species of southern Africa, found particularly in the Kalahari Desert region; sometimes called fennec; length usually less than 60 cm.
STEPPE FOX: corsac fox.
SWIFT FOX: kit fox.
TIBETAN SAND FOX (V. ferrilata), short-eared, short-tailed central Asian fox with a yellowish coat.

PHA-RA: The Jackal-Were
There are several species of Jackal, usually disguinshed as being any of a number of wolf-like carnivores of the dog genus. Jackals are native from southeastern Europe into southern Asia, India, and Africa. Four species are usually recognized: the best-known variety is the golden, or Asiatic, jackal (C. aureus), which is a shimmery rust-gold in colour, found from eastern Europe and northeast Africa to Southeast Asia, and the crafty black-backed (C. mesomelas), the shy side-striped (C. adustus) jackals of southern and eastern Africa and the rare Abyssinian jackal. That there were once Jackals that resemble the Tomb guardians of Egypt is undisputed and the Silent strider Garou still retain this beasts image in their Lupus form.

The lax breeding habits of the Were Foxes and the Silent strider wolves has created a strange no mans land in this Lupus breed, both the Vulpine and the Garou share Jackals as kinfolk and appear to do so without overt bloodshed. Like wolves and coyotes, jackals interbreed with domestic dogs and Foxes, the latter practice has birthed the pha-ra Tribe of Were Foxes who take their name from a small member of the jackal family. Like jackals they are hard to pin down and define, some are loners like the Vulpine, while others run is small packs and extended families like the Garou.

Jackals are fleet-footed hunters, but they also eat insects and are best known as scavengers after larger animals, such as lions and the Pha-Ra are wide roaming and curious, often willing to approach Silent striders for a night of shared interaction. They have been known to risk battle with other Garou such as the Star Gazers or even lone Bone gnawers, but for the most part tend to follow their pack running cousins at a distance. It is not unheard of for other Werewolf tribes to mistake a Crinos Pha-ra for a Silent strider and the Tribe have occasionally used this for their benefit, usually whilst escaping rather than infiltration. Centuries of inter Breed communication is proven by the shared gifts and spirit allies of the Silent striders and the Pha-Ra Tribe and some Vulpine visionaries have often put forth the prospect of an alliance that may in time lead to a better relationship with all Garou. Certainly tales of the Kitsune's alliance with the eastern shadow Lords are enough to encourage this hope.

SOURCES
BBC Wildlife on One: Foxy business
Encyclopędia Britannica, Inc.