First a foxtaur now a Rattaur :P

I've also been a Triceratops-Taur!

Dominus tecum

Rattytaur :3

Huzzah for RattyTaurs!

Dominus tecum

Yay! :p

Is it wrong of me to want to ride you??

LOL! We Rat-taurs are good for giving friends a lift!

Dominus tecum

Nice to see you managed to scan this effectively. ;)

I had to scan it in two halves and then combine them. I had some help getting them lined up, and then I had to erase a huge shaded strip from the middle of the picture. It took a while but wasn't too hard.

Dominus tecum

Awesome work. ^^

I knew you'd like it!

Dominus tecum

Got that right. ^^

I love the way this looks! She did an awesome job!

That she did! I had never heard of her before but you know I'll be stopping by her table again!

Dominus tecum

My initial reaction to this was thinking you were overweight but then you pointed out to me that it's more in keep with the body shape of a rat. Now I think this is one of the best looking rattaurs on FA. CZGoldEdition nailed the look. I love that when you're in rattaur form you have a slightly more humbling, friendly, and welcoming appearance that only a taur can have.

I'm so glad you like it, Brother Bull! These are definitely some of the reasons I really love this piece!

I am curious why you think a taur form is naturally more humbling, friendly, and welcoming in appearance. Certainly there is a friendly countenance here in my face that is missing from the Dark Natasha pic, but that struck me more the mood of the piece than something innate in the shape. I'm curious as to your thoughts.

Dominus tecum

Oh, I think your TF curiosity meter is through the roof, Brother Rat.

There is something about you in taur form that is how I described you in my last comment.
Not that you are necessarily less welcoming in anthro form but when I see taurs I think there's something sort of goofy and even silly about the innate shape. The body shape is honestly sort of funky and is enough to make one gawk.
The initial look even seems a tad bit embarrassing. I sensed that was the reaction from Rickkter in the story Parlay when everyone was practicing trying out a taur form. He was ambiguously like, pffft, I'll have nothing to do with degrading myself. I'm too cool for such silliness.

I dare say that was sort of been my initial reaction to seeing taurs on FA. My thoughts were that it looks humiliating and weird. *crosses my arms and looks smug and condescending*
Why are taur forms so fascinating to you wierdos? Pffft. I wouldn't be caught dead looking like that. I laugh at how willing you are to look foolish. Two legs are good enough for me.... *My smugness starts to fade as I nervously look over my shoulder to see if anyone else is around and watching. My horns and ears droop a little as I shyly shuffle forward rubbing the side of my arm.* Errrr, mind if I give it a try B-brother Rat? It, does actually look little bit... fun.

I am pretty blatant about it, I know!

I think the first Metamor Keep story by Okane in which Charles goes Taur sums up Rickkter's thoughts on the subject as to why he'll never go taur. Misha deliberately embarrasses Charles by it. I imagine I would be quite embarrassed by it too if I was really a rat-taur. I'm not sure quite how they come to love the form and being seen in it, but I do love the idea of it. It does seem silly and goofy at times. But we love it just the same!

I would love to introduce you to the wonderful world of taurs, Brother Bull!

Dominus tecum

I remember that story. I thought Chris O'kane did a decent job at writing Charles in that story.
It is funny how in MK the metamorians never seem to quite know how to treat their nakedness. It makes for funny awkward moments. I guess in taur form it's like, sort of ok... just because it's natural?... but it is a little awkward knowing that certain parts of your body are exposed? See, I'd be confused if I lived Metamor Keep also.

He usually manages Charles pretty well; it is one reason we work so well together. And yes, things are a little odd in Metamor Keep when it comes to nakedness. The fact that a full third of them can take a feral form where they definitely don't have clothes also helps them experience some of that vulnerability. The taur form, which did not show up for about eight years after the Curse was just the next step for many as now it was difficult for them, in a much larger form, to cover their nakedness. But it was an animal's lower half, one that everyone would be used to seeing already anyway. That and the fact that some of the animal Keepers actually work as feral animals just adds to the permissibility when in certain forms to not cover that part of the body up (but in anthro form you had better cover it up or you'll get in trouble with the Watch!)

That's my guess for what the social standards are for nakedness for animal-morph Keepers. It's just sort of developed because of the impracticality of feral form and thus taur form clothing.

Dominus tecum

yeah, I figured it all worked out something like that.

I'm sure that in time somebody will start to make suitable clothing for taurs. Perhaps even by the 724 timeline that's already a thing.

Dominus tecum

Oh posh, taurs don't need extra clothing.

What clothing do taurs need?

Dominus tecum

Not to drag out his awkward conversation (that's a stupid thing for me to say since that's clearly what I'm doing) but about what you said about getting into trouble with the Watch for not covering up. That is definitely not true. I've read enough MK stories, at least yours and I think Chris O'kane, to know that they constantly refer to keepers walking around naked. So I guess I'm correct in thinking that there's no one mind for how Keepers treat nudity. XD

*chuckles* Yeah, that about sums it up.

Dominus tecum

Rickkter wasn't the only Keeper who disdained the idea of assuming a 'taur form.
Murikeer was(is) positively revolted by it and Malger eschews attempting to assume any form beyond anthro, even the animal form that all animorph keepers can assume. Others, as Charles stated, have actually incorporated that ability into their lives - Working animals like horses and oxen among others.

And as for certain gross anatomy being awkwardly prominent - it's less prominent than it would be on an upright biped, being under the curve of the body, betwixt the rear legs and hidden by the drape of the tail. Well, for most anyway. Rats and similar species would have a bit more of a problem which, were Metamor not PG-13, could be leveraged for considerable hilarity.

And clothes just look stupid on the lower half of taurs/quadrupeds, beyond tack used for carrying things.

Hey, it's the veritable Ryx. You're a good writing. Thanks for your added explanation. And thanks for your stories. Granted I haven't read most of them except for the ones that you and Matt wrote together or some of yours that fill in gaps in Matt's stories but I have read those at least.

What a completely dignified looking fellow! :D

Nice pic, Matt!

I knew you would approve! Thank you so much! it is good to be a Rat-taur! And this is one of the best I've ever had done or even seen before!

Dominus tecum

The taur form always makes me wonder about the backwards L shaped spine... That's got to result in some issues considering taurs can apparently lie flat on their back and then when standing upright roll to a vertical position, seems like those back muscles would need to be real strong.

I suspect that the muscles around the torso join would have to be incredibly strong. I also suspect that the bone structure at he join would be a ball joint or something for increased flexibility. Of course, I'm not a physiologist so these are just rampant speculations.

Still, I love the look and would love to give it a try.

Dominus tecum

Still, that's my first thought with taurs and multitailed species. Back problems. LOL.

Oh no doubt we taurs would be very good at chiropractic care.

Dominus tecum

Finally working through my overstuffed inbox and I'm left to wonder something. Those bracelets on the forelegs. Where did they come from?

I am not sure. They are obviously meant to match the bracers on my wrists. I might have to write that into a story at some point; he does use his taur form frequently enough to have had some clothes fashioned for it.

Dominus tecum

His tail and backside look so big in taur form and so fuzzy.

I have tried to write them that way in my stories. I know I've had a scene or two of him combing his furry flanks like this and moving his tail around. There's just something appealing about being a big rat like this.

Dominus tecum

I very much approve of the rat-taur.

Thank you! Feels great to be one.

Dominus tecum

This part I know from experience. It's a very fun form. :)

That it is! Lots of Rat to go around!

Dominus tecum