Say hello to the feral form of my fursona, Rizen. Well, fluffy ain't I? The colored form is in the works.

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Information pertaining to Dusk Wolves:

In short, Dusk Wolves are the descendants of an ancient race of dragons that, desperate to save their steadily dying race, bred with the wolves and snow leopards of the mountains. Those first attempts resulted in multiple variations, but after thousands of years worth of generations, the species balanced into a stable, genetically sound creature capable of reproducing naturally.

Genetically, they are classified as mammalian, though they do share many traits with their draconian creators. They birth live young, and nurse said young for only the first week. The milk of the mother Dusk wolf provides several essential components to the newborn's diet, the first of which being a mineral found only in volcanic rock that is dangerous in high quantities for most if not all other creatures. For Dusk Wolves, this mineral is critical to the development of their internal organs. Without this first helping of sulfur and other acidic elements, the young would not be capable of surviving in the harsh cold, nor would they be properly equipped to safely interact with others of their kind. The weeks worth of milk also provides the pups with a strong defense against illness by raising their immune systems, along with keeping their vulnerable and frail bodies warm. After the week is up, the breeding Dusk pair will take turns staying with the pups while the other hunts and brings back meat that they regurgitate for the young.

By one month of age, the pups will be able to consume solid meat on their own, though they will remain hidden in the den site for another month or two before being permitted to accompany the family on hunting trips. Dusks are usually solitary beings, sticking to pairs or groups of three, however, during their denning season, a phenomena that occurs once every ten years, they gather together in large family packs to aid in the birthing and raising of the new pups. These family packs range anywhere from seven to thirty or more and all are related to one another in some way. Pups are usually born as twins or triplets and of the two or three, usually only one will survive to adulthood. Only a matured Alpha Dusk will conceive offspring and even then, a successful pregnancy is rare.

Hermaphroditic in gender, every Dusk has the potential of breeding with any member of the species. Alpha Dusks have the greatest chance of successfully becoming impregnated and supplying pups with enough strength to survive. Because of this, only they are capable of producing eggs for fertilization all year round. Any Dusk may reach the Alpha stage at any time in their adult lives, but this does not mean that they will even achieve it. How the Alpha stage occurs has yet to be discovered. Most believe that it is a matter of need. If the population is down, Dusks will more easily make the shift to Alpha. And yet, there are a few cases, such as the case with Rizen, that a Dusk is Alpha at birth. Such rare individuals are prized highly among family packs and they are protected over all other pups.

As for the actual breeding, Dusks are known to couple with multiple partners, not specifically with the need to reproduce. Like humans, they also partake in mating for pleasure. However, only rarely will a coupling produce offspring. Dusks will go their entire lives seeking out their other halves and though most will engage in sexual acts with others, after finding their Soul Mate, they become strictly monogamous and will remain with their true mate for the rest of their lives.

Dusks are called Dusks mainly because of their primarily nocturnal nature. They rise at dusk and sleep most of the day, when the sun is at its harshest. Also they are called such because of their coloration which consists mostly of blues, grays, blacks, and hues of purple. Alphas will typically have silver fur over their spines, however. Their eyesight fails them in the glare from the snow and ice, and even the smallest miscalculation can lead to death in the mountains of Icefall. At night, they are perhaps the most deadly predators in existence. Their eyesight is astounding, coupled with the two sets of sensory whiskers and their sharp hearing, not even the violent snowstorms that wreak havoc regularly through their homeland prevents them from finding prey. Their paws are built large for running easily over the snow and also contain retractable claws; a gift from their cat relatives. Dusks also sport a wicked array of horns that are more like blades constructed of bone. Alphas have more than a typical Dusk as well as much larger ones in size. Their long tails are designed specifically for balance and allow them to easily navigate the steep cliffs and narrow ledges of the rocky terrain they usually inhabit. They are also strong jumpers, built for clearing the large gaps in glaciers and rock. And Dusks eat alot. Standing at an average of twelve feet tall at the head, an adult Dusk will easily consume half it's body weight in food per day. But, thanks to their dragon ancestors, they also have the ability to go for months if need be on one meal.

Because of their need for large quantities of food to maintain their full health, they keep to themselves in wide spaced territories that stretch for thousands of miles. They consume large quantities of fish, large hoofed animals, and have even been known to hunt and kill whales on occasion when in their family packs. Also, they must, MUST consume several pounds of volcanic rock on a regular basis to keep their internal heating systems working properly. Being part dragon enables them with the fire breath skills of their ancestors, though they use it sparingly. Mostly, they use the skill as a means of heat in the harsh cold, along with their long, thick coats. A side effect to this is also their saliva. Dusks have a natural acidic quality to their bodies that they use to break down the rocks and dissolve the fur or scales of their meals. The acid is regulated by glands in the throat and are released at will.

Toward one another, Dusks are typically playful in an aggressive manner. Every interaction between Dusks that have not found their Soul Mate is a contest of strength and will, each seeking to out do the other. But, they enjoy such interaction, being highly competitive beings. They love to be chased and to chase back and have no real territorial boundaries. A dusk will happily spend hours tumbling about in the snow with another, though to those unfamiliar with them, they would appear to be trying to kill one another. A weak Dusk, however, runs the risk of being killed during even a friendly encounter with another Dusk. Alpha Dusks are very different than typical Dusks and attract a wide variety of individuals, mainly because of the hormones they release when around other dusks, and males of most other species. These hormones excite the senses and are meant to attract a potential partner into breeding.

Alphas are extremely aggressive, however, verging on violent and won't submit to anyone. They are also very prideful, arrogant, if not a little on the vain side. Because of their genes, Alpha Dusks adore attention and will go well out of their way to attract it. There is a built in desire within every Alpha dusk that craves domination, hence their need to test every potential partner they meet. All of this is for the specific purpose of finding the best possible genetics to pass onto their young. After a successful breeding, Alphas will store the seed of their partner until it is time for them to return to the den site for the ten year gathering and at that time, the strongest of the seed they've collected will impregnate them. An Alpha does not require a Soul Mate to give birth, but one who has one has a better chance of the pups surviving.

Overall, Dusks are calm, calculating, and highly intelligent, but would rather spend their time playing in the snow or lazing about getting tummy rubs. They also have an anthro form that I will be drawing later on.