Anatomy
Head
Eyes
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Dreamwalkers have eight eyes, except in the case of mutation, when they may have less or more. The three pairs of smaller eyes (vestigial eyes) behind the "main" pair are mostly useless, but widen the field of vision a little.
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Enlarged vestigial eyes that are comparable or equal to the size of their main eyes is an incredibly rare trait reserved for their earliest ancestors (extinct). Vestigial eye size can still vary, but they should never be too similar in size to their main eyes.
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Some dreamwalkers may not have vestigial eyes at all, but this is also incredibly rare.
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Each eye can move individually.
help
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Eye colors are unlimited, and they come in a variety of styles, including, but not limited to:
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Round pupils*
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Orbs
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Slit pupils
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Horizontal pupils
*Round pupils are most common.
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Dreamwalkers are strictly diurnal, regardless of the appearance of their eyes.
Torch
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The large gem-like shape between the eyes (called the torch) is bioluminescent.
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They use this as a sort of headlamp to maneuver at night/in the dark.
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Brightness of the torch is affected by health, age, and energy.
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While it is incredibly rare, some dreamwalkers are born without a torch.
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The torch can become hot to the touch if left "on" for an extended period of time. If a dreamwalker failed to take a cooling break every now and then, they could cause severe damage to their brain and/or eyes, potentially resulting in loss of vision, memories, and brain function. Extensive damage to the brain can be fatal or debilitating. There are some health conditions that make it impossible to "shut off" their torch. *
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The torch can come in any size, shape, or color. There is no limit to their complexity.
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A single torch may have multiple parts to make the entire shape (ie. three circles). All parts of the torch have the potential to glow, but smaller parts may not be as bright as larger parts.
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A torch made up of multiple parts may produce a different color in individual parts, although this isn't common.
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The torch can crack and be injured. Surface level injuries may result in minimal pain and can heal, but deeper injuries can result in permanent scarring/cracks and could impact the future functionality of the torch. It is, however, incredibly hard and durable, and in some cases functions as a shield or helmet for the forehead and/or bridge of the nose, but they are not indestructible.
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*A "burnt" or overused torch will usually bear a permanently burnt appearance, like a burnt lightbulb.
Mouth
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They are omnivorous; the front of their mouth is lined with sharp fangs while the back is equipped with molars. However, they tend to prefer meat, especially fish.
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They have wide mouths and throats, allowing them to swallow their food whole.
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They have powerful muscles along their jaw (similar to a tegu), which enables them to bite through a huge selection of things, including bone.
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Dreamwalkers tongues are relatively smooth despite their cat-like grooming habits. They may use their teeth to comb through fur as well.
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Also like cats, dreamwalkers will groom each other. This is a very vulnerable and personal experience that helps build and retain bonds between families, close friends, and mates.
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Their sense of smell is remarkably sharp.
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Dreamwalkers produce thick and gooey saliva in order to keep their throats lubricated for feeding. They're likely to produce more before and/or during a meal.
Ears
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They have two sets of long, thin ears, which can all swivel about on their own.
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Dreamwalkers have incredible hearing, allowing them to hear sounds up to 2 miles away under ideal conditions. Sound that reaches the uppermost ears may be a bit muffled depending on the fur density of the individual, but due to the rounded shape of the ears, sound typically has no issue traveling to both pairs. Excess fur is less likely to grow in the uppermost pair, but it can.
Horns/Antlers
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They can have antlers, horns, or nothing at all on top of their heads, commonly found between the base of the ears.
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These features are used not only for defense, but also for display. The larger the set, the more impressive it is.
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Antlers are usually shed annually; they are dropped during different times of the year depending on circumstances. Some antler-bearing dreamwalkers retain the same set throughout their lives without shedding them, and may or may not grow back when damaged. This varies from one dreamwalker to another.
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Horns and spikes may grow continuously throughout a dreamwalker's life, and may need to be ground or filed down lest they get too heavy or dangerous. This is not true for all dreamwalkers.
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Multiple sets of horns/antlers are uncommon mutations that are known to cause health problems, but they can and do happen. If the additional set(s) of horns are relatively small, there may be no issues related to them.
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Both male and female dreamwalkers are capable of growing horns/antlers.
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Horns/Antlers/Spikes can be anywhere indicated by the blue marks, assuming the torch allows. Some exceptions may apply; you are always welcome to contact the team with questions.
Nose
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A dreamwalker's nose is used to smell and breathe. They can breathe through their mouths as well, but nasal breathing is more comfortable and natural. Nasal conditions such as congestion, inflammation, and blockages can be fatal as a result if they can't get enough air in through their mouths.
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Dreamwalkers are adaptable to most environments and atmospheres and do not need oxygen specifically to survive. They can travel through space with no issues and no need for protective gear, for example, and can inhabit a wide array of planets. (See: Variations)
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Breathing through the nose allows them to swallow large chunks of food that might otherwise be suffocating.
Body
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Wingspan can be up to 30 feet wide, give or take.
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Wings are always bat-like, and they
may appear to have two pairs of
wings. However, they only have
one pair. *More on wings
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Wing membrane is thick
enough to withstand
flight, but otherwise
fragile.
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Maximum height is 12 feet, though most dreamwalkers are between 8 and 10 feet tall.
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Their sternums are large in order to support the muscles necessary for flight, and most of their “bulk” is made up of muscle, covered by a layer of feathery fur.
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Tails are long and “flat,” that is, wider than they are tall (similar to a flying squirrel’s tail, but thicker).
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Inner-wings are often the most flashy or decorated part of a dreamwalker’s body, particular in males, as they display them as a means of impressing mates or establishing dominance. Colors may brighten and previously hidden markings may come through the wings if a dreamwalker alters their sex to male.
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*The “false” pair of smaller wings is attached to the larger wings with additional wing membrane and aids in flight by directing air upward, propelling them higher to extend flight-times. Not all dreamwalkers have this, but it's rare to lack the smaller wings.
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Dreamwalkers may look heavy (and they are, compared to a human), but many of their long bones and vertebrae are hollow, which is what allows them to fly. However, flight is taxing, and airborne trips are often short or dependent on gliding more than actual flight.
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Flying can be and is often aided by the use of dreamsand, meaning their flight limitations can be offset by the use of magic. Dreamsand consumption is minimal for this ability, but can vary depending on the size and weight of the individual. Dreamwalkers with heavier coats may not be able to fly or even glide very well without tapping into the sand stores.
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Their inner body can be any color (organs, blood, etc.)
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They have large and long claws that are useful for digging, climbing, and traveling uneven terrain. They are also useful in holding food while they tear off chunks of meat.
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They may or may not have spikes along their spine or on either side of their spine, but always in between the wing membranes, as indicated in the blue area below.
More on Wings
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Dreamwalkers can have between 3 or 4 fingers in their wings, or more if they have doubled pairs.
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Doubled pairs CANNOT be fully separated from each other, so no dreamwalker should have two full pairs of separated wings. This is a trait exclusive to their extinct earliest ancestors.
Reproduction
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Reproductive organs are housed within the body.
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Gestation period usually lasts a year or more, and dreamwalkers are viviparous (calves are born live).
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On average, calves are born approximately half the size of the carrying parent's head.
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Dreamwalkers do not nurse their young (and therefore do not have breasts or nipples), but feed them much in the manner of birds until they can eat whole foods.
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Dreamwalkers are born intersex. They can "change sex" as necessary or desired, especially in the case of low population. (Think clown fish, but less hierarchy-based). This is a gradual process that can take weeks or months, and their sex can be altered at any time throughout their lives post-puberty. Hormonal changes to the body are not often permanent, although voices tend to remain closer to their birth sex. Changes to voice are a more gradual process and will typically only occur in dreamwalkers who remain altered from their initial sex for an extended period of time (ie. multiple years).
*See "Gender and Sexuality" for further detail.
(🔞NSFW warning🔞)
Fur
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Dreamwalkers usually have a thick coat of fur that is described as downy or feathery in texture. However, this is only the majority, as coat-types can vary (smooth, rough, curly, etc.) Some dreamwalkers may not have any fur at all.
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Colors are reminiscent of their natural environment (if one came from the desert, they may be tan or sandy-colored, while those from the jungle may have more earthy greens and browns, for example).
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Dreamwalkers are adapted to their environment of choice, but they all have winter and summer coats. Winter coats are thicker and consist of cooler colors, while summer coats are thinner and consist of warmer colors. Markings may be affected (some winter coats are completely white, for example).
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The thicker the coat, the more strenuous or impossible flight becomes.
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They may or may not have manes (the thicker the mane, the more they weigh, however, which can impact flight ability as well).
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They are often incapable of flying during cold seasons, as their coat becomes far too heavy for their wings to support, except in the case of dreamwalkers with thinner and shorter fur or no fur naturally.
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Dreamwalkers are warm-blooded and, if traveling through extremely cold environments (ie. space), their body temperature will increase. Depending on the individual, they may also grow much thicker and warmer coats, even if that dreamwalker previously had a short coat or no fur at all.
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This increase in body temperature does not have lasting impacts on their health, although they may develop feverish symptoms for a nondescript amount of time while their body adjusts to the changes.