Fogs
Fumis are a social species that will naturally form groups on their own accord, which are called Fogs. Fogs typically have a population of 5-15 adult fumis, and they are likely to split off if resources such as food, water, and space become scarce or crowded. The role a fumi plays in it's fog is determined by how dominant or submissive it is, although this structure in particular may have been taught to them by humans, since wild fog populations do not always share this hierarchy. Fumis don't exhibit a lot of territorial behavior towards other fumis, so it isn't uncommon for fogs to be living in close proximity to one another, even helping each other out at times! However an area can only sustain a certain amount of fumis at any given time, crowding or lack of vital resources forces fogs to keep their territories mostly separate. Territorial aggression is very rare, as mentioned before, but it can happen if too many fumis are trapped in an area that isn't large enough to support the population.
A fog's leader is usually determined by dominance (as mentioned before), which is most often a brute. If no brute is present, then the most dominant or brute-like thug takes the position of leader instead. Multiple brutes in one fog is very uncommon, since it's far more likely that the brutes will fight to the death or scare the challenger off, but it is possible if the other brute(s) are submissive to the leading brute. Multiple brutes sharing a leading position is almost unheard of, they would need to have a very close relationship to tolerate it.
A fog's leader is usually determined by dominance (as mentioned before), which is most often a brute. If no brute is present, then the most dominant or brute-like thug takes the position of leader instead. Multiple brutes in one fog is very uncommon, since it's far more likely that the brutes will fight to the death or scare the challenger off, but it is possible if the other brute(s) are submissive to the leading brute. Multiple brutes sharing a leading position is almost unheard of, they would need to have a very close relationship to tolerate it.
Classes
The classes mentioned above (nurse, thug, brute) occur for fumis in the painted and dwarf breeds. When they reach adulthood, they are categorized into one of these classes based on their physical features (which are determined by the fumi's hormones).
The information below is the same as what you'd find in the class section, the only difference being the images.
The information below is the same as what you'd find in the class section, the only difference being the images.
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Nurse
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Thug
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Brute
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Nurse Class
The 'submissive' extreme of the hormonal gradient, they typically are very even-natured and submissive. Nurse fumis are typically smaller in body, tusks, and horn size, and oftentimes have smaller feet as well. The role of a nurse in a fog is to raise puggles and rookies, as well as to protect valuable possessions. They stay in the nesting site and typically grow much fatter due to a more sedentary lifestyle, this may be to attract predators to attack and eat them rather than the puggles and/or rookies they may be protecting, and it is not uncommon for them to martyr themselves for the children. They are considered the least attractive members of the fog and are the least likely to breed (they definitely won't be breeding as the male, as that requires them to win the mating fights which they would not normally attempt, as they are very submissive) HOWEVER they are greatly respected by the rest of the fog and are protected just as fiercely as children would be by the rest of the group.
Thug Class
These fumis are what you would consider 'average', they fall somewhere in the middle of the hormonal spectrum, and can be more dominant or more submissive depending on the individual. Thug fumis are typically average in body, tusk, horn, and feet size. The role of a thug, when not filling the role of a brute when there isn't one present in the fog, is to gather food and resources for the fog, or to scout the area for danger. They may fill the role of a nurse if there is no nurse present in the fog.
Brute Class
The 'dominant' extreme of the hormonal gradient, they are more aggressive and dominant. A thug fumi becomes a brute by way of hormonal surges, which they accomplish by winning breeding fights. These hormones greatly alter a fumi's appearance over time until eventually the fumi is re-classified as a brute. Brute fumis are typically bigger in body, tusk, horn, and claw size, and they have much bigger front feet and smaller back feet, as well as a more lean/muscular build (although a particularly gluttonous brute can still be fat). The role a brute plays (other than just being leader) is also protecting the other fog members and it's territory, much like a male lion would protect it's pride, they generally stay around the nesting site.
Inter-breed Interactions
How a fumi treats other fumis of differing breeds depends mostly on the individual. Some fumis may tolerate or even be fond of other breeds enough to accept them into their fog, while others may be severely racist due to bad experiences/upringings or prejudice.
Fumis that are aware of the experimentation and torture which resulted in the creation of snowfumis, mutants, gummis, and certain transformations may also react differently depending on the individual. Some may feel sympathy for them and make attempts to befriend them, while others may feel that they are abominations to be avoided at all costs, or even destroyed. Most fumis find these breeds/transformations unnerving in the very least, since they exhibit the fumi equivalent of body horror, and some may be absolutely terrified of them. Fumis that have no knowledge of the aforementioned experimentation may not have an opinion at all, but some may still be frightened by their strange appearances.
Fumis that are aware of the experimentation and torture which resulted in the creation of snowfumis, mutants, gummis, and certain transformations may also react differently depending on the individual. Some may feel sympathy for them and make attempts to befriend them, while others may feel that they are abominations to be avoided at all costs, or even destroyed. Most fumis find these breeds/transformations unnerving in the very least, since they exhibit the fumi equivalent of body horror, and some may be absolutely terrified of them. Fumis that have no knowledge of the aforementioned experimentation may not have an opinion at all, but some may still be frightened by their strange appearances.
Body Language and Expressions
Fumis do not communicate vocally under normal circumstances, although fumis raised as pets may take to chirping more at their humans similar to a cat meows specifically to communicate to it's owner. A fumi mainly communicates with it's vapor, releasing certain scents indicate different things. A fumi also communicates through body language, here are some simplified examples:
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Neutral
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Relaxed
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Frightened/Submissive
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Threatening
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Aggressive/Dominant
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Frightened/SubmissiveThis fumi is displaying signs that it is frightened and/or submissive. By crouching low in a sort of bow, this fumi makes it's vulnerable pouch less visible and harder to reach, and it also makes the fumi appear smaller and submissive. It curls it's tail on top of it's body as tight as it can, either to keep it from getting torn off by an angry fog member, or to present its genitals to an angry fog member as a sign of submission. Maybe both.
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Threatening/WarningThis fumi has been disturbed and it isn't happy about it, it's showing warning signs to tell whatever it is that upset it that it can do some damage if they keep at it. It snarls to show as much teeth, tongue, and gum as possible, while blowing out dark and noxious vapor. It also thrashes it's tail around as either another form of intimidation, or to trick the disturbance into attacking it's tail which it will then drop and flee while they are distracted by the still thrashing tail.
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Aggressive/DominantThis display is similar to the threatening/warning display, with the fumi snarling and blowing out noxious vapor. However, this one is different in that instead of thrashing the tail around, the fumi has used the tail to balance itself as it stands upright on the back feet. This display is very aggressive and/or dominant, the fumi makes itself look far larger and is also in the position to strike downwards with it's weight and claws if need be, or even mount a submissive fumi.
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