Me, Myself and I: When I’m you, but also me

Or, what it's like to be a your own dragon, but also literally intertwined with two other dragons as a single dragon

So we are a system of five dragons with three of our members collectively identifying as a hydra linktype, but each of them also has an individual form outside of that. As a hydra, we feel like we ride a weird line between what it means to be an individual and what is the self. We’re writing this to share what our daily life is like because we thought others might find it interesting! There’s not that many hydras around in the alterhuman community that we’ve seen at least.

We are a single dragon – we share a single body even in the headspace and are connected in a way we don’t share with other headmates. However, it gets extra fucky because we aren’t always together like that nor are we always all present in it when combined. Sometimes only two of the three hydra members combine at a time to be a hydra – it’s not necessary to have all three. Because of the shifting make-up of members, the appearance of our hydra form–the number of limbs, wing arrangement, and size also changes. Generally speaking, we'll be the size of whoever the largest dragon in the group is at the time. The one constant is that we always have gold scales.

Does Identifying as a Hydra Mean I Must be Plural?

How do you know when you’re a hydra then?

How do we know when we’re an individual dragon vs a single unit as a hydra? The easiest way to tell is because we’ll look like a hydra in our headspace. When someone isn’t in hydra form they’ll appear as their individual form. We can “tune in” to another headmate’s frequency and get a glimpse at what they’re doing/where they are from the front. It’s like adjusting the dial on a radio and can happen as quickly as if you glanced over at a mirror. Beyond essentially looking down at ourselves to check, we can often just feel it. The usual scenario is we feel like we’re in hydra form and we quickly check-in to confirm.

What does “just feel it” mean? It can mean feeling the phantom sensation of another neck alongside our body’s physical one. It can also mean feeling like our thoughts/feelings are “fuller” and we’re experiencing the thoughts of another fellow hydra head running parallel to our own. Another common occurrence is we can feel closeness, a unique lack of boundary, between what is me and us. 

Something we’ve been asked is who is controlling the body then? Do certain heads control different parts? How do we decide when we are moving around the headspace or collectively fronting? When we’re a hydra we’re not three dragons that have been glued together we are a single dragon. We all collectively control everything. As long as we have a shared intent, our body will move accordingly. And if we disagree? It definitely happens, but communication barriers are basically nonexistent. We feel each other’s thoughts and feelings as instantaneously as our own. It’s unusual to be frozen in indecision, it’s more like hesitating before making a choice. Talking things through just happens so quickly.

To share a mind

The thoughtleak is real. Thoughtleak happens between all of our headmates, usually when we’re close to each other in the headspace, but when in hydra form it’s more intimate. There’s definitely been times where we’ll suddenly feel an out-of-place emotion and have to consider who it belongs to. Which, that can happen with our other headmates, but it’s a stronger, more pressing feeling and harder to distinguish as someone else’s since hydra. When we’re not in hydra form, the rules seem to be the same as our non-hydra headmates: thoughtleak amount depends on proximity. It’s not possible for us to be both a hydra and in individual forms at the same time. It’s one or the other. Likewise, shifting between them doesn’t leave us in a limbo state. There can be a general knowing or sense that the form is going to shift soon before it does, but the actual change in form happens quickly.

Also, our other headmates are not able to just hop in and suddenly decide to join us as a hydra. There’s not a great way to explain it besides we’re able to do it because we’re drift-compatible. It’s just not possible unless we’re on the same wavelength.

Choice is punk and being an otherlinker is not only valid, but actually extremely cool.

The things you choose for yourself are powerful and we choose to describe our hydra-self as a linktype. This may or may not seem odd given everything we’ve said up to this point, but we have a specific reason for it. Everything: merging, being close to one another and sharing with each other is a choice. The linktype descriptor immediately communicates to others that we are collectively choosing to become another, different dragon together.

Nothing happens against someone else’s will. It’s impossible to Voltron into a hydra if we’re not comfortable with it. Forming together as a hydra is contingent on us not only on us being in tune with one another, but actively desiring to be close to one another. You gotta be drift-compatible and be willing to get into the robot. 

If you're interested hearing more of our rambles on being a hydra check out our older writing A Few Thoughts on Being a Hydra.

Parting Thoughts

We want to finish with a quote from Thorn. It was said in response to our 30 day alterhuman challenge, but we feel sums everything up nicely:

"We have a strong bond that has grown stronger over time. There’s a quote saved on our phone that I want to paraphrase: 'Right now, they feel like they’re in a box–like the menial distance between them is some forced, unnatural barrier that shouldn’t be there. Right now, they want to tear that barrier down.’ Being a dragon inherently comes with a feeling of power and pride, but being a hydra is about love and connection. We often joke that the only thing we love more than ourselves is each other. We’re close with our other headmates, but there’s something about becoming the same being as one another. A unique level of synchronicity and trust is needed for it. I love them.” – Thorn

Yall, i think i wanna be an otherlink. I see a lot of therians do quadrubics, and it looks so fun (and I've dabbled, it is fun), and I've always felt really close to nature, and I'm neurodivergent and sometimes (often nowadays) act like an animal and it feels so freeing and fun. Also, like being a human sucks i wish i could be an animal.

My linktypes are fox(arctic fox and red fox), cat and maybe a dog. i really love quadrubics and laying around like a little fox it makes me happy.

(also i think im an age regressor so possibly trauma related?)

please tell me if im being dumb

hey could any otherlink people explain something to me? how do you choose to identify as something and not feel like youre faking or something? and why can shifts happen for something you picked? do you choose to shift? if not, how is the identity voluntary but the shifts arent?

cuz with most of my theriotypes, i research into different animals and when i find whatever fits best, i just kinda assume thats what i am and take on the label cuz it makes sense and feels right, but that doesnt mean that i picked it right? idk i get a lot of self-doubt for all sorts of my identity so its probably why im doubting myself in general

Shoutout to all the nonkin or not nonhuman alterhumans out there!!

Linkers of all kinds, those who choose to be something non-standard in humanity are welcome here. Identity is flexible and fun to play with.

Humans who are also alterhuman, you're a vital part of the community. We have to remember that you are here too and not let your voices get drowned out by nonhumans.

Those with hearttypes or synpaths. Your experiences and thoughts are valuable. You are no less than someone with a kintype.

Plurals, being more than one, no matter what origin, alterhumanity has always been inclusive of you from the coining of the term.

People who are part of the furry, voidpunk, or vampire communities who see themself as human or something else, you're allowed to use this label if you want to!

Anyone else who thinks the label fits them for any reason! This is a huge community with room for so many folks. Even those I missed in this post, you are an important part here.

Dreamin flag!

A alter human term for when youre kintype/otherlink/hearttype/constelic/alter human id, etc, changes when youre day dreaming

ex: youre dogkin but when daydreaming youre wolfkin(wolfdreamin)

youre faunkin but when daydreaming youre also godkin(goddreamin)

youre catconstelic but when daydreaming youre a doglink(dogdreamin) and catboyhearttype(catboydreamin)

and many other examples

(Made with pwMaDD in mind but is not exclusive)

Ps. Can someone make a better vergion of the symbol? <:) dont change it just make it look better /gen /nf

(tagging people under the cut)

@neopronouns @kenochoric @extranth @orxngecrxsh @epikulupu @fazbears-horror-attraction @gender-funky @gennerflooid @julietianboy

🦊🦊 Hi!! 🦊🦊

Welcome to my Alterhuman blog!

I go by Theo and he/they on this blog! (#fox on rock)

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

I am an otherlinker and my linktype is red fox (#foxlink & #foxkin)

I am otherhearted and my hearttype(s) is space/stars (spacehearted & starhearted)

I have a mask and tail but I don't tend to do quads in them unless I am posting (#quadrobics)

I like to edit pictures of foxes (#fox pic)

I love picrews and posting other silly stuff!

userboxes by: @sweetpeauserboxes

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

My main: @akward-ln

Alterhuman Kintypes!

Theriotypes:

Australian Shepherd Suntherian

Crane Fly Cladiotherian

Western Coyote

Planttypes:

Colocasia Esculenta Quoiluntary

Linktypes:

Eurasian Wolf

Raccoon

Kithtypes:

Red Fox Sunkith

Moths

Other:

Pill Bug Quoiluntary Contherian (Otherhearted or Therian or Otherlink?)

Used to have a black cat theriotype.

Talking About 'Linking

I don't talk much about being a fictionlinker. Mainly because that's voluntary. I talk much more about being a wolf and a gryphon and a kitsune, because I didn't chose to be those things. Theriotypes and kintypes aren't chosen, so I feel a little more free to talk about them. But linktypes are chosen. And I think there's a sort of gatekeep-y weirdness about not being able to (or not feeling that I'm able to) talk about my linktype. And I want to kind of get into that a bit.

I am, on the whole, against KFF. If you're not familiar with that term, it means "kin for fun." Not because I feel there's anything inherently wrong with taking on an identity voluntarily, even just for fun. My opposition to it comes from the terminology. "Kin" is our word - and not a verb. It's shorthand for "otherkin" and widely used in the otherkin and therian community. As I said, I don't feel there's anything wrong with taking on an identity because you want to, but use the right term. That's what the terms "linktype" and "link" exist for. The issue with KFFers is that they've hijacked the community's terminology and invaded spaces that are refuges for otherkin and therians. And then the bigger issue is that a lot of them (from what I've seen) turn around and call those of us who are actually otherkin or therians crazy. Because our identities are genuine.

So I do really advocate for the use of the terms "otherlink" and "-linker" and "-linking." It just helps distinguish actual 'kin from folkel who have taken on their identity voluntarily. But at the same time, I don't feel that I can talk about having done so myself. I have a copinglink that I've developed. Firekeeper helps me deal with stress and stressful situations. She started out as mainly to do with things relating to my therianthropy. She's physically human, but was raised by wolves and identifies as a wolf. Over time, she's become something that helps me deal with stress in general. And I took her on voluntarily. She's a part of me, but she was a choice I made and she feels very different to me than my theriotypes and kintypes.

On topic, though, I don't typically feel like I can talk about my linktype, because I don't want to be seen as "faking it." But just because that one identity is voluntary, that doesn't mean the rest are. I'm not a wolflinker or a gryphonlinker, I'm a wolf therian and gryphonkin. But I am not fictionkin, I'm a fictionlinker. They're different things. And I feel that, although my experience as a fictionlinker is different than my experience as otherkin (I feel that's maybe closer to fictionkin than therianthropy, since my kintypes are mythical creatures) there are similarities: I find a great deal of euphoria and comfort in reading Firekeeper's source and I do shift involuntarily at times - although I think that may be more that my brain has decided this is a good coping mechanism for stress. I have an extremely strong attachment to her and to her brother, Blind Seer. He feels like family to me.

But I don't want folkel to look at my having a linktype and immediately label me a fake or a KFFer as far as actually being a therian and otherkin. And that's a divide I think needs to be addressed. If folkel would use the correct terminology, I think that would be a good start. Having that established, separate terminology would help create a distinction of space and give room for respectful discussion. I know one thing I've heard mentioned with regard to issues with calling KFFers problematic is that some of them might be actual otherkin or therians who just haven't figured that out yet. And I think having that division of space would actually help that. It would give folkel with voluntary identities - 'linkers - their own space within the broader alterhuman community. If 'linkers were able to interact with the otherkin community in a manner that respected our 'kin identities as real and genuine and not chosen, it would allow for better discourse. And while you'd still get those folks who decide we're nuts for believing our identities to be true, I think that calming of the hostilities that have come largely from KFFers trying to invade 'kin spaces could allow 'linkers who are actually otherkin or therians to be able to discuss and explore that facet of their identities.

I don't know, that's just my two cents. I'm old and first joined the community when therians and otherkin were still very much separate (hence my distinction in my referring to them), but I think that with a respect for boundaries, things could improve greatly. I do have more to say about Firekeeper, but I'm going to make that a separate post. I feel this is probably the outer bounds of this post's topic.

Q: Pick any animal that's not your kintype

Me: Bird, or maybe fox. What about just bird fox griffin or some sort of hybrid to that nature--*does a quick image search and saw* wait a minute--

That's basically my linktype lmao!

introduction ✩⋆ ˚｡⋆

✩ my name is angel, noah or wyn!!

✩ i use he/him, hy/hym, and it/its pronouns

✩ i'm transmasc, autistic and phys disabled!! i regress to cope with those + ptsd!!

✩ i'm a raccoon and coyote puppy :3 (linktypes)

✩ fandoms: homestuck (spinterest), hermitcraft, life series, good omens, sanders sides, bluey

Otherlink and Quoiluntary Identities Ask Game

Feel free to use this as an ask game or for personal writing prompts:

🌸 What are your linktypes? What drew you to them?

🔱 In what way is your identity voluntary? I.e. How did you choose it?

🔗 What are some ways you connect to your linktypes?

📝 Any headcanons/theories about your linktypes?

🔆 Do you experience shifts of your linktypes?

💭 What was your first reaction to/opinion of your linktype? Has your opinion changed?

🗺 How did you first discover the otherlinking community?

💡 What advice do you have for newcomers interested in linking?

🍵 Do you experience imposter syndrome? If so, how do you manage it?

🎧 What song or songs remind you of your linktypes?

🎢 Have your linktypes gotten easier to maintain over time?

💖 Name three things you love about your linktypes!

👁‍ How would you explain otherlinking to people who do not know anything about alterhumanity?

🌈 What are some things you associate with your linktypes (environments, themes, etc)?

🎲 Do you own any gear?

🏔 What is your relationship like with other beings/creatures/environments related to your linktypes?

🦋 Do your linktypes have any connection to other alterhuman identities either past or present?

Im just a silly fox 🦊💖

First Call For Folklore

I make this sound so official, but really it's just me deciding I've spent enough time Not Finishing the Page™️ and I probably ought to actually ask folks for stories so maybe I'll get off my rump and finish the damn page. So! If YOU have any sort of folkloric stories about your kintype/theriotype/kithtype/linktype/whatever, please feel free to come share them!

What do I mean by folkloric stories? That's a term that tends to puzzle folks. Mainly that's because folks tend to equate words like "folklore" and "myth" with things that are made up or false. That isn't quite accurate. Folklore consists of many sorts of knowledge, but the ones we'll likely focus most on here are myths, legends, folktales, urban legends, folk music, and possibly art. In the academic field of folklore, a myth is defined as a sacred story. We're talking otherkin and therians primarily here, so that could be the story of how Raven stole the light and in doing so created the sun and the moon and the stars or it could be the story of Noah and the dove at the end of the Great Flood. These are both sacred stories that are considered true by those who follow their respective religions. That's what we mean when we say myth. A legend is a story that isn't considered sacred and that has elements of it that may seem larger than life. They're often supernatural or extraordinary in nature. A couple of examples would be Babe the big blue ox here in the US or the black dogs of the British Isles. As to folktales, fairytales, fables, these often involve magic, talking animals, and perhaps some sort of message. For exmaple, there is the frog prince, a fairytale in which a prince is cursed to become a frog, or the three blind mice. The three blind mice also feature in a folksong. These are songs that are just sort of part of a culture with no clear composer and sometimes no clear origin. One of my favorites is the Twa Corbies, a ballad about a conversation overheard between two crows, who were discussing eating the body of a freshly dead knight. It dates back to at least the 1700s.

Folkart is a bit less clear. This is really any type of traditional art - anything from basket weaving to bingata dyework - that is passed down within a culture. This, I don't expect will come up as much. It's a little less clearly defined for our purposes. Beyond that, there's also things like folkdance and traditional foodways and all manner of things. And if you know of anything that fits that bill, please absolutely feel free to share! With any of this, it doesn't necessarily have to be something that originates in a culture you're part of. However, I do ask that you approach all of this - especially mythology - with the same sort of respect and consideration you would give the lore you yourself grew up with and hold dear. All of this means something to the folks from whom it comes. So respect is paramount in folkloristics.

But now that I've nattered on about academia and things most folks probably don't even realize are things, I'm going to make sure that the asks and submissions are turned on. Feel free to leave these anonymously as well. But it would be awesome to hear from you all!

new linktype: jumping spiders. i fucking love jumping spiders

Otherlink

"otherlink(er) - an individual who has voluntarily chosen a nonhuman or fictional character identity. Similar to copinglinks, but created and used for reasons other than coping. Otherlinks generally may be dropped voluntarily." - From Beyond Humanity Alterhuman Dictionary

I've decided to try out a linktype, the mountain hare. I have questioned being a hare before and tried on hare folcintera multiple times before settling on hare-hearted for a time, but I realized even when I am not a hare therian, I can just *be* a hare if I want to! I can have a mountain hare linktype.

I don't know how this will go for me, because only having one 'type is what I am used to. It might not be for me, but it seems like a fun thing to try so I am going to. I chose mountain hares specifically as they are what I feel most connected to, even though brown hares fit me a bit better (I regularly shapeshift into brown hares as a fox spirit). I am excited to experience molting into my winter fur this fall.

I have no experience with otherlinking, so if anyone has any advice or wants to share their experiences please do!

Strawboycowdreamin! / Strawberryboycowdreamin!

A flag for being strawberryboycowdreamin (boycow is similar to being a catboy but cow, dont want to put 'cowboy' cause it would be something diferent)