Changelings

This article is a WIP

Article written by Jay

Named for an old Earth legend involving Fae replacing a child with one of theirs. The Changeling is an interesting sort of parasite, being implanted in the host's womb and growing there as if one of the host's own young. The Changeling seems to take on many characteristics and even the body plan of its host when fully formed, though there are a handful of traits that mark it as being a Changeling rather than a member of the host's own species.

Angel: don't call our daughter a parasite

Jay: I'm simply speaking from a scientific perspective

This mimicry seems to extend to things such as intelligence level and growth rate. I have been informed by those Humans among our group that the Changeling known as Ember, who was carried by one of the Humans, has been growing at a rate consistent with what they know of Human young. Ember is also the closest exposure any of us have gotten to a Changeling, though there have been some sightings of others among other groups of animals in the wild.

The means of infection with this parasite is still unclear to us. It is unfortunately impossible for me to guess more than the general time frame for the initial infection and as there were a number of anomalous incidents in that time frame, guessing would be rather pointless. What can be said for certain is that at some point, the host acquired what appeared to be an old scar on her abdomen. How long it was there before being noticed is unknown. Weeks after it was first noted, the host began to experience symptoms of a Human pregnancy.

Angel: I dislike that you're calling it an infection

Jay: It is the technically correct term, though I understand if you would prefer impregnation

Angel: ugh, no

The Changeling known as Ember spent nine months within the host's womb before being expelled as a newborn. Ember drank the host's milk from her breast and caused no further harm to the host once outside of the host's body. I have been repeatedly informed that the harm suffered during the infection would be quite typical of an ordinary Human pregnancy, though I have no experience witnessing such a thing and cannot verify.

Mina: if you can't believe the Humans about this, who can you believe

Jay: I appreciate the thought, but neither you nor Angel experienced a normal Human pregnancy before arriving on this planet and Jude is incapable of such things. Were you not infertile, I would expect to witness one of these normal Human pregnancies to compare

Mina: completely bonkers way of phrasing that you're disappointed Jude can't knock me up, thanks!

Jay: I would not say I am disappointed, only that the two of you are very enthusiastic in your mating and if you were capable of producing offspring, it would be inevitable

Crystal: not the place for whatever the fuck this discussion is

Features unique to Changelings include black eyes with no visible difference between sclera, iris and pupil other than a thin white ring around the edge of where the iris would be. White hair, including eyelashes and body hair. Black markings on the skin around the eyes, mouth and digits. And purple blood. The colour of the blood effects things such as the appearance of the inside of the mouth, bruises and scars. Other than these, there are no physical differences between Ember and a Human child.
Other Changelings that have been sighted also have these features, from what we have been able to see. In one case, the Changeling was covered in white fur, and thus we were unable to see if the markings were there beneath. It is curious that these beings, who are so capable of shaping themselves in the image of their host, still somehow have been able to continue with this evolutionary strategy while maintaining a colouring that will often have them standing out very starkly from the species they have integrated themselves with.
Despite raising a Changeling ourselves, our knowledge of the species is still quite limited. We have done what we can to observe other Changelings in the wild to attempt to prepare ourselves for Ember's future. As far as we have found, however, Changelings seem to follow the life cycle of their host. There has not been a time when any Changeling we have been able to observe has reproduced.
Because of this, I have theorized that there are at least two kinds of Changelings. There are the Changeling offspring, who will grow within their hosts, become like them, and will ultimately follow their life cycle, though without reproducing. There is also a second kind of Changeling, which will infect the hosts with their young. How this kind of Changeling comes into being, I am not sure. Nor am I sure how this species is able to continue existing. The information that we have is very much incomplete, and I can only hope that we will be able to find our answers soon.

Nico: Do you really have to keep calling our daughter a parasite?

Jay: That is what she is. It does not mean I love her any less. Would you tell me I am a horrible mate for calling Angel a mammal?

Mina: I'm going to start calling your kid the lil parasite

Jude: For the love of the Stars...

Crystal: None of you are professionals

Angel: When the fuck did we claim to be?