General information

Shiftgems (singular - "shiftgem")  is the pet companion species for Bub-Chi. They are small, quadruped and feral in appearance and behavior, but still very loyal to their owners.

Their intelligence is about the equivalent of an average dog.
Shiftgems have four legs (usually), short body with soft curves (no angles) and a pair of dark eyes with white round pupils (similarly to Bub-Chi). Ears, horns and tails are changeable traits and come in different shapes.
Shiftgems don’t have toes or paw pads and also no fur either. Their bodies are very firm and cold as stone to the touch. The patterns also resembles stones and minerals.
Their height is usually between 5-10cm.

What they actually are and how to get one?

The original form of each shiftgem (aka the core) is the crystal, that had fallen from Benzel’s fur (one of the Chigon Gods). It can be any mineral structure, color, shape and size, but always has the inner glow. Bub-Chi call such crystals "gems", and they are highly valued among them.

If you were lucky to find one, all that you need to do - turn it into a piece of jewellery and then wear it very close to your body. After some time, gem will gain enough heat to allow your shiftgem to appear.
You also can keep it as simple gem if you be able to always keep it near your body. Without its heat shiftgem weakens and loses the ability to take its feral form.

When turning into feral form, shiftgem uses its core’s holder as a part of their body. Usually it stays visible, but can become a part of the skin’s markings. Once chosen the placement of the core always stays the same.

Abilities

The main ability of shiftgems is shapeshifting.
Depending on their owner’s needs shiftgems can take one of three forms: flying, swimming or digging.
Each one is intended to help in the appropriate situations or just for the ease of moving.

Designs of the forms don’t have any rarity scale, and shiftgem can use any, which they like most, or even change it every time they shapeshift. Forms do not have to be the same as in the examples, be creative! Though the number of shifting limbs should stay the same - if shiftgem has only one pair of forelimbs they can't have two pair of wings and etc.

Trivia

Shiftgems don’t have any gender and can’t reproduce by themselves.
They also can't die unless their core is shattered into pieces. They can heal most of the cracks they get as well as wounds on their feral form.
They understand owner’s commands, but not the speech.
Obviously, they can’t talk and just make some pitch noises.
The time shiftgem can spend in the constant feral form is usually just a couple of hours, after which they will need to return to the jewellery one to charge by the owner’s body heat. It takes the same amount of time.
They don’t have digestive system, but still can eat. It’s a mystery where does the food go.
In most cases shiftgems are serious, hard-working and result-oriented, but still can have a moments of playful mood