Brines are destructive and ferocious creatures. These hybrids are feared among humans and gods alike. Any Brine spotted wandering the land is typically executed on sight. No one knows when the species first came around, though it is theorized that the first Brine was born was the spawn of the first vampire and demon in the Earthen universe. Brines were originally bred to control the human population, but those who escaped captivity roamed the Earth, searching for human blood. Brines typically live eighty to one hundred years. Brines are great card players and are difficult to beat in competitive games.

Description

Brines are vampire-demon hybrids. Brines have retractable fangs that are used for both fighting and feeding. The fangs produce a special venom that can immobilize their prey. Their sharp black claws stay hidden between the fingernail and skin, ready to be revealed for a battle. Brines have a much higher body temperature than humans, typically around 109.4°F (43°C). They have catlike tongues, rough like sandpaper. The texture of a Brine's tongue is used for grooming and feeding purposes. No other physical trait has been noted.

Characteristics

Pyrokinesis: Once a decade, per universe, a Brine is born with the power to control fire. These Brines are immediately made apprentices to their village Alpha or the Elder if they live within the Elder's community. This ensures that all Brines with pyrokinesis are either an Alpha or the Elder. A Brine's fire corresponds with their aura. Dousing a Brine with water will temporarily disable this ability.

Blood Magic: Most Brines know how to work with blood magic, though not all are skilled in this area of magic. The most powerful blood magic user in a village is responsible for creating the weapons within their village.

Hypnosis: A curious ability, Brines can occasionally hypnotize their victims through a combination of low humming and direct eye contact.

Venom: A Brine's fangs contain a venom that is often used during a hunt or battle. The venom slows brain activity, causing the victim to grow sluggish in their movements, and acts as a blood thinner, allowing the Brine to have an easy meal. The venom will not have any effect if a Brine were to accidentally bite itself, but will affect others, regardless of their relation. The venom is often harvested from captive Brines for testing purposes, typically to find a way to reverse the effects of the venom. All efforts have been proven to be fruitless to this date.

Saliva: The saliva has an odd healing ability, a trait that has confused researchers since the species was first discovered. The saliva can heal any non-magic wound. The saliva is often used in research projects to determine whether or not the ability can be reproduced.

Sixth Sense: Brines have a sixth sense to perceive danger before it hits them. This makes capturing a Brine terribly difficult.

Night Vision: A Brine's eyes can reflect light like a cat, allowing it to see in dim lighting. However, Brines cannot see in pure darkness as there is no light to detect. Shining a light into a Brine's eyes will cause the Brine's eyes to appear to glow yellow, though this is just the reflection of light.

Heightened Senses: Brines can see, smell, and hear better than a human. These are evolutionary traits that allow for higher hunting success rates.

Immunity: Brines are immune to most diseases, drugs, and medication. Only three drugs have been discovered to have an effect on Brines, Resido, Tribuo Virilis Praegnatio, and Inpotem.

• Some Brines are more aggressive than others and need to be sedated in order to be given a medical exam. The drug used to sedate and calm Brines is called Resido. If diluted, the drug has less of an effect than if left unchanged. An untouched Resido can and will force a Brine to fall unconscious. Kidnappers prefer to use pure Resido, and medical examiners more commonly used a diluted Resido. It is illegal in some universes to be in possession of this drug if you do not have the proper license.

• Some Brine lovers will be both be male and wish to have a child of their own. The submissive lover will be given a drug called Tribuo Virilis Praegnatio. It is usually sold as an injection. Pregnancy time does not change and will last for nine months. Unfortunately, female lovers do not yet have a solution and will be forced to adopt if both females wish to have a child. It's illegal in all universes to give a male Brine this drug against his will.

• Inpotem is highly illegal to be in possession of. This drug will cause a Brine to lose almost all control of his or her own muscles, leaving them incapacitated. This drug will also cause a Brine to fall ill if used consistently, lowering their body temperature and heart rate. Most Brines cannot see, hear, or move on their own when the drug has reached their bloodstream. The drug can be administered through injection or ingestion. Poachers use this drug to capture Brines to later sell as slaves or pets.

To be in illegal possession of these drugs has serious consequences. Criminals will be sent to prison if they are simply in possession of a drug, but can be executed if there is proof that the criminal used at least one drug on a Brine. However, most cases are left ignored due to the low status of the Brine hybrid species.

Diet

Though Brines eat food typical of a human diet, blood is essential for their survival. Brines can last a month without blood before their eyes begin to dull. Sickness sets in after a few months, and death occurs within a year. Human blood is preferable over an animal's, and all blood containing ichor is avoided. Pure ichor forces Brines into a temporary coma-like state and speeds up the natural healing process. Contrary to popular belief, Brines do not eat human flesh, though meat, both raw and cooked, is a staple component of their diet.

Distribution

Brines are typically found in warm climates with much shade to hide in. They prefer environments with little rainfall. Hot, dry climates are desirable.

Behavior

Brines are nocturnal creatures, using the cover of night to their advantage during an attack. The most attacks from a Brine reportedly has been from under a new moon. They prefer to attack like a vampire, though a more civilized Brine will use its own weapon. Brines are natural bloodthirsty, due to their demonic and vampiric genes. Brines are natural planners and can easily come up with an effective attack strategy. Their main weakness is their lack of numbers. Brines are surprisingly clean creatures and hate lingering dirt.

Brines have a large range of vocal signals, more often than not sounding like a cat.

1) Purr- The lover of a Brine will hear the catlike purr more than any other individual. Purring represents affection, love, or bliss.

2) Growl- Brines growl to show aggression towards others as a warning of an incoming attack.

3) Hiss- A catlike hiss is often used to show fright and submission towards an aggressor. Fangs are bared to ward off the aggressor, though a hissing Brine will not attack.

4) Prusten- Also known as chuffing or chuffle, this sound was previously used to be used only by tigers and and snow leopards. Prustens are often used as a friendly greeting if a Brine is unable or unwilling to speak.

5) Mew- This soft sound is used to draw attention to a Brine from others. Mews are more common in the young than in the mature Brines.

6) Mewl- A higher pitched and weaker mew, mewls are typically heard to complain of an interrupted sleep or to display distress in a quiet way.

7) Whine- Surprisingly a doglike sound, Brines whine when in pain, distressed, or to display forced submission to an abuser. A whine is used in place of a mewl if the Brine wishes to call attention to itself.

8) Trill- A mix between a mew and a purr, trilling is often used to display delight, pleasure, or joy. In a cat, trilling is described as 'rrrrrrowe', or the soft rolling of the r's.

9) Cry- Brines cry out when calling for help, typically from the surprise of being trapped or captured.

10) Mourning Wail- The Mourning Wail is only heard when a Brine's lover passes. It expresses sorrow and the pain of a Brine losing part of its soul.

Social Behavior

Brines typically live in small villages ruled by the Alpha of the village. Guards protect the village from intruders, and the hunting group brings back prey for the entire village. Due to their territorial nature, Brines will fight off unfamiliar Brines to protect their territory. An apprentice is chosen by the Alpha to rule and care for the village after the Alpha passes. The Alpha teaches its apprentice of every drug's effects and how to care for an injured Brine. Brines are highly protective of their superiors and lover and easily angered.

A parent will protect their young with their life. It is theorized that Brines have evolved to attack all unfamiliar individuals when near their young due to the small number of remaining Brines.

Respect can be earned from a Brine during a battle, treating them like they are not an animal, or simply leaving them alone if one were to spot a Brine. Brine specialists believe that Brines want to be treated as if they were human.

Reproduction and Love Life

Brines are incapable of having twins, triplets, etc. The young are born with their fangs, though the claws grow in around the age of one year. Nipping and biting is common around the ages of six, when the venom begins to be produced in the fangs, causing soreness in the gums. Reproduction begins, at the earliest, at the age of seventeen years.

Brines are known for their lifelong partners. They are not limited to the opposite gender as reproduction is possible between two Brines with the use of a drug, nor are they limited to their own species. Brines do not get married but often carry something to symbolize their relationship, like a necklace or ring.

With a Brine's first lover, their soul is split in half and their lover unconsciously protects one half of the split soul. This does not harm either member of the new couple since the Brine's soul is now bound to their lover. When the lover dies, the soul half they were protecting also dies and is lost forever, which is why it is so painful for a Brine to lose a lover. With the second lover, the Brine's soul is split in half again and the process repeats itself.

This soul binding explains why it is so painful the first time a lover is lost and why it is less painful as they move through lovers. However, it is extremely dangerous and most cannot survive past the first lover as most go into a depression after their lover's death. This process also explains why Brines are deathly loyal to their lovers and will wait an eternity for their lover to return home.

The pain of losing a lover forces the Mourning Wail. If the death was intentional, a Brine will weep for a few days before seeking revenge on their lover's murderer. Depression often follows revenge.

Weapons

Brines have a unique type of weapon. Traditionally, a sword is used for the process. A powerful blood magic user will infuse both their own and the blood of the future wielder to the sword, binding the weapon to its creator and wielder. The sword can be disguised as a dagger, a trait no other weapon will obtain.

Captivity

Brines are valuable to have as slaves or servants due to their natural ability to sense danger and their quick healing ability. Most Brines in slavery or servitude are used as guards to keep their superiors aware of possible dangers. Others are brought to laboratories to be studied for the venom in their fangs and the healing ability in their saliva.

Some Brines in captivity have been declawed, a harmful surgery that leaves a Brines defenseless. Others may have their fangs removed. However, fangs cannot be regrown once removed and as a result, the Brine can no longer produce its venom. A safer strategy would be to trim the claws and file the fangs regularly. This does not harm the Brine and allows the venom to be harvested.

Natural Enemies

Aetherians are the best known enemies of Brines, as Aetherians will spend an entire lifetime hunting down a single Brine. Aetherians were created to control the Brine population, a method that has been proven to be highly effective as Brines are now rare to spot in the wild. Umbras, or Shadows, as they are more commonly referred to, originally were meant to be allies of Brines. However, both are unusually territorial, leading to a permanent rift between the two species.

Typical Allies

Due to their ancestry, Brines are natural allies of Daemons, or demons, and vampires. Brines have been known to retreat to vampire nests or demon grounds when in a tight situation.

Fame

Herobrine is a prominent figure in the Brine community. Young Brines are often told of his legend, claiming that he will rise above the Aetherians and lead the Brines in victory in the demolition of all Aetherians during a final battle with Notch. Herobrine is a symbol of hope among all Brines.

All Brines know the name of the *contemporary Elder. The Elder is often found in a Brine facility run by Aetherians, though some past Elders have run off to live without Aetherian influence.

Over 2k words. Just a notice, this may be published multiple times until the end of the series as I may want to add something new or I've forgotten something important.

*Contemporary is a vocabulary word :D (living or occurring at the same time)