Animal To Call

An **Animal to Call** is a sort of companion that powerful vampires may gain through the development of their psychic abilities. Possessing an Animal to Call is considered the mark of a Higher Vampire, as only very talented individuals can ever hope to achieve such an ability. The term "animal to call" can refer to either this particular bound individual, or the whole group of animals (*"wolves are his animals to call"*), or even any shapeshifters that match the animal in question. On the other hand, the term *"moitié bête"* seems to be more strictly limited to the bound individuals.

Despite the name of the term, a vampire's animal to call may not actually be an animal at all. For example, one vampire can call merfolk, another can summon ghosts, and Josie Salvatore even learns how to command lower level demons but appears to be unable to control particularly powerful ones, as seen when she failed at trying to influence Dean Winchester, a Knight of Hell. It is theorized that should Josie's twin sister, Lizzie, become a Heretic, then she would be able to call Angels.

## Description

### Overview

Particularly powerful vampires, like Marmee Noir, can develop control over whole animal groups (in her case, all great cats), although they can presumably still only bind one person at a time. Some master vampires, like Musette for example, can call two different animals. The Master of Beasts alone has such control over all animals, although he's otherwise less powerful than Marmee Noir.

The psychic bond between a master vampire and their animal to call is very similar to the bond between a vampire and their human servant, and gives power to both parties, although the vampire is by default the controlling party of the relationship. In a triumvirate where the bonds are formed three-ways between a vampire, an animal to call, and a human servant, the animal to call is usually considered to be second after the vampire in their internal power structure. An animal to call is often referred to as the master's "wolf to call" or "leopard to call", or even the master's "animal half". Officially, they are labelled '**Therian Servants**.'

Like a human servant, an animal to call is meant to be a vampire's eyes and ears among the general human population, and an extension of the vampire master's will, especially during daylight hours. An insult or injury to an animal to call is considered a similar attack against their master, and their word is considered to be that of their master's, unless directly contradicted by them. Interfering with another vampire's animal to call is a strict taboo.

An animal to call stops aging, and gains resistance against vampire powers, even those of their own master. The vampire can draw power from his or her animal to call, but not to the point of draining them like with a Thrall, as the connection goes both ways and the death of the animal to call often kills the vampire as well. Likewise, the death of the vampire usually kills the animal to call as well. An injury to either party is felt by both, although this can be protected against by mental shielding. Many vampires can take direct control of their animal to call's body, although they may not be entirely aware of all of the animal to call's senses at the time. This may or may not be a skill that can be improved with practice.

### Bonding

A vampire does not choose its Animal to Call, nor does the animal choose its vampire master. Bonds usually form of their own accord, decided by each individual's metaphysical compatibility with one another, or by how well they 'resonate' with each other. What exactly this means is unknown, but some people tend to have a sort of emotional or familial connection, biological or adopted, with each other as their bonds simply 'snap' into being. This is described as being similar to 'Imprinting' on others, as it is largely involuntary, but not always. Chance was able to unconsciously bind Max Kenner and the Zeeman Twins to him without even realizing it, and did the same with his adoptive brother, Derek Hale.

However, especially powerful vampires can consciously bind individuals as their animals to call, so long as they are of the appropriate breed. This is later seen with Jackson Whittemore, whose life he manages to save by marking him as his Therian Servant, turning into a Werewolf-Kanima hybrid with the help of Lydia Martin. For some people, it happens by itself, and in other instances, the vampire must start the process of their own volition.

## Known Pairs

* Chance Mikaelson - Wolf, Snake, and all Great Cats - Derek Hale (Wolf), Isaac Lahey (Wolf), Max Kenner (Wolf), Calliope and Michaela Zeeman (Black and White Tiger), Jackson Whittemore (Kanima/Wolf), and Seth Cooper (Red Tiger).
* Kol Mikaelson - Foxes - Stiles Stilinski (Werefox)
* Maribel Deschamps - Wolf - Derek & Peter Hale
* Josie Salvatore - Demons - Azazel
* Aaron Mikaelson - Lion - Unknown