Sex, Gender and identity

Sqwaguls as a species lack a biological sex, and are not assigned a gender when they hatch. Sqwaguls, as a species, have a very foreign idea of gender compared to other societies and species, but they are able to explore it however they wish.

There is no societal constraint to abide by a particular role or gender role-- sqwaguls may identify as male, female, nothing, neither, or anything else or in between. Sqwaguls take great enjoyment in exploring their identities, using their chosen gender identity to further express themselves as an individual.

Sqwaguls in particular take intrigue in exploring xenogenders, neopronouns, and have even created some of their own.

• I will put some here eventually :}

Conception

Eggs

Sqwagul Genetics

Sqwagul's genetic code is very unstable due to the magic that emanates at their very core. Similar to sugar beasts (though on a lesser scale due to lacking their diet), their evolution process is far more rapid than normal, and they are particularly more susceptible to mutations, both seen previously, and entirely new ones. Certain mutations are more common than others, however-- there remains a set of more typical features that sqwaguls possess, such as their classic ears, horns, feet, and tails.

What the resulting peep will look like is a toss-up-- there's little to no guarantee that it will even vaguely resemble their parents. Coat colors, fur textures, wings, eyes, tails, and much more all seem to crop up completely randomly.

Parentage and Families

Due to their nature of reproducing magically, sqwagul family lines can be extremely confusing to most other species.... Any number of 2+ sqwaguls can have children at the same time, which impacts how their family groups are treated. While groups of 2 parents are common, sqwaguls have been seen with parent groups as large as 10, though the numbers can easily be even higher!

Sqwaguls are very familial and raise their peeps very closely-- they hardly ever stray from them. The story is a bit different for peeps themselves though, they are naturally curious and have been known to wander off and get lost! A curious peep often has to be returned to their poor, distraught parents more than once in their childhood.

Sqwaguls typically have 1-2 peeps at a time, with the number climbing with the more sqwaguls involved in creating the children, but due to their often-polygamous and social nature, it's common for peeps to be raised in large groups. Peep-rearing is often a town-wide affair, with anyone within the town willing and able to help the parents take care of and teach their children together. Peeps will often huddle together in large piles to keep warm and sleep when their parents or babysitters are busy or sleeping.

Bonding between peeps is common, with some that grow together often considering themselves family despite their lack of blood ties. Friendships are just as common-- and so are flighty childhood crushes!