Half-bloods

What is a half-blood?
To be a half-blood simply means that when you are in your human form, you still have qualities from your true form, such as ears, fangs, claws, wings, fur, etc

Degrees
There are different degrees. Say, for example, a domestic cat halfblood, a first degree would only have the ears or tail of that form in thier human form. A second degree would have the ears and tail. A third degree would have the ears, tail, and sharper, more pointed teeth. Plus thier nails would be long and pointed; literal claws, if you will. A fourth degree has everything. Plus, they can make noises like their true form in their human form. That cat that I'm using could meow, purr, hiss, you name it. All in their human form. It's quite disturbing. Every degree is a little different for every animal. But the concept is the same: the higher the degree, the more characteristics of your true form you posess in your human form.

The Full Moon Effect
It's only for third and fourth degrees. But at the full moon, most halfbloods are negativly affected by the moon and they turn into crazy killers. They think of nothing but the sensation of having an innocent creature's blood on their hands

Examples
There are 4 main half-bloods in the trilogy (not including Sitka and the snake), first appearing in book 2. A cheeta half-blood named Calix, a hawk half-blood named Astorio, a panther half-blood named Jet, and a fox half-blood named Otomo. Sitka later turns into a half-blood herself. Also, it is a snake half-blood that kills Queen Arlinia.