CSI: Crime Scene Investigation2000

Dr. Tyrell Neth:
The idea of animal transformation - therianthropy - is as ancient as mankind itself. In native cultures, young males gain an animal spirit at puberty. Often the initiate must kill his spirit animal, consume it as a right of passage.

Dr. Raymond Langston:
Yes I'm familiar with the concept but umm... my understanding of therianthropy is that it's fleeting, it's meant to be symbolic. In many cultures, the notion of retaining the shape of the beast is seen as nothing less than a curse.

Sara Sidle:
Cat got your tongue? Maybe you could loosen it enough to tell us about Iona Vail.