Talk:Qrow Branwen/@comment-4555743-20171116223520/@comment-4555743-20171116233554

Right.



Concerning the "tuft of feather" difference. That does not at all seem a valid suggestion of two different birds to me. Most probably, it was an artist's choice to draw it that scruffy way to represent the race and stress of the moment. Also, if you review the last seconds of vol. 3 chapter 12 (another supposed "shapeshifting" scene), you don't find find any feather tufts or scruffiness there.

Also, as these bird are almost 100% manifestations of Qrow's power, they might as well be different depending on his mood when creating them etc etc. It's too small a detail to draw conclusions from.

Next, when we encounter shapeshifting in a fantastic universe, the fundamental question is: what happens to the clothing and gear? With Qrow, of course, we'd have to assume that everything he carries melts into the rather small bird form. His huge sword and Ozpin's cane included. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is a lot of stretch, because we do not see -anything- like this, hmm, extra-dimensional mass manipulation anywhere else in the universe. No hints at all. The "well, it's magic" explanation does not satisfy me because everywhere else the RWBY world is pretty logical, or at least actively trying to be.

But if we talk of teleportation, or creating sorts of space-bending portals, we actually -do- see a thing like this in the universe, and from none other than Qrow's own sister.

As Sentry616 correctly mentioned, we do not actually see Qrow shapeshift. Indeed, we see him replacing the bird without seeing what happened. And because of what I wrote above, shapeshifting does not at all look the most likely option here for me.

To summarize, I think that Qrow uses his bird as a teleportation anchor. It might even create a portal visually resembling those used by Raven (what could have happened when the bird flew behind that barrel).

As a side note, I am about 100% sure that this power, as well as Raven's portals, have the same fundamental source as the Grimm. But the post have already grown too lengthy. :)