i think i should talk to someone with expertise in personality disorders

@eclairwolf so so so pretty

Prolonged (1 hour or more) direct contact with a moss creature (snuggling, hugging, etc), or a moss creature's trail of shedding moss pawprints, will cause the moss to spread to the new host creature, where the various subspecies of the symbiotic mosses will adhere to like-colored furs. Once the moss fully coats and conceals the host creature - a process that may take a day or two - they too are considered to be moss creatures. Under typical circumstances, becoming mossed is a deliberate and willing choice, and is fully reversible.

The moss forms a symbiotic, rather than parasitic, relationship with the host creature; the moss benefits by the increased mobility and potential to spread by the host coming into contact with other creatures, and benefits from the host's inclination to keep the moss coat well-hydrated and flourishing; while the host benefits from the warm insulating coat of moss, and shared moisture that penetrates their hydrophobic outer fur coat down the the fur roots and skin, keeping their fur clean (besides the moss of course), soft sleek and shiny, and healthy down to the root. It also provides a protective barrier against small insects and pests, like fleas and ticks.

Moss creatures, should they decide to de-moss, may shed their moss by gently digging their claw under a patch of moss, lifting the moss up and out of their fur until the majority of moss is removed, and then rinsing/bathing well in a moving-water body (such as small lake alcove under a light waterfall). Proponents of mossification state that it is immoral to discard shedded moss in any way that it cannot properly return to nature, i.e. by putting it in the trash or flushing it down a sewer; we recommend pressing the shedded moss firmly onto another moss creature (with consent, of course) to "refill" the other creature's moss lost to natural shedding, and increase biodiversity of their moss coat.

The healthier that a moss creature treats their moss coat, the more effectively the moss can provide its benefits to its host as well as spread. A moss creature should allow their moss coat to bathe in the sun often, and pour a moderate amount of water all across their coat daily. The moss creature should not oversaturate (i.e. by bathing or showering) lest the moss be drowned out and lose attachment to the fur. Fortunately, the moss autonomously captures and expels dirt, sweat, and other undesirable particles off the moss creature as part of its natural shedding process, meaning even without regular bathing/showering, a moss creature should never become dirty or stinky (though they will always have the lovely aroma of healthy, fresh moss ).