Sprout

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A sprout is a headmate at the start of development. This may be in the form of a fragment slowly taking on more distinction, or a general feeling of a split coming on.

For spiritual systems, silhouette may also describe be a potential walk-in that has not yet fully joined a system.

For introjects, the term shapeling may be more fitting. Since the source character already has a defined outline, they may be more clearly distinct in the process of forming.

A sprout may become a fully fledged system member, or may end up fading again if the system employs grounding techniques or distances themselves from the source media. Whether headmate formation is still reversible at this stage depends on the system. Not all sprouts may be noticed before fully forming.

Related Terms
A shapeling may be perceived as or mistaken for Introject Empathy.

A forming headmate may be considered a sprout until they have fully gained an identity, or they may be considered a seed as soon as their formation cannot be interrupted anymore.