Board Thread:WARNING ALL USERS False Info\Spoilers/@comment-108.201.172.92-20140204200446/@comment-1409671-20140208173658

The thing is, I don't see the family as being myobu (shrine foxes), so I'm reluctant to presume celestial. I don't think they're byako kitsune or genko kitsune - the white and black shrine foxes of O-Inari. I don't think they're reiko kitsune (ghost foxes), and I don't think they're yako/yakan kitsune ('bad foxes'). They're not vicious, so I'll rule out kuko kitsune (air foxes) as well. That leaves shako kitsune (red foxes) and zenko kitsune (benevolent foxes). Those two make the most sense - the shako foxes are kind of the 'common kitsune', while the zenko kitsune are the ones most associated with fox wives - they like helping people, they're orderly, and they get along well with people.

The lightning thing is still a 'thing', kitsune bi, fox-fire, and a kitsune could, in theory, absorb the chi from those around it. For Teen Wolf, I'm willing to hand-wave a lot, and presume 'it is a fox-type shapeshifter, with different strengths and weaknesses than a werewolf', and allow that there is a divine connection within the kitsune which give them a bit more 'oomph'. Kira's a kami. Her mother is also probably a kami. It's all cool.

Now, looking at this from another perspective - Scott's a werewolf. A wolf is called an okami. Okami can also mean 'great spirit' or 'god'. The okami (wolf) was also seen as a divine messenger as well - and would be fiercely protective of certain individuals who were worthy, and horrifically brutal to those who were deserving of punishment. The former sounds like Scott, the latter sounds like Derek, doesn't it? ;)