Werewolf Guide - Introduction

“There are many ways to identify a werewolf in both its wolf and human forms. This introduction will briefly discuss some of the most useful, as well as describe some of the unique behaviors of werewolves.

A werewolf is capable of shapeshifting between human and wolf form at any time it wants, but there are some things that it cannot change. It is said that there is always a bit of the wolf in the man, and a bit of man in the wolf. There are a few things that are unique to werewolves, but first let us look at a few of the ways in which they are similar to real wolves.
Werewolves usually walk on all fours like real wolves, so it is easy to mistake one for a wolf. They are typically only slightly larger than the average wolf, although there are notable exceptions, especially among males. Size alone can sometimes be all that you need to recognize a werewolf, but this is so unpredictable that it is not one of the better traits to rely on.
Fur color, which seems to be related to the intensity of hair and skin color in the werewolf’s human form, is just as diverse as pelt color is in wolves.
The easiest way to recognize a werewolf is to look at the eyes. If you survive a close encounter with one long enough to get a good look at them, you will notice that they are identical to human eyes. This is the main mark of the werewolf in its wolf form, and it is not something that the werewolf is able to change. Because of this werewolves will usually have brown, green, or blue eyes, instead of the amber or yellow eyes of wolves.

There are also a few other traits that can distinguish a werewolf from a real one, although it is more difficult to recognize these during a brief sighting.
Werewolves are able to control the way that they shapeshift, and they will occasionally take on a hybrid, bipedal form. This is somewhat awkward and uncomfortable though, so it is rarely seen. More commonly, a werewolf will change only a single part of its body. In human form, intense emotions such as fear or anger can sometimes cause an unconscious transformation of the teeth into fangs or fingernails into claws. In wolf form the ability to partially transform is most often used when the werewolf needs to manipulate an object with more precision than paws would allow. This allows them to change a paw into a more hand-like shape to open doors, even use human weapons if they choose.
A werewolf may also have a more battered appearance than a wolf. Because they are more aggressive with their own kind than wolves, they often have scars and other evidence of injuries. Their habit of preying on humans also leads to many other injuries, such as bullet wounds. Werewolves have a powerful immune system and an incredible ability to heal, but they are not capable of true regeneration.

In human form, the canine teeth will always be more pointed and fanglike than an actual human’s. Werewolves who are self-conscious of their condition, or fearful of being noticed, will sometimes have their teeth filed down to make them appear more human. This is considered an extreme action however, since the teeth are a major source of pride for most werewolves.

Werewolves have evolved many social habits for making life safer. Ever since almost being hunted to extinction during the middle ages, they have recognized that it is generally unwise to bother humans. Most werewolves today are good neighbors and citizens, and it would be difficult to recognize them based on their behavior alone. They have developed many laws designed to both prevent cruel treatment of humans, as well as keep humans from discovering their existence. Packs develop in communities with high populations of werewolves, largely out of a necessity to do something about the rogues who believe in hunting humans. The largest of these packs develop an elite class of assassins, whose job it is to deal with criminal werewolves, as well as humans who are coming too close to discovering the truth.

There are only two ways to become a werewolf, through inheritance or through being bitten by one.
Although it is not known if the condition is caused by genetics or something else, it is dominant. Only one parent needs to be a werewolf for all of the children they have to be werewolves as well. Children who inherit will be born human, but gain the ability to change at will anywhere from the time they hit puberty to 18 years of age. The first change is always involuntary and occurs around midnight, and it is an extremely long and painful experience. Afterward, shapeshifting is painless and can be done very swiftly.
Those who are bitten by a werewolf will not always become one themselves, since werewolves have control over the ability to change their victims. For those who are changed by a bite, everything will appear normal until about a week afterwards, when the first change occurs at midnight as described above.
It is thought that those who inherit are able to adjust better than those who are bitten, although rogues can be found among both. The ones who inherit are more likely to be extremely cunning and difficult to hunt down due to an advanced mastery of their abilities. The ones that are bitten are more likely to display psychotic behaviors and outbursts of violence due to the difficulty of adjusting to the condition. The second kind of rogue is more common, but the first kind is far more dangerous.”

Many years ago I came up with an idea of what werewolves should be like if they were real. I always thought it would be way cooler to be able to control the transformations yourself, instead of it being controlled by the moon. Part of this is based on mythology, but a lot of it is just stuff I made up.

Other chapters:
Non-wolf shapeshifters-[link]
How shapeshifting is transferred with a bite- [link]
Rogues- [link]
Capture and Restraint- [link]
Terminology- [link]
Psychology- [link]
Physical appearances- [link]
South America- [link]

My character Erick Hunter [link] is just one of a zillion characters I’ve made up so far for my alternate reality werewolf story (not something I’m going to be writing down). I decided to start drawing Erick because I’ve always liked him, and because he is very famous in the story.
Although Erick started out as a good guy, he eventually became a “rogue,” someone who breaks the rules of werewolf society by harming humans. Most werewolves are actually quite a bit friendlier than him.