Werewolves (Wolf Bride)

The Werewolves are creatures of the Wolf Bride series.

History
"Our kind are the army the Earth uses to protect herself from the spread of human corruption. And we are losing. Badly."

- Alpha Werewolf

Werewolves are defenders of the natural world. They protect the last vestiges of earth that are untouched by humankind, and they defend the Primal Magic. They draw their powers from Primal lands, undisturbed by humans. They feel that their role on earth is an honor and not a curse. Through the years, their territories were destroyed, and they have been hunted almost to extinction.

During the full moon, werewolves are closest to the Primal Magic and they forget who and what they are for the night. Except during times of extreme emotion, they can generally control their ability to shift and retain their conscious minds.

Wolf-kin are not shapeshifters and are not werewolves. They are the human families that share blood with werewolves; they are werewolves' cousins and mothers. The only way werewolves breed is by mating with wolf-kin. Werewolves can only be born, and are not "turned" by biting or infecting blood. Wolf-kin do not have any other special abilities. Some who spend time in the Primal lands develop werewolf abilities, but it is exceedingly rare.

Once born, werewolves are generally raised by the Pack since human schools would frown on children turning into puppies during class. Wolf-kin are not required to live with the Pack at the Den and most live in town at Hunt's Peak, but they are allowed if they desire. Since the Pack doesn't use money, most wolf-kin keep part time jobs to support the Pack when they need something.

One generation ago, the Pack was large enough to maintain dens all over the woods around Hunt's Peak. Over time, many wolf-kin left and many Pack members were killed. Currently, there is only one den left.

Myth
The stories of werewolves as vicious monsters are human propaganda, designed to make humans fear the wilderness. Thus, humans stay in cities and are dependent upon technology and industry, the two fields that worsen the human condition.

Lifespan and Characteristics
During the full moon, werewolves become Primal. They rely on animal instincts and generally cannot talk or be reasoned with.

Werewolves born on the full moon are born Primal and rarely survive. Those that do have problems.

Knights of Ossory
The Knights of Ossory are an ancient order of werewolf hunters. They originated in Ireland in the 12th Century and have since hunted most major European packs to extinction. In order to escape them, some of the pack fled to America.

Powers and Abilities

 * Therianthropy : the ability to metamorphose into other animals by means of shapeshifting. These werewolves can transform themselves from human to werewolf and to wolf.
 * Werewolf Physiology: the power to use the abilities of a werewolf. This includes:
 * Enhanced Body: Even in human form, werewolves can heal more quickly than humans.
 * Enhanced Agility
 * Enhanced Durability
 * Enhanced Endurance
 * Enhanced Reflexes
 * Enhanced Senses: Their senses are heightened by Primal magic.
 * Night Vision: Even in human form, werewolves can see in the dark with perfect clarity.
 * Enhanced Speed: They are faster than most humans, due to their ties to Primal magic.
 * Enhanced Stamina
 * Enhanced Strength: They are stronger than most humans, due to their ties to Primal magic.

Weaknesses

 * Silver: During a full moon, silver is the only thing that can harm werewolves. During non-full-moon times, bullets would hurt werewolves just as much as they would hurt humans; however, werewolf physiology would allow them to heal faster.

Trivia

 * In the Wolf Bride universe, vampires do not exist and are "nothing but stories". This infers that either the werewolves of Hunt's Peak are unaware of vampires' existing or they do not share the same universe as the Bloodbound and Nightbound series.