Maybe you heard a howl that sent something primal screaming through your bones. Maybe you found tracks that led nowhere. Or maybe, just maybe, you saw one change under a full moon. Yes Virginia, werewolves are real.
What Is a Werewolf Really?
There’s more than one kind of were. Knowing which one you’re dealing with might just save your life.
- The Moon-Tied: These are the ones from legend cursed to shift under the full moon, often against their will. Some remember what they do. Others wake up covered in blood, with no idea where they’ve been. But this is the 21st century, and most of today’s moon-tied wear wolfsbane charms to hold the curse at bay.
- The Blood Born: Unlike Moon-Tied, Blood Born are werewolves from birth. They don’t need the moon to shift, and they have far more control. They’ve been living among us for generations. They are also extremely secretive.
- The Skin Walkers: Not lycanthropes at all. Something worse. Shapeshifters that steal forms, wearing human and wolf skins alike. Some even pass as Moon-Tied or Blood Born to bypass your defenses. (I’ve seen it happen.)
- The Hex Bound: Some people become wolves through magic. Cursed, bound or altered by dark spells, their transformations often come at a terrible price.
How to Tell if You’re Dealing with a Were
- Eyes that glow redly.
- A scent that is not quite human.
- Claw marks too deep for any normal animal.
- A feeling of being singled out in a crowd.
Are All Werewolves Dangerous?
No. Some are just people, dealing with something they didn’t choose. They live normal lives, hold down jobs, raise families and avoid conflict. If you meet a werewolf, don’t assume they are a monster. They might be more afraid of you than you are of them.
What Can You Do if Things Go Bad?
- Silver works… but not always. It doesn’t weaken all werewolves, and using it thoughtlessly might just piss them off.
- Don’t assume they’re mindless. Even in full form, some have control. Reasoning might work. Running? Less so.
- Never, ever corner one. You’ll regret it.
- If you’re in over your head? Call the OHR. They have specialists for this.
The OHR and Werewolves
Unless one is a known threat, the OHR has a hands-off policy when it comes to lycanthropes. They may even employ them.
TLDR: Not all werewolves are created equal. Some are cursed. Some are born. And some… aren’t even wolves.
Stay sharp. Stay Unveiled.
—Penny