Born Werewolves


Birth Form

Traditionally werewolves mate within their own species, but because of some quirk of biology they are also able to interbreed with humans and wolves.
Werewolves are born into the same form as their mother. If their mother is human, they are born in human form. If their mother is wolf, they are born in wolf form. If their mother is a werewolf who was born in human form, they will also be born in human form. If their mother is a werewolf who was born in wolf form, they will also be born in wolf form. It is usual for a female werewolf to revert to her birth form while giving birth (which can lead to mother and child being attacked by others if she reverts to human while among others on a full moon). It is thusly that certain strains of werewolves, those successively born in wolf or human form, develop through the female line.
The terms for werewolves born in the different forms are "born of the wolf" and "born of man".
It is thought that in ancient times all werewolves were born into wolf form, and that it was not until some depraved individuals began mating with humans that werewolves began being born in human form. It was reasoned that wolf form was the werewolf's "true" form and that the human form was merely a survival strategy assumed in order to more easily bring down human prey. Although some werewolf purists still cling to that ancient bias, most modern werewolves accept those born of the wolf and those born of man on equal footing.

Bloodline

Those werewolves that are born from both parents who are werewolves are the mainstay of werewolf society, the pure-bloods.

Due to the tendency to interbreed with compatible races, werewolves are not always born into werewolf communities. In cases where a werewolf breeds with a wolf or human, a half-blood may result. Half-bloods are physically weaker than pure-bloods, giving credence to the claims by purists that breeding with non-weres weakens the race. Although their detractors are swift to point out that half-bloods create children indistinguishable from pure-bloods. Half-bloods are often raised at the fringes of werewolf society. Some grow up with their non-werewolf parent not knowing what they are until the change comes. Others are raised in full knowledge of what they will eventually become.
In some cases, the union of werewolf and non-werewolf will produce a wolf or human child who is not a were, but carries the trait in their genes. In future generations a werewolf may be born of wolf or human parents, if one of those parents has some werewolf blood. These are the recessives. Recessives are nearly twice as physically powerful as even the strongest pure-bloods. Invariably the change takes recessives entirely unawares, making for extremely confused and often dysfunctional individuals. In cases where recessives are tamed, enlightened and integrated into werewolf society they make strong, aggressive and uncompromising leaders.

Awakening

Immediately or somewhat past puberty the born young werewolf will go through a second biological transformation where their ability to shapeshift will manifest. The time of awakening is always chaotic for the young were. Mental, emotional and biological changes engulf their world, much like puberty in that they often have little understanding of what is going on, but unlike puberty the process culminates in a single explosive moment when transformation first occurs.

Shapeshifting

Werewolf biology for both females and males is greatly influenced by the moon and her phases. There are behavioral changes that occur preceding one's moontime. A werewolf approaching their moontime will become increasing irritable, emotional and aggressive, much like a female entering her menses.
As with humans and the zodiac, werewolves assume a psychological affinity with the full moon which is their moon phase.
Werewolves, whether half blood, pureblood or werewolves created through transmition of the disease can only transform at moontime.

Family - The Pack

Werewolf society is based on the pack. The pack is a family, biological or adoptive, of werewolves who live and function together as a unit. The emotional ties of the pack are very strong and are the central focus of werewolf existence.
Much like wolf packs, werewolf packs are led by one strong leader, often male, but sometimes female. Newly adult members must "prove" themselves in order to earn a place within the pack hierarchy. All members of the pack are loved. All members of the pack who have proven themselves as valuable members of the pack are respected. Only one may rule, and that one must prove themself to be the strongest and most capable member of the pack. Packleaders are self-elected and must prove themselves before their rule is fully accepted.
In addition to packleader, another mainstay of the werewolf pack is the packmother. Almost always a female, the packmother is the primary caretaker of the pack. The packmother is also the spiritual leader of the pack; providing guidance, perspective and a stable ever-loving presence.

Longevity

Immature werewolves mature at the same rate as the creature of their birth form. Once a werewolf reaches maturity at awakening, their aging slows to a pace slightly slower than human, and much like a wizard or witch’s aging. Also, werewolves remain in their prime physically for much longer than their human or wizard/witch counterparts. A 60 or 70 year old werewolf will be in as good, if not better physical condition than a 30 or 40 year old werewolf. Male werewolves live to around age 130, when their health and prowess declines rapidly preceding death. Female werewolves experience the same decline in physical prowess at 130, but often remain in fair health for another 20 to 50 years.


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