Beware the Howl of the Wolf

Werewolves are monsters of folklore and they are one of the most well-known folkloric creatures of all time, arguably only rivalled by the vampire in popularity and recognition - the werewolf has been seen in countless cultures around the world and is almost always considered vicious, antagonistic and evil: in many ways the werewolf may represent the fear humans have of their own animalistic urges, though other theories suggest the legends of werewolves were caused by interactions with people suffering from serious mental health problems, rabies or deformities.
Ways to Become a Werewolf

• A human’s DNA mixes with a werewolf’s.
• He is bitten by a werewolf.
• He is the child of at least one werewolf.
• He eats a part of the werewolf.
• He drinks water from the paw-print of a werewolf.
• He drinks water downstream from where a werewolf is drinking.
•  A human cast a magic spell to become a werewolf.

Types of Shifting

• Bilocation Shifting - This is a rare form of Physical Shifting. In it, the human body becomes completely rigid, and a wolf materializes by it. The wolf contains the essence of that human.
• Classical Shifting - It is a painful process during, and sometimes before, the Shift as the human slowly morphs into wolf shape.
• Molecular Shifting - This is an almost instantaneous Shift. The actual event is painless, though the werewolf may feel some discomfort leading up to it.

When Shifting Can Occur

• Depending on the person, he can transform at a variety of times. He may do it:
• At night.
• At will.
• During the full moon.
• When the he is extremely emotional or stressed.

Differences between Wolves and Werewolves
1) Physical Differences - Variable. Often they can look exactly like wolves. Sometimes, they appear more monster-like. Other times, they appear to be a cross between a wolf and a human being.
2) Behavioral Differences - Werewolves are generally more aggressive than wolves and prefer attacking humans to animals.

Silver
Silver is identified with the moon and is therefore ideal to slay a creature transformed under the light of the full moon. Eventually this myth expanded to include all "unnatural" creatures of the night, such as vampires.

• How it typically affects a werewolf:
• Silver itself does not kill a werewolf.
• Large amounts of silver do, however, or any silver that is mixed in with the blood (i.e. a silver bullet or stake).
• If the amount is too small, it will temporarily injure the werewolf, and it may leave a permanent scar.

Firepower
To kill a werewolf, you must use bullets or cartridges with serious stopping power to pierce its thick hide, but they need not be made of silver. Just be sure to aim for the head or the heart.

Wolfsbane
Wolfsbane, also commonly known as Monkshood, is more properly called Aconitum, a perennial flower that prefers cool, moist soil. All parts of Aconitum are poisonous to humans, especially the roots. How it typically affects a werewolf:

• It gives off an irritable smell.
• If a werewolf comes in contact with Wolfsbane, he can develop a rash.
• If he swallows it, he will be quite sick for the next couple of days.

Sometimes, however, a potion derived primarily from Wolfsbane can present a cure for lycanthropy.

One of the earliest origins of the werewolves came from ancient Greece: The Legend of Lycaon. Lycaon was the cruel king of Arcadia, son of Pelasgus and Meliboea. Angered by Zeus' visit being celebrated, Lycaon  served him a dish of a slaughtered and dismembered child (in some versions, his son, Nyctimus, and in other versions, his infant grandchild, Arcas) in order to see whether or not Zeus was truly omniscient. Even when offering Zeus the "meal", Lycaon took a taste of it himself. In his quest to test Zeus' immortality, Lycaon attempted to murder the god while he slept. In return for these gruesome deeds, Zeus transformed Lycaon into the form of a wolf, causing him to go on a rampage and slaughter several sheep, and killed Lycaon's fifty sons by lightning bolts, except possibly Nyctimus, who was then the slaughtered child, and instead became restored to life.
No matter the origin of the tales werewolves have become a staple of fantasy and horror fiction with many characters becoming werewolves. In the legends werewolves came in three kinds: the cursed human, the evil sorcerer and the Wolf that would disguise itself as a man (many cultures had a fear of wolves and viewed them as demons, though other cultures revered them). In Native American folklore, evil shape-shifters known as Skin-Walkers sometimes took on the role of werewolves and were seen as men and women, who would, via black magic, transform into animals by night and attack villages - at the same time some shamans would try to invoke wolf-spirits via rituals.