Supernatural in Focus with Cels: Weres

Published May 3, 2011
Category: Cel's Says

The existence of Werewolves, in particular, has been bandied about in both myths and fairy tales for probably as long as anyone can remember and usually they feature as the villains of the piece.

Now, with so many Weres popping up in popular media, it seems time to try to discover just where our furry-turning friends originated from, and if they do indeed deserve their howling-at-the-moon-big-bad rap.

A popular thread of thought yet again takes us back to the original Fae that lived amongst us before the great divide between theirs world and ours. Often, noble Fae men and women were thought to have the ability to transform themselves into an animal at will, or, in extremely powerful cases, any animal they chose.

Regarded as fierce warriors, these shifters were highly sought after during inter-Fae wars, and often had high ranking status as Royal body guards. Unfortunately, the history and reputation of Weres becomes quite murky after the majority of the Fae hightailed it back when things with the Humans became a bit tricky.

Whether the Weres that stayed behind took to the more animalistic side of their natures or the inter-breeding with Humans warped their gifts, no one is sure, but it is after this time that they went from being revered to feared.

There is also no definite answer as to why there are so many different breeds of shifters. One theory that keeps popping up over and over is that, once they’d left earthside and needing to hide their true natures, those with the ability to shift to more than one animal found their power diminished and became stuck with just one shape – or that the power faded with a diluted bloodline.

Another train of thought I found fascinating is that science is to blame; that Lycanthropy is in fact the result of some mad genius with a God complex, and those unfortunate (or fortunate depending on your view) to be exposed find themselves changing into the first animal to bite them. My only problem with this theory is, if that’s the case, why aren’t we overrun with Mosquito Weres?

As for the Big Bad Wolf rap that all Weres tend to have to wear (pun intended), perhaps the most important thing to remember is that most Weres spend a fair chunk of their time furry and on the hunt. Would you try to pat a lion like you would a tabby?

And just in case the science theory proves to be true, sign me up for a shot today, as long as I get to pick my animal. Who doesn’t want super strength and senses and a slow ageing process to boot?