Ecology of the Lycanthropes 1
#1 of The Flaming Hearth Cycle
The lycanthropes are humans who were given the ability to switch between humanity and a sort of beast form. Contrary to their name, the transformation isn't limited to a wolf. Everybody has their own unique transformation.
You can only become a Lycanthrope by drinking the blood of a werewolf, this will result in two versions of the transformations. If you agree to drinking the blood you become a Bellator, your transformation will be consciously controlled, and it will appear as a cross of a human and whatever animal you transform into. If you unknowingly drink the blood, or do not agree to drink the blood you become a Husk, a Husk's transformations are uncontrollable, ferocious, and memories are not shared between the two forms. These the transformed Husk are in the form of massive animals, sometimes being up to 7-10 feet tall (2-3 meters)
As mentioned before, there are many forms a Lycanthrope can inhabit, how are these forms decided? The specifics are currently unknown however it appears that culture or region has impact as places that see bears as kings of the forest seem to have more bear Lycanthropes, and places that see Wolves as an apex predator or threat will see more Wolf formed Lycanthropes etc. Whatever seems to be the biggest hunter in one's own perception appears to be what they transform into.
While transformed a Lycanthrope will have superior regeneration abilities and a significantly increased pool of stamina making Husks and Bellators that feast on humans or other sentients a threat where they are found. They will also have abilities of the beast form they inhabit, such as potentially increased eyesight, running speed, hearing, or even flight for those that take an insectoid, Avian, or bat form. The trade off for these strengths and powers are a weakness towards foods that are toxic towards their beast forms, even when in human form, a weakness and disdain towards all plants in the allium genus for all lycanthropes and pure gold and platinum will stop all wound healing and regeneration which can lead to bleeding to death.
What do these creatures eat? How do they survive and sustain their bodies? They feed on hearts. It doesn't have to be human or sentient hearts but anything that is the center of a creature's circulatory system. The requirements are different between Bellators and Husks. A Bellator needs the equivalent of one human heart a day to sustain themselves and stay alive. A husk on the other hand the equivalent if 3 human hearts for every 24 hours they are transformed. The time spent being human does not count towards this. If the Husk does not meet this requirement they risk being stuck as a Husk for the rest of their time spent alive. If a Bellator fails to meet their requirement, they will start to starve to death over a period of another 24 hours unless they eat another heart
There are a few ways to prevent transformations. Jewelry with the essential oils of an allium being worn will stop a Husk from transforming, allowing for some control over the transformation. Wolfsbane essence getting into the bloodstream of a Bellator can revert them to their human form and it said that a Husk can be cured or turned into a Bellator if they are stabbed in the heart with a specific gemstone engraved with ancient runic inscriptions from the time of the first Lycanthropes