The Quileutes have a detailed history of how they
came to be shape-shifters and how that aspect of their nature was
focused by their first contact with vampires. Essentially, the early
Quileutes had the ability to use astral projection, When this ability
led to a coup, the rightful chief put his spirit into the body of a
wolf. His progeny were able to assume wolf form as well.
The first time a vampire - or "cold one",
as the Quileutes called them - entered the Quileutes' land, the tribe
discovered that their wolf protectors were able to kill vampires, but
it was an almost evenly matched contest. Vampires became the main
focus of the Quileute wolves, Over time, the Quileute warriors gained
the ability to assume wolf form only if a vampire triggered the
reaction.
This history was passed down through oral
storytelling. Originally the entire tribe would learn the account; in
the last century, however, the sharing became more secretive, passed
only from werewolf descendants to the next generation of potential
werewolves. All tribe members know the basics, but think of the
stories as myths rather than facts.
