Animal Power

As mentioned in the powers section, a vampire has the power to transform into animals, and Damon's animals to call are the wolf and the crow. Below I will look at some of the myth and realities of these two animals which have much myth and fear surrounding them, and they are often labelled as animals of ill will and even evil. Crows and Wolves are often associated with the primitive gods of the dead, which has increased the fear surrounding them.

The Wolf

The wolf is a meat-eating animal of the the dog family (other animals in this group are the jackal and domestic dog). Mainly living in the Northern hemisphere, there are three main species of the wolf family - the gray wolf, red wolf, and coyote. The most common animal is the gray wolf, which looks a bit like a sheep-dog. The average male can be around 90cm high and 120cm long (excluding the tail). The usual weight is 45kg, but some wolves can be twice that. Wolves can hunt alone or in packs, but they do so mainly at night. They hunt on small or weak mammals but can also eat vegetables and carrion. They are known to wear down their prey by chasing them for long distances, as wolves can reach speeds of 56km an hour.

Wolves are social creatures, they form relationships with each another and form their own packs, with hierachies to survive. Packs usually have five to ten wolves in them, however, under severe conditions, larger groups may be formed. Dominant hierarchies rule the pack order and fights generally only break out during scuffles along pack borders. Wolves communicate through sounds and facial expressions and are creatures that crave interaction.

North American First Nations lived in harmony with wolves; even early settlers respected the wolves, until settlers began to raise livestock for food when wild animals became unavailable, the wolf became a threat to them, and the wolf was seen as a wild predator. European settlers began to hunt the animal reducing its numbers and areas the wolf could be found.

Stories such as Little Red Riding Hood and the myths of werewolves have created a stigma around the wolf, that they are evil, destructive and devouring. This myth has been fueled by movies and other tales such as The Three Little Pigs and while recently this has not caused hysteria of the 1500s, it has created a fear of wolves. Tales from the Middle Ages ally wolves with the Devil and other dark forces, whereas in North American wolves were seen as the representatives of important natural forces or spirits.

One of the more famous tales of wolves is that of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. Romulus and Remus were the illegitimate sons of a vestal virgin and the God of War - Mars (the wolf is also a sacred animal for Mars/Ares). Thrown into the River Tiber to drown, however, they were found by a female wolf, who took them to a cave overlooking what became Rome and suckled them. Other myths like this are common, especially in India.

In the Bible the wolf represents evil and destruction, it symbolises dishonest gain and bloodshed (Ezekiel 22:27) and the evening. The wolf, being the enemy of the Lamb (symbol of Jesus Christ) often has been used as a symbol of the Devil or false prophets (the New Testement referring to 'ravenous wolves').

The Crow

The crow is the animal called upon most often by Damon. A migratory black bird of the same family as the Raven, Magpie, Jay, Rook and the Jackdaw of Europe, the common crow can grow up to 49 cm long and has a wingspan of up to 92 cm. Crows eat some eggs and nestlings and grain, but destroy many harmful insects and rodents. Along with the other members of the family Corvidae; crows are considered to be the most intelligent of all birds. Despite being scavengers the Crow is a communal bird, in winter they gather at night by thousands in communal roosts.

The word crow is actually Latin to mean Raven and both birds come from the same family. Both Crows and Ravens have come to be popular symbols of evil and omens of death, due in part to their colouring, caw and development of mythology. Both birds are scavengers and if seen flying over a house it is thought that someone will die soon. Birds are also seen to carry the soul of a person to the land of the dead. Crows appear frequently in mythology and folklore especially Greek and Native American. North American First Nations use the Crow as a totem image, as it symbolises the keeper of sacred law and a messenger. Crows are also sacred among Aborigines in Australia. Gypsies however, believe that the crow can be controlled by vampires, and often become one with other beings of the un-dead.

In Greek myth Crows were sacred to both Apollo and Athena, but even Athena would not let them perch on the roof as it was a symbol of death. However, it is said that Crows were originally white, but due to deception by another person or a god believing the Crow was lying they were transformed into black to show that they were malicious. It seems myths contradict each other often when it comes to the Crow. In Celtic mythology, white Crows appear in myths as good people. The side the Crow appears on or what the Crow does can change whether the appearance of the Crow is a good or evil symbol.

Crows are believed to judge and murder other crows in their territory, and it is for this myth that a flock of Crows is called a murder. The basis is that Crows will kill a dying Crow that doesn't belong in their territory or much more commonly feed on carcasses of dead Crows. Also, both Crows and Ravens are associated with battlefields, medieval hospitals, execution sites and cemeteries (because they scavenge on human remains). In England, a tombstone is sometimes called a raven stone.

The Crow's most common enemies are; amusingly enough the Owl and Falcon. Perhaps LJ Smith did do a bit of research before picking animals for her characters!