Wolfen

"While their minds operate differently from ours, Wolfen are capable of strategic planning and and have their own complex language. This combination of intelligence and awesome physical prowess makes them the deadliest predators on earth."

- Wayne Douglas Barlowe, "Barlowe's Guide to Fantasy", page 100

In the Novel "The Wolfen" by Whitley Sitriber, New York contains a terror beyond that of gang members, Mobsters, and serial killers, a terror bestial in appearance yet sentient of mind that roams the alleys and slums devouring the poor and others unlikely to raise a ruckus over their dissappearance. These inhuman killers have a name: the Wolfen!

The Wolfen are a species of wolf that has attained sentience, or highly evolved intelligence, on par with human beings in many ways. They think, they understand the concept of human-level strategy (which they use with lethal effect),  they have language, they eat their dead to keep their species a secret, they select their prey based on how likely they are not to be missed by loved ones, and they have mastered doorknobs, capable of opening doors using their huge, human-like paws. Indeed, when two cops discover the creatures, they retaliate, stalking them.

Wolfen are large, about the size of a timber wolf (in some artwork they are pictured as being the size of very large wolves, perhaps 175-200 lbs. However, like Grey wolves their close relatives, they probably have a fairly good size range). Canadian Timber wolves, the largest north American subspecies, can average nearly 3 feet tall at the shoulder and 100-170 lbs in weight; the wolfen by contrast reach 3 feet tall at the whithers, and can raise their hair up on their backs like a cat, making them appear larger. So a weight of 175 lbs will be used for Male wolfen in fights.

Wolfen's physical capabilities are incredible: with extremely highetned senses, great speed, great bestial strength (including those huge powerful man-like paws. They use their arms to carry off human meals) and large canine heads with powerful (yet shortened) jaws. Wolfen hair is dark grey, and when used in concert with their prowling and stalking capbilities, they can stalk humans while remaining unseen in the dark.

Wolfen live in packs (4-5 animals), adding to their already formidable nature.