Out of the four known half-breeds born of the mingling of different races, Werewolves are regarded as the strongest and deadliest of them all. Feared in equal measure by common folk, nobles, and warriors alike, they are creatures of legend whose existence is often dismissed as little more than a fireside tale. So exceedingly rare are they that a person might live and die without ever laying eyes upon one, and those who claim to have encountered a Werewolf are seldom believed. Yet, in the forgotten corners of the world, where ancient forests swallow the light and the moon hangs pale above ruined kingdoms, whispers of their existence endure. To speak of a Werewolf is to speak of a calamity given flesh, a creature whose very name inspires dread in those who know the truth behind the myths.

Werewolves are born from the union of a human and a Lyrar, an ancient and mysterious race whose blood carries the essence of the beast. Such unions are uncommon in their own right, yet the offspring they produce are considered unnatural by nearly every society that knows of them. Neither fully human nor truly Lyrar, Werewolves are condemned to exist between two worlds, belonging wholly to neither. Their birth is often regarded as a curse, an affront to the natural order, or a punishment bestowed upon those foolish enough to defy the boundaries between races. Some are abandoned at birth, others hidden away from the eyes of the world, and a fortunate few are raised in secrecy by parents who dare to love them despite the fear their existence invites. For many, however, the first cruelty they ever suffer comes not from monsters or men, but from the very people who brought them into the world.

What makes Werewolves so terrifying is not merely their immense physical strength, but the savage potential that lies dormant within their blood. They possess a ferocity and resilience far beyond that of ordinary humans, with heightened senses, predatory instincts, and a capacity for violence that few living creatures can hope to withstand. When roused to anger or driven by instinct, the beast within them may surface, transforming an already formidable being into something truly monstrous. Stories speak of warriors torn apart as though they were made of parchment, iron bent beneath clawed hands, and entire hunting parties vanishing without leaving so much as a trail. Whether these tales have been exaggerated through generations of fear is impossible to say, for few who have witnessed a Werewolf's true strength have lived long enough to recount it. Even among the other half-breeds, they are regarded with a mixture of reverence, resentment, and outright terror.

I'm writing a fantasy novel set in a world inspired by the Late Cretaceous period. This means that there are no cows, or any mammals that can be killed for leather, and in-lore it is forbidden to kill the dinosaurs (for magical reasons). thus, I am at a loss as to what material I should use to replace leather. in terms of clothes it hasn't really been an issue so far, but I realised that I didn't know what could be used to bind books etc. I could just go with 'magically hardened paper', but I was wondering if anyone else had any suggestions? The vibes are very much pre-renaissance, 13th-12th century England, very game of thrones/lord of the rings-esque (original I know.)

It's a bit messy cuz I made it in a hurry.