A World of Dreams | Talen Pack Lore
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A World of Dreams | Talen Pack Lore
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Posted 2025-04-01 12:08:21 (edited)
The Talen Pack is descended from wolves of the lunar realm as well as earthly wolves who have the ability to enter the lunar realm in their dreams. They view cats as sacred animals, and will not harm them unless necessary to save themselves. Talen Pack wolves tend to be polite, but firm, with outsiders. They don't hunt more than they need to survive and believe that clouds are spirits visiting from the realms of the dead. Rain is seen as licks from these spirits. Naming Convention A wolf of the Talen Pack have two names: the first is its day name, which is how most wolves are referred to. This is assigned at birth by a pup's parents and usually relates to some aspect of the wolf's appearance. For example, Forest was named for his green-and-brown pelt. The second name is what a wolf refers to as its number, which is how many wolves were born before it in its pack. This is what most wolves use when they are outside of the den sites as they do not like outsiders knowing their day names. For a Talen Pack wolf to use its day name with outsiders is frowned upon, with the exception of scouts (who also function as recruiters) and the lead (because a lead uses its number as its day name). Social Dynamics The Talen Pack, as it has expanded, has become a loose grouping of wolf families (currently 3). Each is led by a breeding pair and consists mainly of their offspring. The founders' heir, the Alpha, has the highest rank and sets the rules for the rest of the Talen Pack. The other families are the descendants of wolves who joined the pack at various points in its history, with older families being more respected than younger families. Families are named for the founder of the matriline. Males and females are viewed as equals, and both parents take care of their pups. "Respect your elders" is an important saying to the Talen Pack wolves. Talen Pack wolves mate for life, with the exception of the Breeding Male and his temporary mates. Pair bonds are chosen by the two individuals in the bond, though it is thought that a couple blessed by both sides' parents will have a happier relationship. Humans are avoided and dogs are shunned; having domestic ancestry is considered shameful. Lunar ancestry is seen as highly desirable, with lunar traits viewed as attractive. Duties by Rank Hunters are chosen by the Alpha and serve for life (with rare exceptions). There are two hunting parties: the Mountaineers, named for the pack's first homeland, and the Auxiliaries. New hunters become Auxiliaries before being promoted to the Mountaineers. Upon the freeing-up of a space in the Auxiliaries, promising wolves are presented to the Alpha by the heads of their families. Being a hunter is a great honor. Herbalism is a noble position as well, and is usually taken by a wolf without a mate. However, occasional herbalists break this taboo, which usually results in ostracism for said mate. Scouts are given little respect, and wolves usually end up being pushed into this role. Unranked wolves defend the pack's borders and renew scent marks. |
 Dragon #111423 |
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Posted 2025-04-25 13:02:25 (edited)
Alphas  x  Heron Family Heads  x  Shadow Family Heads  x  Stalker  Chasers  Finisher Stalker  Chasers    Finisher  Herbalist  Forest Under Moonlight Scout Breeding Male  Heir |
Dragon #111423 |
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Posted 2025-05-05 12:24:50 (edited)
PACK LOREFall lived in the lunar realm, ever roaming beyond her pack's home range. When the moon was new, she'd seemed to have a strange dream of a silver-furred wolf with black fur along his back who ran through vivid green mountain grass. With enough effort, she could almost hear him, and make her words known in return. Fall told Silver that she wanted to join him in the earthly realm, but she only could do so under certain conditions. So, at the full moon, Silver's lonely howl echoed from the tallest peak in the mountains. Eyes closed, he poured all of his hope towards the sky. A pressure on his nose startled him into opening his eyes. Across from him stood Fall, touching her nose to him and wagging her tail in delight. Silver's tail began to wag in kind, and he leaned forward to lick her muzzle. In the tradition of her old pack from the lunar realm, Fall took the name Khay, or 'one', as befitted a lead wolf. Silver led her back to his den, and the pair began marking out a territory for themselves around it the following day. Silver, cowed by the bristling and snarling of the wolves whose territory they bordered, was reluctant to set paw over them again. Khay felt much more fearless, but a growing sensation in her belly kept her from venturing too far. The pair's first litter was born in the spring, but the two new parents were woefully unprepared. The loss of one puppy caused Khay to protect the other even more fiercely, bringing little Forest swinging from her jaws when she went exploring. On one of these expeditions, she caught the attention of a black-and-grey wolfdog living on the outskirts of a large, faraway pack. Shadow had pity on Khay and her plight. Additionally, she liked the idea of living in a smaller pack, and offered to accompany Khay back to her den and take care of Forest. Khay could sense the genuine care radiating from Shadow, and welcomed her into the pack. This freed Khay up to explore the wide world she had found herself in, and in a few weeks the pack had grown to six members: five adults and Forest. Soot, in particular, had become fast friends and hunting partners with Silver. Forest had become an adolescent and began following Silver, a newcomer named Regal Huntress, and Soot when the latter and Shadow's pups were born. Now that they had a hunting party, herbalist, scout, and pupsitter, Khay decided to give the pack a name: Talen Pack. Forest was the same age as Silver had been when he heard the call in his mind when the same enchanting forest filled his dreams. When he first woke, he trotted over to the Alphas' den to ask his father what it meant. Silver nuzzled him happily and told his son once again how he and Khay had met. The younger wolf shivered, remembering the talons of the eagle that had rendered him the last survivor of his litter. All throughout the day, he half dreaded, half feared the mystical forest that danced in his mind - but he couldn't stave off sleep forever. Dreamer shivered; the whisper of the rain through the leaves that offered her no safety almost seemed to be mocking her. Her ears pinned back against her head; it had been a foolish mistake to challenge her pack's lead hunter. That mistake had cost her her home, her family. Now, she was alone, her only comfort being the strange, quiet forest she saw when she closed her eyes. It seemed so calm, so pleasantly dark there - and she thought she knew how to get there. She just had to rest for the journey. When Forest stood upon the same peak that his father had two years before, the rain soaked his green-and-brown pelt. Thunder boomed in his ears, and he could already taste the imagined tang of his own burned flesh. In the lunar realm, Dreamer cowered as well, the gleaming rain drenching her fur with a painful insistence. She gathered her strength, and suddenly felt rock under her paws and the eyes of the wolf of her dreams gleaming happily in his waterlogged face. Khay and Silver's second litter, and Forest and Dreamer's first litter, reached maturity without incident, and the pack soon welcomed a proficient young huntress from the wild into their ranks. While Khay listened with worry to the scout's reports of fewer and fewer deer, she was loathe to leave the mountains she now thought of has her home - as well as the mound by the tallest tree in the territory, under which her son's body rested. So, the seasons came and went. Khay bore another litter, a singular pup, around when Dreamer bore her second litter. The youngsters seemed to be doing well, Khay's youngest always poking through the pack's herb supply. One fateful day, the pup was found dead under a yew bush. Khay buried the pup alongside the brother she had never met and let out a long howl. She and Silver stood silently for a few heartbeats; Khay knew she had a choice to make. Crashing Waters was sent away the following morning with an urgent mission. Khay's temperament got worse and worse with each day that Crashing Waters was away. Worry gnawed at her, manifesting in her dreams as the vicious jaws of animals even larger than bears. Silver did his best to console her, but he was just as worried. By the time seven sunrises had passed since the scout had left, the pair had begun to miss meals, instead spending the time with the pack's herbalist learning which herbs were toxic. |
Dragon #111423 |