Sheer Cliffs Pack Lore

Life is hard, on the mountain...

Cold, stony mountains reach towards the sky, peaks jagged and tall. The majority of the territory is made of these mountains - steep walls of stone cracked with maze-like canyons that skilled paws tread. Those who know the area well -or, perhaps, are lucky- will find three oddly-curved peaks that make the entrance to Sheer Cliffs camp. Those who do not, and are able to escape the maze-like territory, may find the mountains form a U-shape, around a lake and, at the far edge of the territory, a small stretch of forest...

This is where the Sheer Cliffs Pack, children of Solaris and Lunen, resides...

This is a read-only thread. Please do not comment. If you find grammar mistakes, have ideas and suggestions, or have taken a strong liking to any of my characters, feel free to PM me.

Ranks (Explained)

Ranks

Head Fighters: Thunder

Head Hunters: Stag, Felix

Acorn, Raven's Flight

Hunters:
Team One: Stag, Boulder 
Team Two: Felix, Clara, Fern, Murk, Wren

Crevice

Fighters:
 Thunder, Falcon,
Pup-Sitters: 
Daylight 

Maple, Rose 

No Rank

Sweet Pine

Venus

Beliefs

The Sheer Cliffs Pack believes in Solaris and Lunen, two God-Wolves who rule the heavens together. Solaris is a large male wolf who takes the form of the sun, Lunen is gender-fluid and takes the form of the moon. Stories change on if the two are related or mates, all that’s known is that they rule their Pack (and therefore the world) together, causing night and day, as well as the seasons.

Solaris is known to be a constant: he rises daily, gives the world life, watches over his creations, and rests. Lunen, however, is a bit more adventurous. Depending on one’s beliefs, it could be that they’re curious of the creatures they don’t get to see (living, at least, since Lunen is the one who guides the dead to the afterlife), or it could be they’re just bored. It may also be they’re sneaking off to visit Solaris. Whatever the reason, Lunen is known to “sneak off” from time to time and adventure the world, only to return later. 

There are stories of what Lunen looks like, however, they all vary as much as anything else when it comes to the gods: some say a white wolf with black or gray splotches, some say a dark black, almost blue, wolf with white. Stories even differ on them being male or female. However, all report similar splotches along the wolf’s face and tail, and the same similar pale white eyes…

As Lunen guide’s wolves’ spirits to the afterlife, they’re seen as very important to the Sheer Cliff’s Pack. The winds that howl through the cliffs are said to be spirits that Lunen forgot, or, perhaps, Lunen themself passing by, delivering a message… Because of this, it’s believed Lunen loves music, and that, if a wolf dies, the Pack must howl for them, so Lunen can find them, or the wolf’s Spirit will be lost.

As the two take on the forms of the heavenly bodies, and rule the skies together, there are beliefs on what different seasons mean as well. Overall:

The Gods

Stars: Spirits of the Dead. Brighter stars, or those closer to the moon, are said to have done great things, either for Lunen in life, or helping now as a spirit.

Solaris (Sun): Associated with Reliability, Life, Summer and Spring

The Seasons have "meanings" as well:

The Seasons

Winter Death, Hardship, Strength (From Overcoming Trials)

Spring Rebirth, Energy, Life, The Possibility for New Beginnings

Summer Relaxation, Enjoyment of Time and What One Has, Memory to not “Go Soft” and take things for granted.

Fall: Change, Death for renewal, Sacrifice for the greater good

Laws and Customs

(WIP)
Much like everything else, many of the Pack's law's are about survival, and are shaped by their belief in Lunen and Solaris.

1. Do what you must to survive. All that matters is Blood and Survival.
2.The Alpha(s) are allowed to be disobeyed if they are cruel, weak, or causing Harm to the Pack. 
3 Having pup's in Winter is forbidden. Winter is harsh enough, and bringing pups into the Pack during that time is seen as selfish. While it is seen as unfair to punish pups born during this time, parents who have pups during Winter are fed last. Pups born during this time may be seen as a hardship, however, if they survive, they are known for their ability to survive even the harshest of elements.
4. When a pup is weaned they will be watched for signs of what they will be trained as. As they reach adolescence they will train, until they reach two years old, during which they will face their respective ranks Trials. Passing means acceptance into their rank.

5. Wolves who have not passed their Trials may not breed, as they are not full Pack members

6. Pack Representatives are allowed to have mates, along with their position. They may also be Alphas.

Trials

All wolves are expected to go through some sort of Trial to reach their full Rank in the Pack. For outsiders wishing to join, that Trial is making their way through the mountains, to the camp the Pack calls home. For the wolves in the Pack, that trial changes depending on the Rank they are wishing to join.

The earliest a wolf is able to take their Trial is at 1 year old. If failure doesn't kill them, they are able to try again, after a small waiting period.

Wolves who have not passed their Trial aren't truly considered full adult members of the Pack, and are unable to take a mate or have pups until doing so.

Alphas, Second-in-Command, Heirs, and Pack Representatives all have similar "trials" to keep and receive their titles, with some variation.

Most Alphas go through their trial as pups, while they're Heirs. They're quizzed extensively on the politics and beliefs of the Pack, as well on which member does what, down to personalities, likes and dislikes, et cetera. The exception would be an Alpha taking on a mate, who's "Trial" earning the Pack's respect, as well as learning the same politics. As such, it's hard to say they ever truly "pass" their trial, outside of an Heir gaining the knowledge to be an Alpha, then becoming Alpha, who must constantly try and earn their Pack's respect...

The Second-in-Command simply has no Trial in the real sense. They must simply be willing to help their Alpha, as best as they can, without their own greed and jealousy getting in the way. The fact the the Second-in-Command can only become Alpha in select situations is another life-long Trial among the higher ranks that has caused many to take note of why receiving the Rank is simple: any Rank can have it, keeping proves much harder.

Pack Representatives face much the same treatment as Heirs, being chosen as pups. It could be argued that their Trial is the same, constantly being quizzed on who's who, although some could argue they "pass" their trial once they make their first alliance...

The Healer's Trial is a bit of a mystery, shared with none outside the rank...

The Scout Trial is most similar to the outsider wolf trial. In an attempt to teach the young wolf the territory, the Scout-trainee is sent out into the territory, and must survive alone for the next 24 hours. During this time, they are expected to mark and defend the borders, find new land, or make their way through the maze-like Winding Canyons by themselves. An experienced Scout does follow to keep track of where the trainee goes and what they are doing, and the trainee can decide to do multiple at once, so long as at least one is done and they return to camp safely the next day, they pass.

The Hunting Trial is self-explanatory: the wolf must bring back a successful hunt. This is given in multiple parts: single, to show the wolf's skill in hunting, and then with the wolf's future hunting team, who must all successfully hunt together. Hunting Team Trials tend to take understandably longer, as teams need time to get used to each other, and it's seen as a time of great celebration when a Team brings in their first kill together.

The Fighting Trial is possibly the most difficult, both in survival and success. Wolves who wish to be fighters must successfully defend themselves in a fight, normally defending the Pack in a battle of some sort. However, the pack is never guaranteed to be under attack, which can cause some Trainees to be in "training" well into adulthood... As such, if a Fighter reaches 2 years old and has been unable to pass their Trial (due to being unable to find a fight), older Fighters will attack them themselves, in a test of strength. This was implemented as the young wolves were growing disheartened, and trying to fight things they were unmatched for in an attempt to receive their Rank.

The Pup-Sitter Trial is a bit unexpected, perhaps. While Pup-Sitters are definitely expected to helped mothers birth and raise their young, they are also expected to care for and be a second parent, knowing the pups, and their trial expects that of them. The Pup-Sitter's Trial will have the Healer and Pup-Sitter ask the Pup-Sitting Trainee questions of various pups: who like what food? Who has what personality? What skills, dreams? Littermates and family? While it's understandable to get questions wrong, as long as it's shown the Pup-Sitter truly cares for the pups, they tend to pass.

Lore Summary:

-Pack is founded by River and, later, Flash, who are joined by Stone, Choco, Thunder, Stag, Hawk, and Daylight (later known collectively as The Founders or First Generation).

River has Flash's pups – Murk and Wren – shortly after the Pack is founded, and offers him a position by her side as Alpha Male. He declines, but is made Second-in-Command. He continues to work the hunting team he, Thunder, Hawk, and Stag are on as well.

It's discovered the small patch of forest is shared by another Pack, The Misty Grove Pack. The two Packs form a sort of neutral alliance, agreeing to share the land, as it's the edge of Misty Grove's territory, and vital to Sheer Cliff's survival in winter.

Stone and Daylight are mates.

Another Pack, the Amber Skies Pack, is reported nearby as well, also wanting to form alliances.

Murk and Wren are adolescents now

.Thunder has three pups: Willow, Aspen, and Slate. The father is unknown, but her mate, Stag, claims them as his.

It's agreed to trade two of her pups – Aspen and Willow – for two of the Amber Skies pups, once they're old enough to do so.

Hawk has three pups: Maple, Leaf, and Rowan. The father is assumed to be Choco, as the two are known to be close.

Seeing how tentative the relationship with Misty Grove is, and knowing Amber Skies won't attack their own Blood, Sheer Cliffs creates the Pack Representative role: A male who is the “face” of the Pack, a negotiator, selected from the best male the Pack could offer.

The immediate choice is Wren, Flash and River's son, but a few other males are brought in as well.

Aspen and Willow are traded for Felix and Clara.

Boulder and Fern join the Pack as adolescents.

Boulder, a male from another Pack, is trained as a possible Representative, as well as Felix, one of the pups Aspen and Willow were traded for.

However, one by one, they are disqualified.

Felix is almost immediately reconsidered: while he is handsome, and definitely skilled, he is too young – the Pack quickly decides if the wolf isn't old enough to train for the new Ranks that are being implemented, they aren't old enough to train as a Pack Representative, although they may definitely be selected at birth, to ensure nothing happens to them. Besides, it's agreed, it wouldn't be right for a wolf from a rival Pack (especially one with that much ambition) to hold this rank.

Felix, Clara, and Slate are adolescents.

Maple, Leaf, and Rowan are adolescents.

Boulder is given little attention – it's clear the Pack favors Wren, and it pushes him all the more.

However, he's not the only one ignored. Thunder's remaining pup, Slate, has been causing trouble since puphood, and slowly gotten worse since his sisters were traded away. Now that he's been passed over for a favored position, he's slowly gaining a following among some of the younger wolves. Namely, Hawk's sons, Leaf and Rowan, two males who were fine with their lot in life until becoming friends with Slate.

Murk and Wren are adults.

Murk is rumored to be the next-in-line, should something happen to River.

Fern and Boulder are adults.

Wren steps down from Pack Representative, saying he wants to be with males, namely Boulder, so can't pass on his Blood. Boulder, to the Pack's surprise, does the same. There is no longer a Pack Representative, or wolf selected as such.

Fern is pregnant. It's winter. River makes her a temporary pup-sitter for further notice. She has two pups – Raven's Flight being the sole survivor- and is later brought two more by River, who tells her that, as long as she raises them as her own, she may return to her hunting...

Slate says he wants to “show the lies and hypocrisy” of the Pack, and only gets worse as he gets older, trying to gather more wolves to his cause, becoming more violent. It's done in secret, however – the Pack just thinks he's angry over not being chosen still...

Just before his Trial, Slate corners River, threatens to reveal that the two pups Fern is raising are hers to the Pack, revealing her as a traitor to her own laws,and therefor the Pack, by having the pups in winter, since she was obviously pregnant at the same time Fern was, to have the pups the together. River acknowledges her mistake, and is forced to exile the young wolf, and he attacks and attempts to kill her. As he leaves, he threatens to return, and destroy the Pack...

Felix and Clara pass their trials and become adults.

Maple, Leaf, and Rowan are adults.

Leaf and Rowan are haunted by guilt of their relation to Slate...

Murk has two pups, Crevice and Falcon. Their father is assumed to be Felix.

Ravine's Flight (+3 pups) reach adolescence.

Ravine's Flight's siblings leave, seeking adventure elsewhere. River never tells her daughters the truth.

Ravine's Flight reaches adulthood.

Crevice and Falcon reach adolescence

Acorn and Rose, Thunder's grand-pups, arrive from Amber Skies Pack.

Crevice and Falcon reach adulthood

Despite fears of creating another Slate, Stag and Thunder have another litter, once again to three pups. Nutmeg, Egg, and Chowder.

River and Flash also decide to try for a litter again, also having three pups: Tumble, Skald, and Frigid.

The litters are known to cause chaos, constantly sneaking out.

Frigid sneaks out and drowns, leading to the first pup death.

Skald and Nutmeg follow a shortly after, sneaking out one night, only to be attacked by another wolf. Nutmeg, who had hoped to be a fighter, was viciously mauled to death, while Skald survived the initial attack, but succumbed to his injuries and infection overnight.

Leaf and Rowan leave the Pack, no longer able to take the guilt of what Slate did, and what they could have done to their Packmates, if things had been different.

The Pack goes on high-alert, all nerves on edge, as they wait and see if Slate remains true to his word...

The remaining two pups, Egg and Tumble, sneak out of camp later that night, trying to follow the two. Egg's body is recovered, having been attacked by coyotes, but Tumble is never found, although she's assumed dead as well. River, Thunder, Flash, and Stag, both go into deep depressions.

River begins pushing herself more into leading the Pack, distancing herself from others, while Flash becomes almost bitter, as he had never wanted to join a Pack to begin with. There are rumors he may leave. During this time, he leaves his hunting team, giving his spot to Acorn, Thunder's grandson, and works as a Scout.

Stag becomes even more defensive of Thunder, who has closed herself off from the Pack almost entirely, only interacting with her party, her mate and grandpups, and, occasionally, River, who she feels understands most what she's going through.

It's eventually acknowledged that Daylight, the sole Pup-sitter, could have used more help, and the pups' deaths could possibly have been avoided if there had been more pup-sitters watching them. Maple, who had been questioning leaving with her brothers or not, and Rose, Thunder's granddaughter, become pup-sitters alongside Daylight.

Felix approaches Murk with an offer to become partners, as he wants to become higher-ranking and she wants to keep the Alpha's bloodline going, especially now. She agrees, and soon becomes pregnant with his first litter (Trail, Vlad, Ferris).

Crevice, one of Murk's first litter, has pup's with an unknown male. The largest pup, known as Heavy Shade, becomes a favorite among the Pack, and is very defensive of his smallest littermate, known as Little Cloud. (Moss, Crest, Little Cloud, Heavy Shade)

Stag and Thunder reconcile: Thunder felt that Stag didn't care what had happened with her or the previous litter, how the Pack saw her, that they were blaming her (indirectly or not) for the pups' death. How she felt cursed. Stag let her know that wasn't the case: he cared about her, but didn't care what the rest of the Pack thought, because he knew it wasn't true. He knew Thunder and her litters weren't cursed or to blame for any deaths. He loves her. Acorn, Rose, Stone, Daylight, and River later reaffirm her pups are, in fact, not cursed.

Flash and River talk. River acknowledges her feelings for Flash, which he reciprocates, although he does admit his mixed feelings at being her mate and leading the Pack alongside her: he still has some fear of getting too close to someone and losing everything, and the previous litter only reaffirmed that fear. River reassures him that she will never leave him, and Flash officially becomes the Alpha Male of the Sheer Cliffs Pack.

Hawk is promoted to Second-in-Command.

A strange male is found wandering through the territory, and decides to join. He introduces himself as Sweet Pine.

Hawk is pregnant with pups from a male from outside the Pack, and later has pups (Robin, Bright, Vivid)

Thunder, reassured of her litter's status, has another litter with Stag. (Flurry, ?, Buck, and Stain)

River and Flash have their third litter (Rain, Reason, Sundance, Iris)

Raven's Flight and Acorn discuss pups, and Acorn decides to have a litter. (Cedar, ?, Honor's Award, ?, ?)

Daylight realizes that he is getting older, and announces he will retire after raising this last litter, so he and Stone can spend some time together before Lunen claims him.

Flash's long-lost little sister, Venus, arrives in camp.