A Leader's Questions...

The questions just got more and more intriguing as more lead wolves slowly attended the impromptu meeting. He approved with most of what the others chose to confess, as it aligned with most of his own beliefs. What a relief to see that neighboring packs thought similarly!

"Appearances?" he initially repeated. "We don't...chase them away from looking any particular way. At least I don't. Several leave, but I think they just prefer being on their own." Boy, did that sound ditzy, but he couldn't bear to think of wolves being driven away by those in his own pack. He was adventurous at heart, and couldn't blame others for wanting to go about things their own way and see the world. "I prefer those who want to pull their weight, and I, personally, don't particularly notice or care for appearances."

He leaned over for another leisurely behind-the-ear scratch while he mulled over something else to ask. So many different themes have already been discussed!

"Do you wish you were born differently? In any way; different gender, different role in the pack, different appearance? Anything, really." He yawned after asking, hoping that he didn't sound too shallow or stupid.

Yuki thought for a bit before shaking her head. "No, not really. I'm quite pleased with my own appearance, though... it would be nice to be a male wolf. Less hassle during heats and such, and I'll be able to explore more of the lands without carrying cubs." 

She yawned, flopping down on the soft grass. Answering questions was easy, yet thinking of something to ask was quite hard...

"What's your favourite encounter in the lands? The weasels? The birds?" She thought of the little American Pika she encountered quite often in her home biome. Such a cute little thing!

Columbia sat, straight-backed, her gaze shifting from wolf to wolf. She seemed a bit uncomfortable, as if unused to cavorting with so many strangers. Still; they all seemed decent enough, and if they were capable of leading a pack, they should be honorable. The young she-wolf flicked an ear. Seeing all the other leaders chattering happily among themselves beset her with a feeling she wasn't entirely accustomed to within her own pack- the feeling of inadequacy, the feeling of social ineptitude. 

So caught up was she in her own mind that she nearly missed the question posed to her. "Ah. Um." What a rubbish way to start. How had her peers answered so easily? "My favorite encounter is any that I can scrounge a carcass from to bring home. To, ah. Lessen the burden of my hunters." Not exactly a fun answer, was it? "...I'm also fond of the mountain goat. A sturdy, weathered old grouch, but... respectable."

Her turn now, to ask. There was a stretch of silence, the cogs in her brain turning over and over, thinking. What would she like to know? What questions did she wish she'd been asked, in months prior? "...What aspect do you struggle with most, when leading your pack?"

Magic the Alpha of the Noel Winter Eve pack , wags her tail.  she enjoys making friends on wolvden.  " the aspect i find most struggle with is saving up enough SC to expand my pack's territory.   my pack has several members including pups , adolescents , and adults.  it is a struggle to expand my territory so they don't leave on a rollover. doing my best to expand my territory  as much as i can". 

The white Alpha of the Noel Winter Eve pack turns her head to you and asks " what is your favorite thing about wolvden? is it making friends , exploring , befriending a new pack member , trading center , selling items to the raccoon , snake quests"?

Honey wagged her tail. "Probably making friends. I mean who doesn't like friends? The more the merrier!" she grins happily. 

Honey turns around to the next wolf. "What do you think was the worst mistake you ever made?" Honey asks turning her head. 

She takes a step back. That was a quick change in mood - and, well, She can’t back out now. Well. She could, but her pack mates had wanted her to ‘socialize.’ “Sometimes. Wish. I had taken my younger siblings with me. Would have liked the north. Liked my pack.”

She turns sharply to the next wolf, not panicking at all no why would you think that She doesn’t panic - “Relationships. Mates. How does your pack handle them?”

Rain tipped her head, the pack's herbalist Crystal was leaning against her. "Well, pretty simple. Anyone can be mates with whoever they want, as long as they aren't related and both parties want it." She stopped briefly to lick the other shewolf's ears. "Generally though, they still breed with Lagopus. But they don't have to if they don't want to." 

Rain turned to the wolf to her right, and tilted her head. "Let's continue this topic, shall we? What does your pack think about relationships between packmates that aren't the breeding male? We personally are very open to it, as I see no reason to forbid it." Judging by the lead's behavior towards Crystal, that wasn't surprising.

Sacthos's ears perked up as Rain asked her question, then huffed. "As long as the rules and traditions are upheld, we don't find a problem with it. Each pairing, of course, must check off a few criteria, no matter their status." He glanced around the area, ears twitching. Then thinking of his eldest daughter frowned. "All wolves involved must also be at least two years of age before they are allowed to breed, as well."

Turning to a neighboring wolf he spoke," How does your pack handle pack-members that seek breeding partners outside the pack? Is it allowed, or a punishable offense?" It was a question that was plaguing his mind at the moment, the youngest generation was beginning to grow up and well... not many were finding romantic relations inside the pack.

For the first time since this impromptu meeting had started, Latro looked almost uncomfortable. Breeding was a complicated subject and he was still unsure of how to deal with it as of yet. "Breeding outside the pack is not punishable, as it is important to prevent inbreeding. Inbred pups tend to be born sickly and it would be a waste of a life, resources, and my female's mental health if it died. Such a disappointment... However, seeking a mate without my approval is punishable. I handpick males to make sure any potential sires are the best my ladies can have."

He turned to another wolf, careful not to portray how relieved he was to change the subject. "Since you have become leader of your pack, what has been your proudest moment? Was it your first litter? Your packmate's first successful hunt?" He tilted his head in curiosity, wondering what the other packs valued enough to be prideful over.

"Oh! Um..." Mistblaze thought for a moment. Her pack was so new, there were so many moments she was proud of. Hmm... how to pick... "Probably on the second day, when we were very short on food and one of my pups was going to die, but my packmates pulled through and barely pulled off a successful hunt, and saved the pack. It made me so proud to see them work together, as one!"

She turned to the next wolf. "If you could have one wish fulfilled, anything at all, what would it be?" Mistblaze was pretty content with her pack, but she wondered what other leaders would wish for.