Kleia, one of the first litter wolves, was injured early in spring but she recovered within a couple weeks and I've seen no further sign of fleas since the first month of spring. All wonderful news.
I've enjoyed watching the pack flourish--the yearling pups grow so quickly once they start hunting and it's really beautiful to see the next generation coming into their own. The way the pack alphas take on the more challenging duties of stalking and finishing while letting their young pups get a feel for the process chasing is a fascinating development for the pack. It's not necessarily the best technique for maintaining a strong precense in their territory--with inexperienced members taking up so much of the main hunting team the pack hasn't been able to push into locales that might promote their growth--but they seem to be maintaining a balance that is certainly good for the growth of the pups.
Speaking of pups--I've been on the edge of my seat all season to see Puja's latest litter. Sure, I knew given how late in winter they were born that I'd likely be waiting all spring for them to wean, but was I hoping for a peak sooner? Absolutely! I did finally get a look just this last week but I've only seen one pup. It's hard to tell if there are more that haven't weaned yet, if there were more that didn't make it through winter, or if this is the only one, but I should know a little more come summer.
Start of Spring(Mar 21)
Alpha Puja is free of fleas but they spread to Kleon.
Lykos and Puja's first litter continue to grow strong and (though I hope I don't jinx it) the pack has had no trouble staying fed. I can confirm that the one pup I saw in spring is in fact the only pup of the alpha's second litter but the little guy appears healthy. Certainly he gets a lot of attention, being the only pup for the pack to dote upon.
I named the pup Kleon, and he's big enough now to be allowed to wander the rendezvous under the watchful eye of big sister Phile and uncle Yash while his parents and other older siblings hunt. I love watching them play a learn at this age. By next season he'll already be big enough to start accompanying the pack on hunts. They grow up so fast!
Kleon has grown old enough now that he's accompanying his parents and siblings on hunts, strictly to watch of course, and the pack is ranging further from their rendezvous sites in search of game. Kleon is very well-behaved for an adolescent only recently given the freedom to venture so deeply into the pack territory, but then he has no siblings to share in his excitement or goad him into trouble.
Actually, watching him range behind the pack as they hunt makes me feel a little lonely for him. Perhaps he'll learn better without siblings to distract him but it almost feels as though he's had to grow up faster than he would have with a few litter mates to share in his experiences.
Mid Autumn (Month 2)
Nooo, not ear mites again! I'm not over the horror of the last massive infection! Alpha Puja has been showing signs of them for the last couple weeks and it will come as no surprise if they linger among the pack all the way through winter. What terrible timing; I hope the pack does well enough that we still see pups this year (hopefully in spring).
Late Autumn (Month 3)
The top question of the month must of course be what's going on with the ear mites? I can't say I'm too excited for this to be the primary news for the forseeable future BUT here we go: Alpha Puja appears clear but the mites have spread to one of the younger members of alpha team, Kleia. Fortunately, at least in the last couple weeks, Kleia appears to be the only pack member infected but with winter arriving, let's be honest, it's not likely to stay that way.
Start of Autumn(Apr 2)
Kleon grows into an adolescent and begins accompanying the pack on hunts.
Level-ups
Level 15 - Alpha Puja
Level 8 - Phile
Early Autumn(Apr 3)
All is quiet.
Level-ups
Level 10 - Kallisto, Kleia, Aristo
Mid Autumn(Apr 4)
All is quiet.
Deep Autumn(Apr 5)
Alpha Puja picks up ear mites.
Level-ups
Level 15 - Yash
Illnesses
Ear Mites (Can't Hunt) - Alpha Puja
Late Autumn(Apr 6)
Alpha Puja is free of ear mites but they spread to Kleia.
It's a genuine miracle that the ear mites haven't spread beyond Kleia yet this month. It's so uncharacteristically lucky! I probably shouldn't get my hopes up too much but I'm just so surprised I can't help myself.
Mid Winter (Month 2)
High spirits and hope did not go unpunished this month. Kleia has not recovered from the ear mites yet and they've spread to her sister, Kallisto. Kallisto has been training as a stalker in alpha team and while hunting should be fine with Alpha Puja still able to stalk for the team, I do worry a little about what progress Kallisto might lose out on. Her sister Kleia has been falling behind for months now, after all!
And, while Alpha Puja is showing signs of being in heat at an absolutely ideal time this season, Lykos was injured a few weeks ago and has yet to be able to ... uh, you know. I'm hoping for a swift recovery because the window for pups will not be available for long.
Late Winter (Month 3)
Alpha Lykos recovered from his wound early this month and I have high hopes that it means we'll be seeing pups this spring! It's the only real good news I have to record since the ear mites are still plaguing the pack. Here at the end of the month both Kleia and Alpha Puja are infected. Spring is their best chance at being rid of them, however, so I'm keeping my hopes up, for better or worse.
Start of Winter(Apr 8)
All is quiet.
Illnesses
Ear Mites (Can't Hunt) - Kleia
Early Winter(Apr 9)
All is quiet.
Illnesses
Ear Mites (Can't Hunt) - Kleia
Mid Winter(Apr 10)
Alpha Lykos is injured on a hunt.
Illnesses
Ear Mites (Can't Hunt) - Kleia
Open Wound - Alpha Lykos (20 HP)
Deep Winter(Apr 11)
The ear mites spread to Kallisto.
Level-ups
Level 16 - Alpha Puja
Level 12 - Aristo
Illnesses
Ear Mites (Can't Hunt) - Kleia, Kallisto
Open Wound - Alpha Lykos (14 HP)
Late Winter(Apr 12)
Alpha Lykos recovers from his wound.
Kallisto is free of ear mites however they spread to Alpha Puja.
Level-ups
Level 12 - Kallisto
Level 10 - Phile
Illnesses
Ear Mites (Can't Hunt) - Kleia, Alpha Puja
End of Winter(Apr 13)
Ear mites spread to Alpha Lykos and Kallisto. (Aristo is left to hunt alone on alpha team.)
