Northward Shores
Pack Loreyear 23
A glowing ball of pure light that watches over the pack day by day. It's quite an ominous entity, one that doesn't speak its intentions and would rather show them through actions. Soul and Rayne spoke of its importance as the Sun is what allows life to flourish and stay thriving in dark times. Without the Sun, the cold and snow would become endless, freezing everything without mercy. It is believed that those who are named after the Sun bring good luck. This is why each leader must be named in its honour. It not only shows respect to the Sun but also keeps good fortunes within the pack. It is said that if they disrespect the Sun, heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires will devastate the lands where they walk and anywhere they try to outrun it. Despite all that is said about its importance, a few are skeptical, but won't step out of line to find out. This pack is happy to allow the Sun to guide them as well as follow its supposed wishes.
Death & Afterlife
Each wolf who passes away is to be buried among flowers no matter where the pack is taking residence. These flowers express the love, care, and gratitude that the members had for the now-fallen wolves. As life prospers in the Sun's light, flowers too will grow from where the wolf rests and allow them to pass on with fulfillment and comfort. Some small trinkets are also placed around the burial site, especially if the wolf was attached to them in life. Before a wolf is buried, however, the members of the pack will howl in mourning. This sad symphony can go on for a long while until they are ready to say their proper goodbyes and bury them. They believe the fallen join the Stars, the space where the Sun is absent and darkness reigns, each speck of light is a wolf's soul that continues on in the vast sky.
Summer Solstice
Since heading north, the Northward Shores has seen the entity they worship less and less. They have become accustomed to only seeing the Sun for a few months at a time. This lack of sunlight during bitter cold winters has dragged down the pack. To combat this, they've made a celebration to honour the Sun's recurrence each summer. This celebration is held the instant the Sun rises and lasts until it sets for the winter. The Summer Solstice is a time of plentiful and abundance. Plants and flowers are strewn about, woven into necklaces or crowns, and gifted to one another. Feasts are held within the Gathering Area for all members to enjoy with one another. Dancing, singing, and howls are heard each time the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky. It's truly a time for celebration. Additionally, the Northward Shores is less reserved during this period and more open to communicating with other packs.
Territory
(Made in Google Slides - Pretend this looks better)
Current Positions
Leader - Enlight
Heir - Tremor
Beta - Montane
Herbalists - Sear & Reflection
Scouts - Quest & Journey
First Hunter - Downpour
Second Hunter - Outcast
Third Hunter - Bunchberry
Head Caregiver - Glacial
Dreamwalker - Enlight
Lorekeeper - Snowflake
Painters - Montane & Desert
Leader: The head of the pack, having inherited the Northward Shores by being the chosen heir. This wolf is the one to make the decisions in terms of interactions with other packs, trading items, managing prey and amusements, keeping the well-being of pack members, and so on. Any concerns are brought to the leader and their beta, and the two of them will figure out the best course of action for any issues presented. The leading wolf can call pack meetings where all members gather around to make decisions. This is usually only done with life-altering events or ceremonies but can be called at any time.
Heir: A young wolf who is either born within the pack or adopted into. An heir will be chosen by the leader and taught everything they must know in order to take their place. Until they become leader, the heir is to be trained into a role (normally a hunter) and gain experience in it. Once the current leader passes away, this wolf will take the pack into their paws and will appoint a new beta if they choose to. If there is no heir when this time comes, the pack as a whole will pick a wolf they deem worthy, and if they can't decide, the herbalist will be the one to choose.
Beta: Chosen by the leader, a beta assists in making decisions and watches over the pack in the leader's absence. This wolf must be older than 3 years, have a role that they have experience in, and have a close bond with the leading wolf. In normal circumstances, they have this rank for life and can only lose their rank by dying. The beta acts as a guide to help the leader with certain tasks or provide advice, especially if they are young and had just taken on their responsibilities as a leader. In the event that a beta passes away, a new one has to be appointed to take their place.
Herbalist: The herbalist is a well-respected individual who usually has a good bond with all members of the pack. When a wolf has a natural sense of herbalism, the current herbalist may make them their apprentice. This role is important to keep the well-being and health of the pack. Without a wolf to fill this role, the members could easily fall to illness or injury. Those who become a herbalist will go out to collect herbs daily and perfect their skills in medicine crafting. The leader may seek out the herbalist if both them and the beta can't come to a conclusion about an issue.
Caregivers: The parental figures of the pack, caregivers take care of and help out the young and old. Regardless of rank or experience, these wolves are always willing to lend a paw and give advice to anyone who may need it. They are held to quite an importance within the pack and are respected greatly for what they do. Caregivers are as fearless as they are caring and if there was anything you shouldn't do, it would be to underestimate them. They are trained as apprentices to protect their pack, especially the young, at any cost necessary.
Scouts: Those who become scouts are those who are resilient mentally and physically. Faced with many kinds of challenges when on their scouting missions, they must be prepared for anything. Once they return from their scouts they will report their findings to the leader and sometimes the beta. Scouts usually stay in their role the longest compared to some of the other roles as a new scout requires a lot of training. When a new scout must be trained, one of the current scouts will bring the apprentice to each biome to show them the main paths to take and what kinds of dangers to avoid.
Hunters: Typically what a wolf trains to become, the hunters are the main role within the pack. Divided by hunting parties, they hunt with those they've grown up with or have been trained by, creating close bonds within these groups. Each grouping has a specific name but is known instead by when they were created. They cycle through each party until they feel that enough prey has been hunted or when each party has gone out to hunt 5 times. A hunter is allowed to retire once they become 6 years of age or when an apprentice can take their role.
Mentors: All members of the pack will join this rank someday, this is their well-earned retirement. They have given to the pack for many years and now get to be taken care of in return. However, there is a task a mentor must do, and that is to train the young for their future roles. Depending on the skill of the pup, a mentor formerly skilled in that role will teach what they know. They also teach important things outside of the pack roles such as etiquette, pack history, and the Sun. When a mentor passes away they are to be buried among the vast flowers of a field within the territory.
Idles: A wolf without a role in the pack. Those who become an idle patrol the territory or help the herbalist and caregivers. Any small task can be taken up by these wolves. Either that or they remain within the Gathering Area. Being an idle isn't permanent. No wolf can be an idle their whole life. This is just a place for wolves who are awaiting their role. It is for this reason that young wolves typically hold this rank. When a role is finally open, they will have a proper ceremony to join it. This placement is newer compared to the others and is often not in use.
Apprentices: When a puppy finishes learning basic skills they will continue their training by gaining experience in a true role. Depending on what they wish to become, an apprentice will be taught by a chosen wolf (scout, caregiver, herbalist) or trained by a whole group (hunters). Apprentices will get to meet each member of the pack as well as get tours of the territory. Caregivers are also more lenient with them and trust the growing wolves not to get lost or run into danger. When they reach 1 year they are considered an adult and will join the role they were trained to become.
Puppies: Once a puppy is weaned they begin their training in skills that they have potential in. All the pups will be taught specific things but usually, each class is held together so the pups can watch and learn a bit about skills outside their own. A lesson is taught by any of the current mentors and overseen by the assigned caregivers. Having all the young train together forms close friendships which could last their whole life. When a pup reaches 6 months they are considered an apprentice and begin their training in a role that they're interested in.
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