Pack Rankings and How They Work

[[Midnight]]

In every wolf pack, the dominance and heirarchy of every member is established from the moment the pack is formed. What does this lead to? Well, it leads to a pack formation where each member proves their role within the pack. According to their strengths, wisdoms, and unique personalities, the Forest Fire and River Rapid wolves rank themselves according to the following order of responsibility:

• Alpha Male/ Female - the leaders of the pack, the Alphas are always mates to each other and have proven their worth as the strongest and wisest choice for the fate of their pack. Here in the Utopia, it is not uncommon to see subordinate call their Alphas by "Leader" instead of their name. Typically it is the Alpha male who becomes the most dominant of the pack, but occaisionally an Alpha female, even if she has a mate, takes the ultimate role in the pack. Either way, as a team they have the final word on everything that happens within the pack, including who has pups, who eats first (such as injured or sick), and where they will live. Challenging an Alpha is to challenge their rank as leader and you are saying that you think you are better fit for the job; be ready to face the consequences!
  
  
• Beta Male/ Female - Again, the Beta pair work as a team in that they are mates to one another, having proven their worth as the underhoods to the Alphas. Second-in-command, the Betas have the power to bark around the rest of the pack, assuming that the Alphas agree to their commands - but they are challenged much more often than Alphas themselves, being they aren't the leaders. They are there to represent the pack if they Alphas were to be injured, grow old, or even die.
  
  
• Elders - Elders are old wolves and often no longer capable of hunting for themselves, or perhaps have been severely injured at a younger age. They may even perhaps have been Alphas at one time or another, who either retired on their own or were challenged and replaced in their old age. Whatever the case may be, they are fed first along with the pups, and are to be deeply respected, as they have the wisdom to guide the pack through their toughest times. If a wolf is in need of advice, they Elders are always there to listen. Elders are also well-versed in the traditions of the Utopia and pass on the stories to next generations.
  
  
• Soldiers - Fully grown wolves who have proven their worth are called Soldiers. A Soldier's duties are all-around and call for courage and a hard-working attitude. In the rare instance of war, the bravest of Soldiers take the charge on their Alpha's command and view scars with pride. They are willing to die to protect the pack or the Utopia as a whole. Soliders can do group hunts together, usually with at least one Alpha, Beta, or Stalker, and are even given the general responsibility of training the young to become real fighters. Some Soldiers are so brawny and slow, however, that they aren't necessarily the best hunters!
  
  
• Scouts - Usually there are only ever three scouts in one pack. Scouts are the swiftest and some of the most reliable wolves in the pack and are used as messengers to represent the pack as a whole. During times of war or ambush, Scouts have the responsibility of delivering messages swiftly to and from different squads of Soldiers. If backup is needed, they must be able to leave behind fallen comrades and their own pride, to take the necessary actions. Scouts do not usually take part in a battle until all of their duties are seen to. Scouts are appointed usually at an early age, by the Alpha(s).
  
  
• Stalkers - One of the most key positions in a wolf pack, stalkers usually have the best sense of smell and the quietest paws. They more often than not are those who stand at an Alpha's right side as they hunt, and sometimes in the most difficult of tracking missions even take the charge - quietly, of course. They are wolves who are highly skilled in tracking, hunting, and staying hidden, and are sometimes referred to as "the shadows of the wolf pack." In times of emergency or scandal, these "shadows" are used as spies because of their innate ability to fade into nature's background and not ever be noticed. It is said that both Scouts and Stalkers are trained to withstand torture, as they know many, if not all, of the pack secrets.
  
  
• Omegas - Omegas of the Moonlit Meadow Utopia are not necessarily like Omegas of other packs. Some may consider them the weakest link to a wolf pack, but truth be told, these packs couldn't live without them! If a wolf's calling is not for that of a Soldier, Scout, or above, or has not proven themself worthy, they take on the role of the Omega. Their most important tasks is to oversee the females when it comes time to give birth to pups. They will stand guard outside of her den and check on her if she requests it; once the pups are born, Omegas become extra caretakers of both the mother and her children. They even have limited but useful knowledge of different types of natural herbs that can ease the pain of birthing, enrich the diet of the pups, and so on and so forth.
  
  
• Juveniles - Juveniles are wolves who have passed puphood, but are not ready to join the ranks of a Soldier. They are considered Juveniles by range of six months of age until eleven months of age, then become adult as they reach their yearling age of 12 months old. They are watched carefully by all packmates and are taught many lessons from fighting to hunting.
  
  
• Newborn Pups - A wolf pup is considered a newborn until it hits age six months. They are the most precious thing about a wolf pack and are protected at all costs. Often when the mother needs a break, a pup can be babysat by an Omega or even a trusting wolf who needs a break from hunting. A newborn pup, once his eyes open and he begins to explore, can even have the blatant qualities of a certain rank (such as the fighting spirit of a Soldier) and be given a role this early on.
  
  
• Loners - Loners are few and far between and live alone for several types of reasons. One may be that they were exiled from a pack for some incident. Maybe they resist a pack's way of life and prefer the wild side of life and the dangerous appeal it has. Maybe it's diseased? Who knows... All that can be said for sure is that loners have a tough life; they hunt for themself and own no real lands, for what lone wolf can protect a territory by his lonesome? And if they were to be injured just right, they might as well hit the hay early.

If a wolf cannot find a place in any of the above pack ranks, then he might as well be considered a disgrace to his family. Choose your path carefully, because in the Utopia, cooperation and faith is key.