A Leader's Questions...

Rose had left for a while and come back. She picked up the question. “My pack is new and we’re still on our first breeder, Fang. So the question doesn’t really apply, but if we ever have a breeder we don’t like, I imagine the females would just pair bond with someone else or sneak around with males from other packs.”

She turned to another wolf. “How do you decide which pups to protect and which to ignore?”

Amaris, who had just came back from her adventure, heard this question and said...

''I usually protect all of the pups in my pack but if I do ignore one is most likely because it has low stats and isn't pretty.''

After that brief answer she turned, walked up to a random wolf and asked...

''If another pack was to attack yours what would be your main strategy in fighting back?''

Magic turn to head. 

" if another pack was attacking my pack. i would have my pack fight pack. my strategy would be have wolves that have higher stats attack the attack pack first. so far no other pack has attacked my pack. This is why my pack is prepared to fight to keep the pack safe" says Magic. 

Magic will fight to protect her pack , the members of her pack will fight with her to protect their pack and leader. 

to lighten the mood a bit , she asks " if another pack you knew needed help how would you react and help the pack"? 

Scathos frowned, his ears twitching silently voicing his unease. "That would depend on the pack. If I was allied with the pack, I'd send the appropriate wolves to help. If the pack was an enemy for some reason... well... The enemy of your enemy is your friend right? " He paused, shrugging his shoulders, giving Magic a bland look. "If the pack had a neutral creation with my pack, I'd probably send word that I'd be willing to give aid, should they return the favor in the future." 

The male sat down, and raised a hind leg to scratch an itch, before relaxing. His gaze wandered around the group before his gaze rested on one particular wolf. "Is there an age restriction on how old a wolf must be before they're allowed to breed?" Personally, Scathos had set the youngest at two years, so there would be a small age gap between mother and pup. With the eldest being six and a half years old, so the mother didn't die before she would be finished nursing her pups.

Nyx thinks for a brief moment; she had never pondered over such an aspect of their life, but she has to admit that it is an important one. Then again, there was no breeding allowed within the Lycans until the young wolf could prove himself as a capable hunter. "The blessing of a mate and a new family is not connected to one's age, I suppose," she begins thoughtfully, choosing her words carefully as she tilts her head to the side slightly, debating on the ways to explain their laws and beliefs. "No wolf is going to be accepted as another's mate until he can hunt as an equal to those older than him. Usually, most of our young ones begin learning how to hunt from their parents after they grow into adolescents, but the true hunt begins when they reach two years," it was something Nyx herself has noticed in many other packs; anything younger than two years was considered too inexperienced to be a part of any hunting party. "And once they have caught their first prey, the others will deem the wolf as a possible mate. How long it takes for a successful hunt depends on the wolf, not his age," she shrugs at the answer; to her, it seems like a fair rule that others follow.

Now, it is her time to ask another question. She thinks over it, finally settling on an inquiry that often keeps her up at night. "If protecting another member of your pack would mean certain death for you, would you sacrifice your life for them?" She asks, olive eyes looking at the gathered wolves with a pale glint of uncertainty. She herself doesn't know the answer to this question.

"No, and any leader worth their salt would say the same."

Ambrose spoke up, narrowing his eyes at Nyx. He thought himself to be a realist, and hated the idea of any leaders sacrificing themselves in such a fashion. "As leader, it is your responsibility to ensure the pack's survival. I will not recklessly die to protect another wolf and leave the future of the pack uncertain." With that he sat up and stared at all of the surrounding wolves. "My life is of more value to the pack than any other. I make the decisions of how we operate, where we hunt and what we do. I mediate problems in the pack and ensure that the pack survives whatever challenges we face. And sometimes I choose whether to sacrifice one of our own to keep the rest of the pack safe. These are my decisions to make, and it is a great responsibility that many can't handle." 

With his spiel done, Ambrose had to think of a question. He looked over at a different wolf and decided it was best to get more of an idea on how other leaders lead their packs.

"Leadership is not a completely dire position to be in, however. I am not afraid to say that I take many benefits from mine, such as first choice of meats or of fathering litters. What perks do you take from your leader status?

Rain tipped her head slightly, to her this wolf seemed a bit selfish. His comments also reminded her of her father, but a less extreme version, she supposed. As for the question, the answer seemed obvious to her. "Well, not much really. Of course I'm treated with respect, I have the final say, I make the big decisions, that sort of thing. I refuse to eat first, the weakest among us get first pick. Pups, mothers, the sick and injured. A pack is only as strong as it's weakest member, so that's how I govern my pack." She glanced back at the few wolves who accompanied her, who gave small nods in confirmation. "I refuse to abuse my position, else became a selfish rat who only cares about her own well-being before those of her packmates. I've seen first-hand what greed and arrogance can do to a wolf, it corrupts your very soul." The shewolf glanced back at the male who asked the question as she spoke. Clearly where she was raised had impacted her world view. 

Rain glanced around and picked a wolf nearby. Quickly thinking up a question, she thought it would be interesting to continue the topic. "Why don't we continue this topic? What advantages have you taken because of your status as leader?" She wanted to identify the selfish and the tyrants so she knew who to avoid. 

Rose answered the question “I really don’t take much. I eat first and my pups get a private pupsitter, but that’s it. Other than that? Nope.”

She picked a random wolf. “How about you? What perks do you take?”

Chianti smirked. "I get first dibs on the springtime berries when they grow. Other than that- just the delegations of leading my pack. I have high hopes for my two young sons, but I will not coddle them any more than I would the pups of others," she stated with a nod, though if one listened closely they might hear a subtle defensive tone. Flicking her ear towards someone else, she decided to explore that topic a little further.

"Speaking of pups, how does your pack care for yours?"

Rain tipped her head slightly. It seems the other shewolf was worried about what others would think about how she treated her pups, judging by her defensive tone when speaking of her own. As for the question, she paused for a moment. "I'd like to think we care for them fairly well. All pups remain nameless until their second month of life, where those who pass the test receive a name based on their looks and personality. Every pup is assigned to a sitter, even the nameless. They are cared for and taught until they are adolescents." She thought for a moment, fidgeting with her paws. "That is, of course, assuming they survive long enough." She shrugged as she spoke, her voice calm. 

Rain glanced towards another wolf, and chose to once again continue the topic. "Out of curiosity, what about you? How are pups treated in your pack?" Her head tipped, ears perked and alert.