A Leader's Questions...

Having had just entered the clearing, Traitor managed to squeeze her large frame next to Amaranth as the other wolf finished her reply. Traitor was caught off guard when the female turned to her asking her question. 

"We travel with the game. Before winter gets to bad we will leave the territory we are in for the summer, which is usually tiaga territory although this season we are in a coniferous forest. The whole pack will travel to a territory where prey is easier to find. Sometimes we head to the mountains and other times we head to a forest. Along with that i like to make sure my hunting parties are experienced. They will train all year so when winter comes they know how to hunt with each other."

Anyone who heard Traitor speak could hear the pride in her voice when she mentioned her hunters. But that pride only lasted for a second before her eyes darken with sadness as she recalls the past winter her pack endured. She looked at the ground as she asked the next wolf her question. 

"There are times when pups do not survive, be it because of winter or they are foolish and find danger. How does your pack handle the loss of a pup(s)?"

Magic who has been listening to other leaders ,  she answers the question.

" when a pup dies  we feel sad. we  bury them in their favorite place. of course every pup that is born is protected by pup sitter. i know not every pup survives" she says. 

she pauses. " of course the mother is sad. we comfort the mother and the siblings" 

we handle it the loss of pup by burying them and remembering them. 

Winter is usually when we lose pups more often. 

Magic turns to her head to the other leaders and asks " how do you choose who will take over the role of the herbalist? trying to lighten the mood. 

"Isn't it simple, just choose the one who can tell between a Bufalloberry and a Burning bush!" called Foxberry

the crowd exploded with laughter, mainly from the members of the nightberry pack, A young red brown wolf could be seen awkwardly laughing with everyone, embaressed.

"Speaking of roles, no one lives forever you know. How do you choose who will take over as a leader of your pack?"

Evening smiled at the question, "Our past leader, Oliver, talked to multiple candidates when she was nearing old age. I think it was me, Clementine, and a few others. i was the one who was best fit and wanted to take over the role. So I did! I hope that I am doing well."

She turned her head, looking for an interesting lead wolf, and asked, "Let's keep this on, how do you choose your hunting groups?"

Aced shrugged. Easy one, right? He gave his own pelt a few reassurance licks before replying.

”I pick them on skill and bloodline! Mostly just the best at their job get to keep it!” He barked out cheerfully, yawning as he thought about what that also implies if they assume it about other roles. He shrugged at the secondary darker thought.

”What do you do when a wolf has passed, by age or illness?” He asked, having already internally crushed the cheery mood he had a minute ago, and merely getting less cheery for a serious question. By the way he was talking, his sanity could be questioned but all he was thinking is hypothetically!

Hajime was in the background, listening to the voices of those around him. After being asked a question, knowing it was his turn, he answered with a low voice.

“Fortunately, we haven’t had any pack members of ours die of either one. Though, our herbalist is the most at risk to dying at old age. Once she does, we will hold a ceremony at night and howl to the stars, and then bury her shortly afterward.”

After he had answered, he flicked his tail to the nearest wolf, and asked, “How many former pack leaders have you had so far?”

Rukkaua stepped forward, tail lashing a sneer on her face. "Just our previous, my father King Scathos, and my mother Queen Skodra." She replied giving the amber-hued male a dark look. She huffed then added," Though I'm forever thankful that the title of king or queen will always fall to the correct bloodline. I can't imagine what it would be like if one of the Omega's were in charge."

Lips curling up into silent snarl as blazing yellow eyes flickered around the group before her gaze stopped on one wolf in particular. "You. How would you deal with a betrayal to your pack? I've recently had to deal with a problem within mine own pack, and I wonder how you would have dealt with it." Rukkaua said, only telling a half-truth. She really didn't care how this wolf would have dealt with it.

Though beautiful as the rising sun itself, the chuckle which rose from the targeted wolf's throat was something of darkness, coming from an ugly place within. Helios brought his head 'round to meet the strikingly bright eyes of the chocolate dame, returning her fire with equal heat. The jewels that sat upon his fur made soft jingling sounds as they clinked against each other, linked to one another via golden chains. "A betrayal is taken personally upon myself."

Pulling himself up onto a jutting stone nearest the one who spoke prior. "All of my wolves serve a purpose and have a place. The den mothers protect the pups of the entire pack. Many take it upon themselves to birth young for the pack's populace as well. And the males all have their roles. However, it is I that keeps the pack flowing in reality." The vivid brute scraped his claws against the stone underway, the sound produced being a quiet screech. "I ensure order. I lead them. If a wolf of my pack were to commit treason in any way, they are attacking me. I would see to it that they feel the same pain that they have brought to me by merely considering they would be better than me."

Looking across the way, he stepped down from his platform of a stone, coming to lounge upon it instead. "Tell me, friend," Helios sneered, raising his chin to look down his snout at the wolf a few paces away, "would you ever allow one of your own to suffer for the greater good of the pack? Or would you sacrifice the majority for the few who may remain?"

Nightingale looked at Helios with a steady gaze and replied,

''I would let one of my own suffer for the best....''

She stopped and looked away,

''And I have done it before, I let my own mate suffer so that the rest of my pack could live happily.''

Everyone could see tears welling up in here eyes.

She quickly gathered herself and looked around at the great circle of wolves till she found she liked,

''If a time can when you had to chose between your pups and your mate which would you chose?''

Dire Skoll watched the she-wolf, sensing the sympathy coming from Kasana at his side.

When her eyes landed on the pair, his ears flicking softly, with surprise.

After listening to her question carefully, he glanced down at his mate, who shared a gentle gaze with him, her blue eyes warm. She helped shape who he was today, nearing his farewell ceremony. He could never live without her...

Clearing his throat, the alpha turned his head to look back at Nightingale.

"As of now, all of my pups have left the pack to search for their own. I suppose you could say I already chose my mate over them because I'd never let her go."

"And he couldn't make me if I tried." The small she-wolf chimed, her tail wagging softly as she leaned into Skoll's fur.

The large male's graying muzzle twitched with a smile as he scanned the wolves, ears perked. 

Yellow eyes landed on one who caught his attention.

"Say... how do you keep records of your pack, if any at all? For instance, do you write them down or perhaps have a specific pack member do the work? Or is the information stored in your mind only?"