Pack of Cryptic Mist

Within these lands' mists, a mysterious pack flourishes, hidden away from typical dangers by little more than superstition. The territories within are set up to give each rank a place to settle and recuperate. 

The many hunters and those in training return mostly triumphant and make their way to Hunters Rest, collapsing on the mossy stone of the raised plot to rest their sore joints and pads.  Some sleep while others converse with the other hunters.

While the hunters rest and rejuvenate on their plot, the scout's jobs are never done.  Two scouts watch over the passageways into the heart of the mists, having a clearer view from a high incline supported by large, ancient trees whose roots dig deep into the earth below. An area referred to as Birdseye Point. And when the time is right, they go to search for new places and new things that would be beneficial to the ever-growing pack, returning to keep watch and rest as they regain their energy.

All throughout the pack, the happy sounds of playful pups can be heard echoing from a particular den that had been dug out from under the roots of one of the larger trees that are pressed against the cliff walls that border one side of the territories. Lullaby Hollow is always filled with laughter and joyous sounds from the pups of the pack. The adults who care for the offspring are given a special name once they reach one of the higher levels of their training. These certain wolves take a vow when given the name to give their time, love, care, and, if ever needed, lives for the pack's future guardians. These wolves that take this vow are given the title of "Mother."

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Unlike the alpha before Queen Eudora, the new watcher of the pack sees all differences within the pack as something that should be brought to light and treasured rather than hidden away.  When the first runt was born under her care, she was heartbroken to find that the pack's first instinct was to weed out the weak. With a low warning growl from the queen, the mother of the young pup stopped in her tracks. She had been all too willing to drop the small one outside of the mists for a predator to find. Eudora spoke with passion when addressing this, telling her pack that they would no longer see the small as weak, the colorless as freaks, or the raven born as curses. Instead, they would be cherished and given titles deserving of their diversities. She proclaimed that the runts would be given the addition of "Roont" to their names, a term meaning "small but mighty."  To those with a pelt whiter than snow, the addition of "Albin." A term meaning "pure and unwritten." And to those with pelts black as the night, she would give the addition of "Mala," a term meaning "helper of shadows."

Her words were rejoiced by most of the pack, but the mother of the runt refused her new rulings. She dropped the pup in the maw carelessly to the ground and spoke her disagreement, stating that she would not be burdened with caring for one so weak and helpless as a runt. To this, Eudora's solution was simple. " Then you have no place in this pack, and you have no place as a mother of pups." The queen carefully pushed the wolf away from the small pup and the others of the pack before motioning to the passageway out.  "Leave." was her last word on the matter, and with a leveled glare, the wolf turned and wandered into the mists. No other wolf has ever questioned this ruling, instead rejoicing when a pup of one variant is born.

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Alas, Queen Eudora's time leading the pack was cut short. At the age of three, the queen fell ill but told those under her care that she had no doubt that things would be okay. Over the next year, she grew thin and frail, and by age four she was denridden. Brenir, the pack's herbalist, never left her side for long. By the mid of the year's second moon, the queen had asked for all of her pack to gather in her den. She spoke clearly to all. "My time is coming to an end.. far sooner than I had hoped.. But I still stand by what I said. Things will still be okay... Even as I leave you all in this form, I will never stray far from you in spirit. And your new lead will be here to care for all of you in my stead."

She then turned her attention to her only surviving daughter. " Kati... I know this has been hard on you. I also know of your struggles and your choice. I will not ask you to take my place." Kati nodded, a tension in her shoulders melting away as she did what she could to hold in her emotions. 

She then looked to her beloved mate, A wolf she had found wandering in the mists. "My love. My world... My Rajah... I am sorry I must leave you so soon. And I will not ask you to stand where I stood either... I know you will need time to mourn." He nodded, the pain in his eyes clear to everyone in the den as tears slid down his cheeks.

She then turned her gaze to Volkreath. He had shown up a year before, stranded just outside the mists with no mother to care for him and only a month old. "Volkreath. One year ago you were dropped outside of the mists, left defenseless and weak... This pack gave you a home and a place to belong. And over the last year I watched you, and your love for those in this pack grow. You are strong and loyal, and though your heart craves adventure, you chose to stay here and be a shoulder to lean on for everyone in these trying times. This is why I have chosen you to be the next king of this pack."

Volkreath stood, shock clear in his features before he looked around to the other members of the pack. They each smiled at him, all showing their agreement with Eudoras words. He smiled weakly at this before taking a deep breath and looking back to the queen to bow his head. " I thank you for your kind words, my queen.. And I will lead this pack with the same care and love that you did. But I will not stand where you stood, for nobody could ever take your place. Instead, I will lead only under the title of the lead wolf, with your spirit as my guide."

Eudora smiled fondly, tears welling up in her tired eyes as she laid her head down. The den fell quiet as her labored breathing slowed to a stop.