Forest Pack Description

[Golden Moon]

This is a LOT of information, so I will probably split it into many posts, like Dreamy did.

The most ancient of the packs, Forest Pack was founded long ago, by wolves who lived during the time of the cave-dwelling Twolegs. It is for this reason the forest wolves are considered the wisest of all, and woodland pups grow on legends of the old as well as their mother's milk. Mentoring was a particular skill of the Forest Pack; each and every pup was put through a series of mind challenges as well as physical ones, to hone hunting abilities and intelligence. However, as well as hunting and fighting, all of the wolves were trained to be of strong spirit as well as strength. Many wolves who had no skills and yet lots of faith would become most prized in the Forest Pack. To encourage this, the pups would meet with the pack alpha once a day for a wisdom lesson. These sessions were traditional to teach honor, loyalty, and virtue to the young ones of the pack. While the alpha would be telling the pups stories of the old, the beta wolf would be doing similar things with the other wolves outside the Alpha den. Instead of stories, however, the beta would set up oral scenarios where the wolves would have to think of the wisest and fairest solutions to problems.

[Golden Moon]

Such practices earned the wolves of Forest Pack much respect, and the bond between Forest pack mates was so strong, rarely did any betrayal occur. However, this has been known as a weakness to the Forest Pack, because their trust might put them slightly off guard for traitors from within. Because of their wisdom many creatures would come to the Forest wolves for advice. Though polite, the Forest pack did not accept anyone on their land and honored the Lunessa code fiercly. They would battle if need be, though rarely with their own pack mates.

The Forest Pack lives in a dense deciduous forest positively teeming with life in all seasons but Cold Ice. A typical woodland wolf's diet wolf included, but is not limited to" mice, rabbits, shrews, deer, moose, voles, many different kinds of birds, or an occasional bear if it was small or weak enough to be killed. Sometimes, during the Cold Ice, caribou would wander of the Tundra territory and be close enough for Forest wolves to hunt. Mostly, however, they never got farther than Plains. The wolves also did not eat any felines, though did catch an assortment of water-dwelling rodents from a stream that runs through the wood. However, the cannot fish and though they catch many kinds of birds, to kill an owl would be an absolute crime. In all stories the owl symbolizes loyalty and intelligence, and help the ancient wolves out of sticky situations time and time again. The Forest Wolves believe the owl to be a omen of the Lunessa pack, a fallen wolf sent back to earth to watch over them.

[Golden Moon]

The healer has the highest rank in the whole Pack. They are the closest to the Lunessa pack, and the mysteries of a healer is as vague to other wolves as a peculiar light just visible through thick fog. The Alpha and Beta, even, bend to the will of the healer, who is expected to be as wise as the Alpha. However, a healer is not allowed to choose their own path. A pack mate would always see a sign to prove who the next healer is, and the current healer would begin training that wolf at once. The healers are compassionate and do not fight; every wolf of the pack would have to give up their lives before letting a healer perish in battle, and are forbidden to attack one from another pack. Forest healers, much unlike other packs, are allowed to have a mate and pups. However, as soon as the healer's loyalties are diverted from his/her job she must step down and live as a normal wolf in the pack. This could be difficult for healers as they would just be beginning to start their battle training, while others their age would have had seasons of experience. It is for this reason that many wolves prefer to stick on the path their paws are on.

[Golden Moon]

The forest camp is in a small clearing to the west of the stream. It is in a slight dip of the ground, surrounded by brambles and bushes. At the far side is a massive aspen tree with huge roots that fan before it for many deer-lengths. One of these roots arches high into the air before diving back down into the ground; in the large space underneath the root is a tangled mass of branches and ferns, or the nursery. There are many other roots like this, with shallow scoops in the ground beside them perfect for sleeping in. The wolves love to rest this close to the mighty aspen tree, nestled in the very center of the tree’s growth.



The Alpha sleeps in the huge hollow gap that spreads from a crack in the center of the tree, all the way down to the floor. The tree is facing to the outside wall of the camp, however, so the Alpha cannot see what is going on outside his den; that is job of many of the camp guards, to perch on the high branches of the aspen to keep watch. The Alpha sits on the low branch - The Aspen Branch - to make his announcements.



The prey pile is in two of the root nooks. The larger one is for the caught deer and moose remains, the other is for small creatures such as vole. The healers den is in the area where a huge rock is propped up against a root and the camp wall.



(I've still got more coming, so I'd appreciate it if you could post in my Gallery instead of here, just in case you did want to post a response. I'm not finishing this all today.)

[Golden Moon]

By the way, I do NOT like the quality of these pictures! I did them in a rush, on Paint, because it took too long to load up my graphics program and I really needed to go. But they give you the main idea.

[Loki Abcat]

Is it supposed to say "medicine cat's den"?

I like it! I should do that...

[Golden Moon]

Oh, pooh, you're right. I still have my head stuck in Warriors. Guys, pretend it says 'healer'

[Loki Abcat]

And "Wolf"

[Golden Moon]

Yep. And Wolf.