Post by Siv on Jan 4, 2011 7:30:19 GMT -5
Calmly, Isythia had watched the two young leave for their walk. She felt a certain satisfaction, knowing they would both be qualified leaders for the pack, at least judging from the will to care for others they had both shown. But they lacked the decisiveness and will to rule, which was equally essential. Yes, she would need to look into other pairs as well. Choosing the leaders of the pack would not happen without her consent, and as the eldest it was her responsibility to see to the packs future when she could no longer guide them.
She watched the alphas sparring for a while. None of them seemed obviously superior, although Grey seemed ruthless enough to take advantage of signs of weakness or exhaustion. A good trait in a leader, at least when on the hunt, but not if it was used against his own pack.
She looked around the pack, finding them safe, and happily relaxing. Saira had taken over the pups by now, which she found to be excellent. She went to the younger mother wolf and carefully tapped a pup that was testing how far it could sneak away, gently but firmly pushing it back to the group.
She laid down, and discussed the season, the state of the pack, the battling alphas and such for a while, trying to judge the other wolfs potential as one to take over the responsibility for the pack some day. Sure, Saira was not among the very eldest, but she was not young either, and she had a wisdom to her, Isythia sensed.
Nienna and Ionhar came back late, Nienna carrying a pup in her mouth. Isythia looked, carefully, judging the newcomer. A weakened pup, probably abandoned, because it was too weak. This would cause problems for sure, and she carefully moved to the alpha grotto, listening to a few comments about the pup, before making her decision. The young pup was weak, but training could see to that. Abandoning it again was not an option, judging from the way Ionhar and Nienna was caring for it. That would split the pack. Letting the alphas dispose of it would be worse yet. They needed to learn to lead, and care for the pack, not spend their time upsetting important members of the pack and killing pups. Once they tried it once, there would be no stopping it. She had seen one alpha male go mad, and ispose of even lively and healthy pups, until three other wolves had united, led by her brother, and it had taken the death of one of them to put down the insane alpha. No. Letting them kill off the new pup would not be acceptable.
And so, she wandered, leaving the pack for the night, hunting for her own food, and sleeping, close to the den, but far enough not to disturb anyone with her late return. At her age, the time spend sleeping was shorter and shorter, though soon enough, maybe too soon, she would go to the endless sleep, the eternal dream of wolves, and join her long-dead mate and her brother in the eternal hunt. For now, the pack needed her, so she held on to the last months she had left.
Next morning she woke up, walking to the den, and watching the beginning life. The alphas continued their discussion, and she noticed Ionhar sneaking out of there and over to Nienna, who was trying to get the new pup to play with the others. Slowly, she approached the two, listening to Ionhars suggestion that the leave with the pup. She stepped in, in front of them, slowly, her movements careful and unthreatening. "Listen, young ones, if you want to do the best for the pack." Her words where gentle, almost a silent as a hiss on the wind, but there was a hidden challenge, forcing them to choose between the pack and their own wishes to care for the pup themselves. She waited, expecting harsh reactions, and readying herself to follow if they ran.
She watched the alphas sparring for a while. None of them seemed obviously superior, although Grey seemed ruthless enough to take advantage of signs of weakness or exhaustion. A good trait in a leader, at least when on the hunt, but not if it was used against his own pack.
She looked around the pack, finding them safe, and happily relaxing. Saira had taken over the pups by now, which she found to be excellent. She went to the younger mother wolf and carefully tapped a pup that was testing how far it could sneak away, gently but firmly pushing it back to the group.
She laid down, and discussed the season, the state of the pack, the battling alphas and such for a while, trying to judge the other wolfs potential as one to take over the responsibility for the pack some day. Sure, Saira was not among the very eldest, but she was not young either, and she had a wisdom to her, Isythia sensed.
Nienna and Ionhar came back late, Nienna carrying a pup in her mouth. Isythia looked, carefully, judging the newcomer. A weakened pup, probably abandoned, because it was too weak. This would cause problems for sure, and she carefully moved to the alpha grotto, listening to a few comments about the pup, before making her decision. The young pup was weak, but training could see to that. Abandoning it again was not an option, judging from the way Ionhar and Nienna was caring for it. That would split the pack. Letting the alphas dispose of it would be worse yet. They needed to learn to lead, and care for the pack, not spend their time upsetting important members of the pack and killing pups. Once they tried it once, there would be no stopping it. She had seen one alpha male go mad, and ispose of even lively and healthy pups, until three other wolves had united, led by her brother, and it had taken the death of one of them to put down the insane alpha. No. Letting them kill off the new pup would not be acceptable.
And so, she wandered, leaving the pack for the night, hunting for her own food, and sleeping, close to the den, but far enough not to disturb anyone with her late return. At her age, the time spend sleeping was shorter and shorter, though soon enough, maybe too soon, she would go to the endless sleep, the eternal dream of wolves, and join her long-dead mate and her brother in the eternal hunt. For now, the pack needed her, so she held on to the last months she had left.
Next morning she woke up, walking to the den, and watching the beginning life. The alphas continued their discussion, and she noticed Ionhar sneaking out of there and over to Nienna, who was trying to get the new pup to play with the others. Slowly, she approached the two, listening to Ionhars suggestion that the leave with the pup. She stepped in, in front of them, slowly, her movements careful and unthreatening. "Listen, young ones, if you want to do the best for the pack." Her words where gentle, almost a silent as a hiss on the wind, but there was a hidden challenge, forcing them to choose between the pack and their own wishes to care for the pup themselves. She waited, expecting harsh reactions, and readying herself to follow if they ran.
