This is the species for my pack, the Serpent River Pack. If you make one, please let me know so you can either join or become one of the known members of the species not part of the pack.
Pack is located here. Remember to post both here and at the pack thread if you want to join the pack.
Map is finished. Screenshots and download can be found here.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Serpent River Wolves
(Canis Lupis Serpentes) Trust in Ability
Happiness in Secrecy
Survival in Adaptability
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Rules
one!
>Please do not create a character if you are not going to be active with it.
two!
>Please make sure your character is put together properly.
three!
>Please submit an application if you make a character so I can keep track of the species.
four!
>Please be able to form coherent sentences while writing if you are going to join the pack. By this I mean please type out words completely. Use punctuation. Capitalize anything that needs to be capitalized. Etc.
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Abilities
- All Serpent River Wolves have retractable claws. This enables them to hunt and climb more effectively.
- Serpent River Wolves have an increased range of foreleg motion. They are able to rotate their paws 180 degrees, much like a cat. This allows them to climb more effectively, along with grasp prey with their claws easier.
- Both males and females have the ability to mask their scent for short periods of time. They excrete an additional chemical that neutralizes scent. However, this chemical is in limited quantity and takes several days to regenerate after being depleted.
- Serpent River Wolves are able to climb trees. This developed from the need to hide when they were being hunted, and it is a skill that has remained since.
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Psychology
Serpent River wolves are secretive and wary of outsiders. Considering their history with outsiders, they have a reason to be. They tend to be calm and rational. Hot-headed and rash adult members are rare, though not unheard of. When dealing with outsiders, females tend to be shy, while the males are often hostile. If an outsider gets too near their den, they are questioned by one posted sentry, while the other goes to inform the Alphas. However, they are not entirely xenophobic. They do deal with outsiders, and occasionally form alliances with other packs. They are simply cautious.
Females are the more rational ones. They tend to be intelligent and far-seeing, often seeming to have almost seer-like knowledge of what will occur as a result of the packs actions. All females help with the raising of the pups. However, not all help with the babysitting. That is left to the assigned baby-sitters, and the omega. Females will often form hunting groups and hunt smaller game like deer. Rabbits or fawns are sometimes brought back alive for the pups to practice their hunting skills on. That doesn't mean they don't hunt larger prey, however. They are perfectly capable of hunting the caribou and bison that roam their territory, and often join in pack hunts.
Males tend to be calmer and more confidant then the females. They are the ones who deal with the situations that involve outsiders. Males assist in raising only their own pups, and if they have pups of their own they tend to be short-tempered around those that are not theirs. There has not been an incident of a male killing a pup, but that does not mean that it could never happen. For that reason males with pups are kept out of the nursery. Once their pups are fully grown, the males mellow out, and are able to assist the babysitters if needed. Males rarely form hunting groups, preferring to hunt on their own if not participating in a pack hunt.
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Diet
Serpent River Wolves are carnivorous. They get all the nutrients they need from meat. They will occasionally ingest plants, berries, or grass, but that is for medicinal purposes only. They hunt all prey animals, be it insect, reptile, fish, or mammal. They are not, however, cannibalistic. They will not consume any canine. Felines, however, are occasionally eaten in lean times. Cannibalism is merit for immediate exile or death.
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Reproduction
Serpent River Wolves have a wide range of behavior when it comes to breeding. Unlike most Wolf Packs, the Alphas allow breeding outside of themselves. However, all breeding pairs must have permission from the Alphas before having pups. Not having the blessing of the Alphas is cause to terminate the pregnancy. This can be done two ways. The female can willingly take an herb which causes her to miscarry. Or if she refuses, the Alpha female will attack until the pregnancy is forcibly aborted. With the latter, the female is then exiled from the pack territory. The sire of the terminated litter may choose whether or not to go with her.
Most Serpent River Wolves choose a mate that they love and respect. However, some remain single and breed with whomever they choose. When they do find a mate, they breed only with them, unless it is a homosexual pair. Should a male or female be homosexual, they would also willingly breed with the opposite sex for pups to benefit the pack. While homosexuality is uncommon, it is neither ridiculed or frowned upon. Such an attitude is not permitted within the pack.
THERE WILL BE NO SAME SEX COUPLES HAVING PUPS.
They may adopt pups if there are any without parents. But there will be no male-pregnancies. Neither will there be females impregnating other females.
Currently, crossbreeding is not allowed.
Males
Males reach sexual maturity at age two and remain sexually able until they die. Most male breed at least four times in their lifetime, though it is normally closer to six. Males will mate with multiple females if single, but when they find a mate, they remain faithful to them.
Females
Females reach sexual maturity at age three and remain fertile until around the age of fifteen. They have a yearly estrus in the middle of winter, and give birth in early spring. Most females breed at least four times in their lifetime, though it is normally closer to six. Females will choose whether or not to breed when single. They will never be forced to breed.
Pups
Pups are born into litters that range in size from as little as two to as many as six. The average is four, however. Not all pups born survive their first weeks, as the weaker ones usually die by being refused food by their litter-mates. The runt will occasionally survive, however they usually become pupsitters, or if submissive enough, the omega. They are no longer considered pups when they reach the age of one year.