shapes-den

[shapes-den]

Art Prompt Competition Entry

(I had to cut down my submission for the WD competition, by a lot, to match the maximum word count, but I thought I'd post the longer version (that's been spell-checked, haha) for anyone who wanted to read it. I had a lot of fun writing it, and I'm enjoying going through everyone else's submission so far!

Content warning for: Hallucinations/visions, themes of death and mortality, body horror, animal death, mind-altering substances, blood, other horror themes)

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“My name is Bu’ha.”

 “Bu’ha?” Ourkan squinted. “I can’t see you to tell if the name fits.”

“How rude of me, elder.” She stepped forward to allow the old wolf to sniff her.

“A yearling?”

“Yes, I’m a trainee healer, my parents suggested I go on this journey to gain confidence in myself.”

Ourkan huffed. “You seem old for a yearling.”

“Well…” Bu’ha paused, laughing nervously. “I was planning to get over my fear of corpses first.”

Ourkan laughed. “A wolf afraid of food? Well, I won’t ask the real reason.”

“It sounds stupid, but it’s true.”

“Strange.”

“Yes, that’s what I’m doing this for. Mother says I should gain enough life experience that silly things like that won’t upset me”.”

“I’m tired,” Ourkan cut her off, slowly stretched out his front paws and scratched at his ear, looking pained, “You should go find my grandson. Big red wolf, you can’t miss him.” He turned away and curled up, tucking his nose under his tail tip. Ignoring her.

"Goodbye... Elder."

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Bu’ha plodded up the winding path she had found just past the rude elder's resting spot. Perhaps this pack might help her get over her embarrassing phobia? Ever since she was small the thought of death and dying had terrified her. She even sympathised with the prey her pack caught, apologising before eating, but her mother said this was a good quality in a healer. Compassion. Just… maybe not this much. Catching her own food had already driven home the message, the necessity of prey death, but she simply couldn’t rationalise predator death. They fed no one. It seemed so... senseless.

Sniffing out the presence of other wolves, Bu'ha picked up the pace. Ferns, damp from the mid-morning rain, grabbed at her forelimbs as she brushed past them. Chalky-smelling rocks crumbled into a slurry beneath her toes, but she didn't mind, her thoughts were focused on the two wolf pups who were passed out on a bed of sweet-smelling herbs ahead of her, blocking the path.

Smiling to herself, Bu'ha nosed the closest pup, but the smile soon turned to a deep frown. These poor pups were freezing in the cold autumn wind! Angrily she looked around for either parent, before realising that the pups hadn’t moved an inch.

An icy feeling went down her spine. Could they be…?

“What are you doing?!” Her thought was interrupted by the harsh bark of a middle-aged female. “Get away from my nephews!”

“They’re… alive?”

“What a rude, unobservant yearling! My sister’s twins are just sleeping. They happen to have been born with gifts that make them tired.”

Bu’ha took another look, feeling foolish as she saw that both pups were breathing deeply. How could she be so stupid? The two wolves were joined at the hip. Every healer knew that unusual puppies like that were often colder than normal wolves. It was their connection to dead things that made them that way. That same connection meant that they didn’t live long, and she had just been the most ignorant she could possibly have been. Not a great first impression.

“I’m so terribly sorry, your healer and their parents must be amazing at caring for them. Your nephews seem very happy and healthy.”

“Of course, our healer’s the best in the valley!” She said, with a cunning glint in her eye. “In fact, you should go and see her, perhaps you might learn a thing or two about etiquette.”

“Oh! I would love to; I’m planning to be a healer.” Bu’ha wagged her tail, happy to have found an excuse to leave. Meeting the medicine wolf would be a bonus to her learning too. 

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The pup’s aunt had given her very precise directions, seeming to enjoy making her stay and listen for an uncomfortably long time. It served her right though; she had disrespected the poor female’s family members. Bu’ha took a deep breath as she picked her way delicately through puddles and sharp rocks at her feet. It was slow going, but it gave her time to think about her manners at least.

The air was getting colder, but through the damp and moss, she could smell that the healer was close. Herbs and poultices had a distinct leafy smell, that seemed almost bitter to her, and she could've recognised it from a mile away.

Trailing plants hung down over a rocky cliffside at the end of the temporary stream, but there seemed to be no wolf or den in sight. She put her nose to the floor, hoping to pick up a scent, but all she could smell were puddles and an odd metallic tang that made her gag. Probably some rare type of medicine or plant, not that it made the stench of it any less disgusting. Maybe there would be a path on the cliff somewhere? Bu’ha stepped forward and nosed at the sodden, dripping vines. The revolting scent was stronger here, but so was a much sweeter smell of dried flowers, that seemed to be carried on a breeze blowing out of the rock itself. Of course! The medicine wolf must have a den hidden behind the plants. How clever, she thought, to keep any sick wolves where they would be undisturbed. Good for recovery. Now if only she could remember what the healer’s name was…

“Hello?” she whined, “Is a wolf name Huth here? Your packmate Auru sent me.”

A nose suddenly touched her own, causing her to jump at least 10 feet into the air in surprise.

“A visitor!” said the greying muzzle poking out from behind the curtain of greenery, “I never get visitors, come in!” Just as quickly as the nose had appeared, it vanished again, back into whatever cave or crevice it's owner lived in.

“Do… Don’t you want to know why I’m here?” Bu’ha asked, both curious and confused.

“Of course not! It’ll be obvious enough when you get in here, hurry up!”

The yearling laughed, it seemed like learning from this wolf might be fun. Thank goodness this pack’s healer wasn’t as abrasive as the rest of them. She pushed her way eagerly into the cave, taking in her surroundings as her eyes adjusted to the dim light.

An elderly wolf with large patches of fur missing here and there, greeted her with a wagging tail.

“Don’t worry, I’m not contagious if you were wondering,” The old wolf sized her up, almost jealously despite her warm smile “As we get older, healing comes much slower.”

“Oh, of course, I didn’t mean to stare.” This wolf, Huth, was clearly old enough to be envious of the yearling’s youth, but she sounded friendly, and all those years of wisdom would be fascinating to hear about.

Bu’ha fluffed out her fur, not wanting to appear judgemental. Old wolves aren’t dead wolves, she thought to herself, though, she didn’t really believe it looking at Huth.

“You look half-starved. Did my cranky relatives bother to feed you?”

“No, but I- “

The older wolf cut her off by shoving a chunk off meat under her nose.

“Eat up!” She said cheerfully, not pausing for a response.

“… Thank you.” Bu’ha sighed, knowing she couldn’t refuse the hospitality of a shared meal, and whispered a quick apology to the unidentified creature she was eating.

“Custom of your pack?” Huth enquired. The elder was sharp, she hadn’t missed Bu’ha’s quirk. Should she lie? “No, you seem touchy about it. Don’t worry, I won’t judge you. Spirits aren’t just superstition, you know.”

“Oh?”

“I can show you, after your meal. Spirits make the herbs more potent, full of nutrition. Good for growing wolves.” The elder gave her a kind, almost pitying look.

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Both wolves padded softly over snow. Mist rose from the surroundings, but Huth had told Bu’ha this was the magic of the place. Tall, slender trees were silhouetted against the early evening light, in an eerily beautiful way. Bu’ha was enjoying herself, she had already learned a few things, and the air was cool and pleasant to her nose.

“How do you feel?” Huth asked softly.

“Hm? Cold, mostly.”

“Good… Good. Tell me when you can see it.”

The young wolf tilted her head, looking around. Now that she mentioned it, the trees seemed to be swaying in time with her breath, each exhale blowing condensation into the still air. The ground was breathing with her, glistening dewdrops shining with life.

“Do… You mean… spirits?” For some reason her words were slow to reach her mouth. Each step was becoming harder, and yet Huth seemed unaffected by the energy of the forest.

“Shh, shh, you tell me when you see. Tell me what it says.”

“Huuuth…?” Bu’ha felt nauseous, her blood rushed in her ears. Everything felt darker than before. The tree (… were they trees?) moved with greater intensity, with purpose. “What…?”

Black blood dripped down blacker bark, each tree a twisted limb that uprooted itself to crash forwards towards her. Moss melted and bubbled underfoot. Howls of air almost knocked her down as she cowered before a mighty beast. Ragged breaths, bright dead eyes, its ribcage heaved as hers did, sucking the air from her lungs and forcing it back down her throat with no care for her mortal whims.

Each inhale brought a wave of sickness; each brought a tide of death. Small critters curled up and died before her, plants withered and rotted to nothing. All consumed by the black, black blood.

That corpse-like, canine face, an emaciated grimace that pulsated with an air of indifference. Urine soaked into her tucked tail. The slender spirit did not care.

“Tell me what it says!” Her vision was blocked as Huth let out a ragged screech. “I need to know what to do!”

Bu’ha stared up in fear at the mess of flesh that was the older wolf. Every inch of Huth's muzzle throbbed with open yellow pustules, bubbling like molten fat, barely clinging to her rotting bones. Her jaw hung loosely, teeth gnashing at nothing as strangled sounds of desperation left her throat. Her eyes were no more. Instead, her sockets poured forth dark, sticky liquid, that fell down her cheeks and hit the ground with a sickening squelch. Her cries were getting louder. Her head was twitching violently. One paw held Bu’ha pinned to the ground. Her empty sockets remained focused on the yearling.

Not to be ignored, nor constrained by the mere laws of physics, the tall, twisted sprit passed through the medicine wolf, it’s head almost comically small compared to its sinewy neck. Both wolf and spirit blended into one as a strange sense of calm overtook Bu’ha.

How idiotic she had been. Death was inevitable. Death did not care. Death was not…

Her vision faded into

nothingness.

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Pitiful.

Useless.

Pathetic.

Huth kicked her back legs with each contemptuous thought. What a waste of time. The twisted corpse behind her had showed such promise, and yet…

“Too much mountain toad?” She pondered. What a moron. If only she hadn’t been so focused on the approaching winter, she wouldn’t have messed things up for the twins. Might even have cured them before the snow drifts got too deep.

The old wolf’s muscles ached as she bitterly kicked a clump of large icy earth at the yearling.

“Help…” A soft whine came from behind Huth... had she imagined it? Excitement overtook rationality as she turned sharply towards the ‘corpse’. There! Shallow breaths, despite the lifeless eyes.

“Perfect!”

Perhaps she wasn't so useless after all.

[shapes-den]

Coal Valley Lore: Growing Up Fast (pt2)

(Content warning for mentions of animal/puppy death. Tanana and Xaasa are both mothers now, although each have their own struggles. This story is set a small time skip from part one, but before "Aruthe's Choice".)

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The happy barks and yips of her pups greeted Tanana, as she and Ourkan trotted into the den.

"So, how did she do?" It seemed her sister Ourara had been eagerly awaiting their return too, as she was thumping her tail loudly and vigorously against the ground.

"When the puppies are weaned she'll join us full time." Ourkan said, crouching to fuss over his nieces and nephews.

"That skilled already?" Ourara looked up in awe, as Tanana awkwardly wagged her tail a little.

"Well, I did manage to snag us a grouse for dinner, but I don't know if that counts as skillful."

"No need to be humble. Those birds always go for the eyes." Her brother had his head pinned to the floor at this point, tongue lolling goofily to the side as two pups chewed on either ear, and was pretending to be completely helpless.

"Well if the pups can best you, Ourkie, there's little hope for the pack." Their sister said, and Tanana couldn't help but laugh as she nudged her children away from their uncle.

"Enough now, pups. Your Auntie Xaasa won't be happy if you eat Uncle Ourkan's ears."

"At least I won't be able to hear Ourara bullying me." Her brother drooped sadly, putting on a show for the young wolves, "Poor, poor me! With my ears talked off and then eaten up, how will I ever face the pack again?"

Almost as if summoned by their words, Xaasa barked a greeting from outside the den.

"Anyone home?"

"Yes, Xaasa, come in!"

"Ah, Tanana, how did your hunt go?" Their lead wolf seemed a little disheveled, and behind her stumbled a very small brown puppy, catching Ourkan's eye immediately.

"Quohau'ru!" He exclaimed, wiggling his whole body in excitement as he licked his pup all over. Xaasa smiled at her mate softly, as the other wolves greeted her respectfully.

"The hunt went well, Ourkan chased down a grouse perfectly, and I managed to finish it off." Tanana couldn't keep the pride out of her voice as she spoke, something that Xaasa's picked up on immediately.

"Well done! I take it you and Ourara will be working together once the pups are older?"

"Yes!" Ourara piped up cheerfully, "We can't wait, can we Tana?"

"I'm sure we'll do well together."

"Of course we will, if Aruthe joins too we'll be unstoppable!" Her sister laughed nervously as their leader flinched.

"Well, we'll need all the food we can get, so I hope your very loud claims turn out true." Xaasa sighed quietly, and turned slightly to avoid her mate rolling on the floor with the pups, "Ourkan, will you and Ourara take the pups to play? If you don't mind of course, Tanana?"

"Not at all, Xaasa" The young female smiled, as Ourkan gently herded the pups, as well as Ourara who clearly hadn't gotten the hint, out of the den.

"Now that it's quieter in here, we can talk" Xaasa said, flopping to the ground. With their packmates gone and her leader fully relaxed, tanana could see just how exhausted she looked.

"Are you alright, Xaasa?"

"Hmm? I was just going to ask you the same thing. You seem tense lately, has anything," she glanced to the entrance of the den, "or anyone, been bothering you?"

"Ourara never bothers me" she laughed "I'm just a worrier from a whole pack of worriers."

"I see." Xaasa raised her head " And what's got you worried this time?"

Tanana paused, not knowing exactly how her leader always managed to read her perfectly like this, and tried to think of a way to explain without making herself look bad.

"Perhaps it isn't a big deal.. They aren't even weaned yet, but..."

She glanced at Xaasa, who was waiting patiently. The older female had a way of making her ramble out exactly what was on her mind, and it seemed like today was no exception.

"Go on"

"Your daughter already has a name, but my pups are getting older by the minute and... I have no idea what to do. I'm worried they'll be adults and still nameless..." Tanana pinned her ears back sadly "I'm a poor mother. All I've done for my pups is feed them and chastise them. At least Ourkan makes them happy..."

"Oh Tanana," the older female got up and nosed her gently, "Those pups love you just as much as they love my mate. Just because he plays the fool and makes them laugh, doesn't mean you're a bad mother. Who is the one teaching them their first words?"

"I... I am."

"And who was there when they opened their eyes? Who warned them about the dangers of the world? Kept them clean? Encouraged them to walk and play?"

"I did..."

"You see? You're a great mother, how could your pups not love you?"

"But..."

"Don't worry about their names. Names take time."

"But Xaasa, how will I know?"

"Know what?" The leader cocked her head to one side quizzically, as the younger female cut her off.

"How will I know if I do a good job? How will I know when to give them the right names, or... or if the names will suit them, or if I'm waiting too long, or..." Tanana whined softly, overwhelmed, as Xaasa leant against her.

"The truth is, you won't know," the older wolf cut her off as she began to panic again, "But, we can only do our best. Where I came from we never named our pups early."

"Then..."

"Ourkan and I made a promise, after we..." The older wolf paused, taking a deep breath, "After the accident, we vowed to keep our last puppy safe. That meant giving her a name."

"Oh... So..."

"You shouldn't be worried about waiting. As pups grow, their names become obvious. As their mother, you'll know them the best, but as your leader I'm always here to guide you, if you need it."

"Thank you, Xaasa." Tanana whispered.

The loss of her nephew had been a sudden and shocking one. Now she was thinking about it, it was obvious. The way Ourkan joked with the pups, doted on his daughter, tried to make time to spend with his siblings, he was simply putting on a brave and happy front for all his family. She could see the grief in Xaasa's unkempt fur, her tired eyes, the constant patrolling, the way she carefully made sure to praise every wolf of the pack each day.

Tanana suddenly felt very silly comparing her mothering choices to Xaasa's.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" The older wolf looked genuinely confused. "My job is to advise you, and besides, you're a saint compared to your siblings. I love our family dearly, but I never have to worry about you scaring the pups with ghost stories, or trying to get yourself killed by a porcupine, or barking me awake in the middle of my nap." Xaasa laughed. "Perhaps you should be in charge for a day or two?"

"No thanks, I don't want to be the one to tell Aruthe she has to pull spines out of Ourkan's rump again." They both snorted, remembering how Ourkan had looked like a sad oversized pine branch.

"Yes, I don't think she's forgiven me for assigning her that duty yet."

[shapes-den]

I have news! Ourkan and Xaasa's first puppy, Quohau'ru, is now grown up enough to get her very own boyfriend. She's been drawn in by a good-natured and respectful young male, who loves to tell her amazing stories (but always forgets at least half of it).

Introducing a complete himbo of a wolf, Wuros!*

Poor Wuros's has quite the tragic history, but remains optimistic. His pack did the bare minimum to keep him alive. They gave him a barely acceptable name, insulted him often, and taught him few things when he managed to survive until adolescence. Upon learning this, Xaasa immediately declares a feud against her son-in-law's birth pack.

A bit of context: In the north, year old wolves are encouraged to leave their birth packs, and will pass through most relative's territories with ease. They may then return home or strike out on their own, forming a new pack. Saying that, different packs have different tolerance levels for wolves during their roaming (part of their yearling celebration). Ourkan, for instance, had finished his roaming just before meeting Xasaa.

Had Wuros's pack not done the bare minimum, any yearlings passing through would have carried gossip about the mistreatment. Equally, if they had allowed an adol to roam freely, or even chased him away, any wolves finding him would be obligated to return him home, or start a feud with his birth pack. Wolves treat adolescence as a time of great learning, and making it past puppyhood is seen as passing the test of survival. Therefore, neglecting an adolescent/older puppy is considered extremely callous and disrespectful among the Northern wolves.

*Wuros' name means: Self-centered, gullible, full of useless wisdom, a pretty face with nothing to show for it. This shocks the CVP wolves, as giving a pup such a negative name is nearly unheard of in wolf society.

[shapes-den]

Alright, big rant incoming. I've been having a very bad few days and I need to vent and be bitter for just a sec.

As always, please block the tag "personal vent stuff" if you don't want to see. Also, I really don't want a discussion about this with LD/WD staff, or to make them feel crappy, so it's not going in the WD tag. I seriously hope that all my fears and frustrations are completely unfounded, and it comes to a satisfying conclusion for all.

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If you've been following the breeding male problem thread, then you'll already know why I'm bitter, and I'm not going to lie, I am super salty about this response:

Early access players have been on the site for a month. We can see the trends and aren't stupid. The longer it stays this system, the more problems/backlash for any changes there are going to be. As harsh as it sounds, the LD breeding system is awful and broken. Transplanting it over to WD, for whatever reason, is going to keep the same inherent flaws.

With regards to the paragraph outlined in red: Beta testers were on the thread telling us what the admins told them during testing, and tumblr answers were referenced, yet none of us are correct? If it was more like "no we aren't trying to make money and aren't going to be stubborn about keeping it the way it is" then I don't really believe it. Of course the site needs to make money, of course there needs to be GC sinks. I'd like to hope nobody would argue against that, but the point remains that WD throughout beta testing and early access has stubbornly clung to the stud system as the be all and end all, putting band aids over the bullet holes of issues with mass breeding and worth of males.

LD feels borderline addictive at times, there's the whole 'sunk cost fallacy' that affects people very negatively, and quite a few high profile players have quit over it's toll on their mental health. I don't play any more because breeding is frustrating and expensive. Looks are low RNG chance which means you need to mass breed. Mass breeders used to be looked down on when I started, now they're the norm, because you can barely get anything otherwise. Plus, to get stats with any sort of value, you need a whole group of people and a hoard of GB.

Obviously admins are not responsible for player's mental health, but you'd really think that a system which has so many problems, that causes so much frustration, would have been the first thing they threw out. We keep being told that WD is a completely different game, but the more I play, the more I see the way things are valued, the more I see which methods of playing are becoming popular? It feels like LD on hard mode, with lions swapped out for a wolf theme.

[shapes-den]

Coal Valley Lore: Language (3/?)

Compliments and insults

Wolf insults span from silly puppy name-calling, to cruel curses. To give you examples of how serious each word is, I've divided them into three categories depending on the age that it is generally acceptable to start using them. Content warning for mild human/english swears.

Puppy swears:

'Re-Re' bully, bossy, mostly used by pups

'Hieh' a coughing sound, similar to english "heck"

'Hethe' the wolf equivalent of "mean", a little pushy and arrogant

Adolescent swears:

'Roas' mud-fur, or decaying beauty (mostly used as an insult towards elder wolves)

'Wuthe' complete idiot, gullible and easily flattered

'ierr' angry confusion, the wolf equivalent of "what the hell?"

'Orou' stubborn old wolf

Adult swears:

'Wyn' Useless, a whiny and weak wolf who relies on luck. Similar to the wolf words for sorry (whyn/whiyn)

'Yit' a common exclamation of surprise (luck, precise, unusual) used in a similar way to crap or darn

'irr' directly confrontational, fighting words

'Rerrer' a wolf that causes disruptions for no good reason

'Roa' rot quickly, similar to the phrase go to hell

Uncommon:

'Rao-roa' a curse meaning live forever and rot, some packs use it as frequently as yit, some packs consider it the highest insult

'Yierrit' the wolf word for surprise. In some packs there is the saying "surprises are never good" and even saying the word is considered rude or insulting.

Wolves using an animal name as an insult is common, but not universal, as the meaning depends on the pack. For example, in Xaasa's birth pack 'fox' and 'coyote' mean "obnoxious" and "thief" respectively

'Heay' old-fashioned word meaning hypocrite. Younger wolves tend to use it to mean picky or fussy, which isn't always seen as a bad thing

Honorifics and compliments:

Compliments are either used in conjunction with a wolf's name, or as a stand alone word. Wolves don't have many complements, as most of their names are positive. One of the highest complements you can give a wolf is saying their name suits them, especially if they've picked it themselves. In fact, it's very common to complement a wolf's name during their yearling celebration.

'Ji' used as a prefix for a wolf's name, a respectful word that means cheerful and comedic

'Aiya' a whining sound used as a suffix for a wolf's name, a very respectful word for leaders

'Oth' a word for a wise old wolf

'Qou' a coughing bark meaning keen senses, a sharp thinker

'Whyin' a wolf word for sorry, when used as a compliment it is saying the other wolf is better than them

'Ouha' an honest wolf, sometimes used as "on my honour"

'Futh' means a humble, yet self-assured wolf. Often used to congratulate a packmate on their skills

'Xus' a word used to describe a wolf as attractive

[shapes-den]

Coal Valley Lore: Language (2/?)

The wolf alphabet:

Sounds that make up words and names, and their associated meanings. This is pretty much a work in progress, and may change over time. Feel free to use this for your own names, but please credit me (#828)

'A' lively, spirited, energetic, good-natured. When used in conjunction with another sound it draws attention to potential positives

'AA/AH' excitement, promise, optimistic, adventurous

'AI' determined, focused

'AO' means life, long-lived. Very old fashioned and a bit taboo to use in names. 'Rao-Roa' is a strong curse word in Ourkan's birth pack, that means "may you rot whilst still living"

'B' the beginning of a soft bark, sturdy, reliable

'E' a sharp sound, the negative version of 'A', overbearing, bossy

'EA' new, confusing, sometimes fresh. "Heay" means hypocrite. Having both E and A in a name gives the wolf a choice, as it signifies uncertainty over which traits will prevail.

'F' a variant of 'TH' for the beginning of words

'H' never used on its own, when combined with another sound it means "a little bit" or "balanced"

"I" precise, often combined with 'E'

"IE" shock, surprise

'J' sounds similar to X or TH, but means funny, foolish, cheerful. Used in a respectful or neutral way.

'K' a sharp sound meaning physically agile, swift

'L' a variation of Y

'N' very, a lot, finite

'OU' loud, bold, confident, honest, proud

'OA' never used for names, decay, rot

'O' old, wise, over time has become slightly negative due to the word "orou" meaning "a backwards-thinking, stubborn elder"

'Q' a subtle variant of K, fast, clever, quick-witted. Clever is often synonymous with sociable, as getting along is important for survival

'R' by itself rude, brash, confrontational, aggressive. When used in conjunction with another sound, it draws attention to the potential downsides

'S' to do with attractiveness, ie thick fur, a good smell, bright eyes

'T' chattering sound, unusual, unique, curious

'TH' Confident, skillful, self-assured, rarely used negatively

'-THE' only used for the ends of words/names. Same meaning as TH, but is used both positively and negatively

'U' gentle, trusting, can be used negatively to mean gullible

'W' negative, meaning whiny, self-centered, pitiful. Rarely used for names.

'X' admirable, valued, loved, can also mean elegant

'Y' depending on the sound after it, can mean exceptional, outstanding, a good leader, or feeble, weak, lucky

[shapes-den]

Oh wow, I love your naming system. I love all your lore, actually, haha. Yours is one of the packs I've been following since the start :D

Also, thanks for tagging me! You actually reminded me that I had a half-finished idea for "wolf language" that I was supposed to write up ages ago. I'm have the basics down, but I'm planning to develop additional sounds, words & phrases, as my pack gets to a more sophisticated/advanced level of 'wolf society' ^^

First of all, I love ur lore so much????? Like????? WOW!!!! I love how u have been organizing everything so far!! How do you decide the names for your wolves if they are part of the lore? Do you follow any naming rule or anything? Also, im interested in how you came to make the name of your pack? PA is less than half a day away and i still have no idea how im gonna name anything lmao

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Hey! So first thank u so much, I’m glad people like my silly wolves!! This was such a nice message to get!

The pack name is simple! Seven, the pack’s founder, grew up in a wildlife sanctuary! She loved her childhood and wants her pack to be as much like that wildlife sanctuary as possible: hence The Sanctuary Pack!

For the names themselves this message is kinda spookily well-timed, b/c I’m actually typing up a little worldbuilding thing like. Right Now on my wolf’s naming conventions lol! I’m probably gonna have that posted tonight or tomorrow, so keep your eye out for that if you want more info!

Edit: Here is that post!

The TL:DR version is that there are two ‘types’ of names in the pack: Wild names for wolves born & raised in the wild, and Captive names for wolves raised in captivity (since captive wolves are such a major thing in my pack’s lore).  Captive names can basically be whatever, and Wild names are nature-themed.

Mothers get to choose what to name their pups, and often pass down their own naming schemes-- or not, depending on how they feel about their upbringing. 

For EG Rover will give her pups Captive names, because she’s proud of her rough & tumble upbringing in a human settlement, and wants to pass on that legacy! But Finch, who had a bad experience in captivity, chose to give a Wild name- Rime- to a pup when he was given the chance.

ALSO: I know other people have really cool naming conventions for their packs! EG, I think @shapes-den mentioned that they came up with like... a conlang to decide how they name their wolves? Which I think is really cool lol. 

Anyway, sorry that got long! I talk uh. Kind of a lot. Hope you enjoy PA, & feel free to add me over on Wolvden when you join, if you want! 

[shapes-den]

Coal Valley Lore: Language (1/?)

Wolves are named for sounds they make, and the context and combination of said sounds are very important. Names are supposed to give an overall impression of the puppy's personality, or what their parents want them to aspire to. Depending on the pack, puppies may be named at birth, weaning, adolescence, or adulthood.

Wolf names are often positive and/or descriptive. Basing a pup's name wholly on negatives is incredibly rare, but a combination of positive and negatives can be used as a motivator. Eyarq, for example, has a name which means "bossy, overbearing and rude, yet talented, a good leader, and clever" allowing her to choose which traits she wants to be known for.

Wolves may choose or change their name as they grow, but in most packs it requires approval from one older member. A wolf changing names is not often seen as a bad thing, although there are obviously some exceptions. (Ie. Changing a name to one that doesn't suit the wolf, making a name with solely negative associations).

Usually, a new name signifies personal growth or a new understanding of themselves. Some packs and parents may be disappointed that their chosen name no longer fits, but it is generally seen as more important that a wolf is happy.

Some examples of names and meanings

- Ourara: The 'OU' sound has a certain loudness associated with it. Wolves with this sound may be confident, honest, proud, or decisive. The 'RA' sound is composed of two parts, 'R' sounds are generally considered rude by themselves, so a puppy named "Rou" may be obnoxious and full of themselves. The 'A' sound, however, is considered lively, spirited, and often good-natured. Therefore 'RA' can show that a wolf means well, but perhaps fumbles their words, or has a short temper. Repeating sounds mean more of an influence, so in this case 'OURARA' means "an honest wolf who confidently shows her support, in an awful-sounding way, and at the worst times". Ourara's name suits her perfectly. She means well, and is sure others will understand how much she loves and supports them, but often misses social cues and upsets her packmates.

Tanana: The 'T' sound is highly unusual amongst wolves, and is made by chattering the teeth together. 'T' therefore means interesting, unique, or curious. The 'A' sound following lets you know it's a good kind of unique. 'NA' is composed of 'N', another unusual wolf sound, and 'A' again. 'N' is usually found at the end of whining sounds, and by itself would mean finite. However, when you combine it with another sound it becomes a reinforcement of that sound's meaning. In this case 'NA' means very spirited and very good natured. Repeating 'NA' shows how her parents wanted her to focus on those qualities as she grew up. 'TANANA' therefore means "a uniquely energetic and very good-natured wolf". Tanana's name is a good example of parents naming their pup in the hopes that they will grow into the meaning.

As you can see, wolves focus more on the things they can change, such as skill level and attitude. They put little faith in luck or beauty. Wolves consider having good luck to be neutral or negative, meaning their skills are not good enough and they had to rely on "nature's favour".

The next parts will focus on the alphabet, insults, titles, honorifics, and the specific naming conventions of both Ourkan and Xaasa's birth packs.

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I spent way too long trying to make one of my old OCs in the WD wardrobe, with little success, but at least it gave me an excuse to draw him:

I would love to make a frozen "trophy" version of him, so fingers crossed brindle is a planned marking!

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My pack just gained four new illnesses upon rollover. Luckily I managed to make myself 12 cure-for-all medicines before winter, but my goodness, that was scary! ;n;

I only have 21 total wolves and pups, so hopefully my remaining medicines will cover the rest of them. If I run out then I simply won't log on until spring, which is upsetting, but I don't want to get overwhelmed playing catch-up with my herbalist again

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Shed a tear for my lore, because the puppy managed to survive his neglect for 5 months, against all the odds. That means I have to keep him now

I hope you know how lucky you are mister!

Jokes aside, I came up with an equally good alternate storyline for him and his family yesterday, and now I'm fast becoming (very) attached. He'll be my new herbalist, and even looks pretty decent as an adult:

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Coal Valley Lore: Aruthe's Choice Pt 1

(Content warning for animal death/injury and blood mention. In this story we follow the Coal Valley siblings Ourkan, Ourara, and Aruthe, as they go on their first hunt as a team. Hopefully this one will show up in the tags.)

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"Trust me, Aruthe, you're a born chaser." That's what her brother had said only moments before, and now the young she-wolf was having a dilemma. She stood awkwardly in the clearing outside the mine, fur blowing in the breeze, as her siblings looked at her expectantly from their spot amongst the ferns.

Aruthe pawed at the pale dirt and stones beneath her feet. On one hand, Ourkan always meant what he said, but on the other, she had never felt like she was particularly fast or agile compared to her sisters. Plus, she had no experience. Surely she would just drag the group down? Aruthe glanced at Ourara. Her sister was almost bouncing with excitement, how could she refuse?

"Well, it can't hurt to try, can it?" She said cheerfully to her littermate, wagging her tail a little.

"Yes! I knew it Ourkie!"

"Shh, 'Rara, you'll scare all the prey away if you go barking your head off like that!" Aruthe giggled as her sister stopped suddenly, looking sheepish. Her brother seemed happy too. Maybe being a chaser wouldn't be such a bad idea after all? The only thing that worried her were all the bumps and scrapes Ourkan kept coming back with. Her limited knowledge of medicine would be of little use if she was injured too. Her brother seemed to notice her trepidation at that point.

"You're a quick-witted wolf, you'll do fine."

"I hope so," she gave him a quick wag of her tail to reassure him, "you just let me know if I slow you down."

"Aw, Aruthe, you're way faster than Ourkie. He's going to be the one slowing us down." Ourara nipped playfully at their brother, who nosed her back softly in admonition.

"Don't be mean, Rara, I'm sure Ourkan's a great chaser." Aruthe wagged her tail again as her brother whined his thanks.

"At least someone believes in me."

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They had set out almost immediately, Aruthe managing (somehow) to keep the other two from getting into a scuffle before even finding the prey. Her sister kept pushing her luck, teasing Ourkan, and trying to bait him into playtime right until the last second. No wonder he had wanted her to come along, she was the only one Rara ever listened to.

Suddenly her sister snapped her attention away from Ourkan, nose raised, then to the floor, then raised again. Aruthe looked to her brother in confusion.

"She does this. Every time." Was all he said.

Ourara rapidly flicked her ears in all directions, sniffing at the leaves underfoot. Seemingly satisfied, she didn't even spare a glance for her siblings as she trotted into the underbrush, nose firmly glued to the forest floor.

"Time to go." Ourkan followed her at a leisurely pace, signalling for Aruthe to do the same. Now she was truly perplexed. What were they following? How big was it? She wasn't even ready yet!

"Ourkan..?"

Her brother had suddenly taken the lead at some unseen cue from Ourara, and now her sister was trailing behind, staring intensely at him. The stalker noticed her littermate running alongside her and started slightly.

"Run, Aruthe! We'll lose it!"

"What is it?"

"A rab- Ourkie, left!" She hissed suddenly, cutting herself off, as Ourkan fluidly changed direction and started sprinting, "Go!"

Aruthe, still confused, started running. Twigs scraped her legs as her brother seemed to turn on a dime, following what she couldn't see in the dense underbrush. The forest passed by in a blur of green and brown, her lungs barely able to keep up with the frantic pace, and she soon lost sight of Ourkan amongst the trees.

Eyes darting from side to side, nose twitching, she spun in circles to pick up the scent of her packmates. There! To the left! Onwards she ran, blood rushing in her ears, hoping to catch up before the hunt was over.

All too soon, Aruthe heard the excited yip of her sister, as a high pitched squeal came from just ahead. Too late. She brushed past a dense patch of willowy saplings to find her brother panting, muzzle bloodied. With a dejected sigh and a drop of her tail, she noticed the rabbit laying motionless at his feet.

"Aruthe!" Ourara bounded over to her, pushing up against her side, "Where did you go?"

"I got turned around, it was all so... fast." Aruthe forced a laugh, despite her disappointment, walking over to sniff the carcass. Ourkan's eyes widened.

"Your paw, what happened?" The older wolf carefully leant down and touched it with his nose.

"Hey!" Aruthe yelped. In all the mayhem she hadn't even noticed the cut across her pad. "That hurts!"

"Sorry.."

"So you should be! You left me behind, didn't tell me what was going on, and now I'm injured! I was worse than useless out there."

"Don't be silly, it's only a little scrape" Ourara had come closer, her tail wagging as she spoke, "Even if you were useless today, you'll get miles better with practice!"

"Ourara..." her brother warned, as Aruthe whined in frustration.

"What?"

"Enough!" Aruthe barked, "This is all your fault! If you hadn't asked me on this stupid hunt everything would have been fine! You clearly work better by yourselves anyway!"

Ourkan sighed, and with that, their sister turned tail and limped furiously into the undergrowth, leaving her packmates speechless.

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So I rolled over this morning and..

How did you survive? I have a whole 'tragic, yet emotionally satisfying' story planned for your mother, mr puppy. Rude.

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You know when you draw something at 5-6am, after going all night without sleep, and you're like "Yeah, this is okay"? So you post it and go to bed...

And then you wake up feeling refreshed, only to see that "okay" actually means "you should have gone to bed earlier" because everything is a little bit off. So you're just staring at this picture going "what?" for several minutes as you try to figure out why that nose is that way when the ears are that way, and why her teeth are there, and you curse yourself for only doing one sketch layer...

In other news, not drawing anything frequently, for around half a decade, is very, very bad for you, haha X)

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I'm so proud of you Bertram, such a great Herbalist 😭😭😭

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Decided to draw a picture of my lead wolf and her family. This is Xaasa, with her mate, Ourkan, and their first puppy, Quohau'ru. Please excuse the very rushed (crappy) colouring, it's just there so you can see who is who, haha

My birthday is coming up next month (hooray!) so to treat myself I'll be looking for artists to commission. I would love a drawing of these guys by somebody more talented than I am ^u^

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This is just a test to see if my side-blog shows up in the tag now. Although, I might as well use it to do some shameless promoting...

I've written up a new story to introduce Skaohah, my pack's scout and Xaasa's aunt. It isn't showing up in the tag for some reason, annoyingly.

On WD I've also polished up my thread, and officially created the "Grounded Challenge Clan". It's a lore and creativity based playstyle, with 3 levels of difficulty to suit all players. If you love making backstories for your packs, or simply want to test your game-playing skills, go check it out! You can find it by searching chatter, or by looking in the clans and families section ^u^