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Complexities of Pack Dynamics

“For a werewolf, survival depends upon the pack—and a pack is a complex social and military hierarchy that depends upon each member knowing exactly what his place is.”

Chat Transcripts

  • there's some magic involved in pack ranking Chat 2007-11-03
  • rank in the pack is both actual and magical; the magic is more inherent than acted upon, like say, a witch's magic Chat 2007-11-03

Mercy Thompson Series

Mercy Thompson Series #1: Moon Called

  • packs usually settle in bigger places where they can hide better, or, rarely, in smaller places they can take over10
  • there are all sorts of protocols they insist upon when a new wolf comes into someone else's territory11
  • rule of keeping pack trouble in the pack67
  • wolves who can't control themselves are eliminated for the safety of the pack105
  • two unmated male werewolves always get territorial in the presence of a female121
  • a pack won't accept a wolf who causes too much trouble129
  • wolves are meant to run in a pack130
  • they are strongly discouraged to discuss the matter of being a werewolf with anyone other than permanent mates; punishment for disobedience was harsh135
  • the pack structure is very rigid143
  • matter of safety to always know where you rank in the pack214
  • dominance games214

Mercy Thompson Series #2: Blood Bound

  • the pack falls into line with the Alpha48
  • 2nd and 3rd–most cases the ranks were so close that there was always some tension between the wolves who held them, especially without the Alpha around45
  • pack law is necessarily brutal51
  • werewolves, outside of a well-run pack, will kill the wounded or weak135
  • dominance among werewolves is a combination of force of personality, strength of will, physical ability and a component of other that can't be explained to anyone without the eyes, ears, and nose to sense it-and those with the proper senses wouldn't need it explained; willingness to fight is as close as it can be explained154
  • it is because of that other that, outside of a pack, the natural dominance of a wolf changes within a fairly broad range; some days they are tired, depressed, happy-all of these affect natural dominance154
  • in a pack, these natural swings are gradually sifted through; in wolves that are near-dominants, sometimes a fight between them will allow strength to determine pack rank155

Mercy Thompson Series #4: Bone Crossed

  • no matter how submissive the mate of the Alpha is, her commands are second only to his22
  • packs are dictatorships74
  • once in a pack, only the Alpha or the member can break it105
  • instincts drive the wolf243
  • it's inconvenient sometimes to be a part of the pack243
  • when the pack magic is in full swing—with the moon close to her zenith—there's no hiding everything from each other all the time like we do as humans243
  • can't choose which things stay safely secret243
  • it's not all bad; it's knowing who they are, what's important to them, what makes them different; what strengths they each contribute to the pack243
  • at full moon in wolf form the Alpha can read everyone almost always; it allows them to use the individuals to build a pack243

Mercy Thompson Series #5: Silver Borne

  • since Warren joined the Columbia Basin Pack several other packs have allowed gay wolves to joinSB-24
  • Mercy is the first known nonwerewolf mate becoming packSB-14
  • a werewolf pack can feed off any of its members, borrowing energy39
  • a pack is run like a bunch of testosterone-laden wild beasts momentarily subdued by the threat of immediate death under their leader's fangs41
  • pack existed before ceremonies; magic binds more obviously, more extensively, but not more deeplySB-56
  • in the best scenario, an injured wolf will be protected by his pack matesSB-188
  • pack is for comfort when you hurt205

Mercy Thompson Series #6: River Marked

  • one werewolf was a tough creature—but the real power of the werewolves lay in their packs82

Mercy Thompson Series #7: Frost Burned

Mercy Thompson Series #8: Night Broken

  • pack is about not standing alone; about having people you trust to have your back95

Alpha & Omega Series

Alpha & Omega Series #0.5: Alpha & Omega Novella

  • most Alphas have their members give ten percent of their earnings for the for the good of the pack; especially when the pack is new212
  • this money is used to ensure there is a safe house212
  • once a pack is firmly established, the need for money lessens212

Alpha & Omega Series #2: Hunting Ground

  • most werewolves have a built-in meter that tells them whether a wolf is dominant to them or not: if the meter doesn't tell them right away they usually fight it out157

Alpha & Omega Series #5: Burn Bright

  • in most packs, the house of the Alpha's second was nearly as busy135

Mercyverse Short Fiction

Mercyverse Short Fiction: Redemption

  • some Alphas explain dominance as the absolute rule you had to obey everyone you couldn't take down376

From Cry Wolf: it always took a while for a new wolf to establish his place in the packCW-217

Pack Hierarchy

Alpha

Mercy Thompson Series

Mercy Thompson Series #1: Moon Called

  • some Alphas had to depend upon bars to control new wolves24
  • werewolves live in packs, each pack has an Alpha—a wolf strong enough to keep the others under control30
  • the only thing it takes to be Alpha is power, not intelligence or even common sense34
  • werewolves were almost wiped out in the Middle Ages because some of the Alphas were indiscreet34
  • natural leaders38
  • shifting is harder the first few times; a good Alpha can get you through that39
  • they can control your wolf until a new werewolf can; it's why they're an Alpha46
  • you don't get to be an Alpha without being able to fight62
  • in Europe, murder was still mostly the way the rule of the pack changed hands; the old Alpha ruled until one of the younger, hungrier dominant males decide the old one had grown weak and attacked him64
  • at least one European Alpha killed any male who showed signs of being dominant64
  • if an Alpha was injured, if any of the dominants had aspirations to become Alpha, they'd kill him65
  • Alphas never look away when others were watching them98
  • sometimes, if you tell them firmly enough, even Alphas will listen to commands120
  • penalty for disobeying a direct order is brutal142
  • the pack is sworn to obedience to the Alpha145
  • it is always good for the Alpha to be happy154
  • twice a year the Alphas meet with Bran at Bran's corporate headquarters in Colorado; they sometimes brought their seconds or thirds - but never the women203
  • Alphas are uncomfortable outside their own territory, and they interact badly with other Alphas203
  • with their mates beside them, all of that discomfort and territorialism had a greater tendency to turn toward violence203
  • some Alphas have an army in their pack house207
  • an Alpha never admits weakness in front of the pack207
  • meeting an Alpha on his home territory puts him in a superior position214
  • an Alpha would kill himself fighting before he'd submit for very long228
  • song of an Alpha's strength252
  • an Alpha could take strength from his pack264

Mercy Thompson Series #2: Blood Bound

  • the Alpha was responsible for the welfare of all the werewolves in the area44
  • being Alpha was more than dominant; there is magic in the bindings of a pack that gives power to their leader; he can draw on their strength and give some of it back to them100
  • the pack can heal the Alpha and give him the power to force his dominion on other groups of werewolves100
  • being Alpha also gives a wolf the need to protect—and control—everyone they believe falls under their command100
  • the wolves don't disobey the Alpha's orders119
  • wolves who are out of control are killed by their Alpha so they don't hurt anyone125
  • around one hundred and fifty Alphas in North America128
  • sometimes, if a pack member is hurt, flesh and blood of the Alpha can help heal him147
  • ability to play mind games is a good requirement for being an Alpha150
  • can calm his wolves; his words carried a cool wind of peace, washing away all anger, the frustration, the fear152
  • an Alpha who counts on others to fight his battles doesn't stay Alpha for long239
  • it's not a good idea to have a staring contest with an Alpha283
  • being an Alpha is different from just being dominant; if they're away from the pack they can make the Alpha go dormant but it takes real effort300
  • Alpha effect can be controlled; cooperation is always better than coercion—especially when that coercion only lasts until they're out of his presence; it's good to bring out the big guns when there's trouble in the pack that can't be solved by talking301

Mercy Thompson Series #3: Iron Kissed

  • Alpha is the most dominant wolf in his pack41
  • it's not an easy matter to oust an Alpha, in North America, that never happens without the consent of the Marrok40
  • wolves wouldn't keep secrets from their Alpha86
  • fragile things just don't fare well in the house of an Alpha werewolf104
  • all of the wolves depend upon their Alpha to help them live among the humans121

Mercy Thompson Series #4: Bone Crossed

  • an Alpha keeps himself in shape because he was Alpha and his body was a tool he used to keep his pack safe02
  • the Alpha just didn't do the heavy lifting when there were capable minions about31
  • pack magic worked subtly different for the Alpha than it did for the rest of the pack66
  • that Alphas are protective of their packs is an understatement103
  • a vampire can't take an Alpha wolf as a sheep; if a vampire isn't strong enough to take every wolf in the pack, all at once, he can't take the Alpha185
  • it doesn't mean it can't happen186
  • an Alpha's home is seldom empty235

Mercy Thompson Series #5: Silver Borne

  • being an Alpha werewolf makes him a little overbearing about his concern06
  • part of what makes an Alpha wolf more than he was before he took on that mantle; a pack can feed off any of its members, borrowing energy39
  • don't try threatening an Alpha; they don't like it105
  • strong Alphas could force a change on another wolf; it was a dirty trick181
  • the Alpha didn't show weakness if he could help it219
  • an Alpha can be challenged at any time; the Marrok doesn't allow fights for an Alpha position without his consent221
  • an Alpha will do anything in his power to hide his weakness in front of the pack222
  • the wolves knew when their Alpha was around you had a safe place to be249

Mercy Thompson Series #6: River Marked

  • Alpha wolves don't deal well with commercial airline travel; having to trust some stranger to fly the plane leaves them with the need for control26
  • any kind of alpha takes some serious managing; werewolves are controlling bastards—and Alpha werewolves are worse than that80
  • confrontations aren't productive with an Alpha; you'll just lose—or worse, make him lose control80
  • when two Alphas were in the room; they might be allies, even friends, but they are waiting for the slightest sign of weakness or aggression167
  • an Alpha tended to heal faster than most214

Mercy Thompson Series #7: Frost Burned

  • an Alpha could pour pack strength into an injured packmate34
  • it was an Alpha's duty to protect the pack44
  • werewolves can get volatile in extreme emotion; their Alpha can keep them from losing control243
  • it happens that packs move; not often, usually just a matter of the Alpha switching jobs to a place where there is no pack and bringing the rest of his wolves with him290
  • an Alpha gains power from those who serve him295
  • Alphas don't work well together315

Mercy Thompson Series #8: Night Broken

  • good Alpha werewolves take care of those around them; it's part of what makes them Alpha05
  • no Alpha would turn down a submissive wolf—there aren't many of them, and they tended to help a pack function more smoothly34
  • Alpha's job to make sure all the members of his pack are safe and well fed, so they don't get desperate64
  • being willing to accept responsibility for the well-being of others was part of being an Alpha227
  • nothing says fun like an Alpha werewolf262

Mercy Thompson Series #9: Fire Touched

  • it would be disrespectful to observe their Alpha in a weak position or to express concern that might be interpreted to mean they thought Adam was too weak to heal71
  • an Alpha's house was the center of the pack, designed to be part meetinghouse, part hotel, part hospital83
  • as Alpha, they could draw upon the whole pack for power, so he healed faster than any of the rest of the werewolves85
  • it isn't just posturing, the werewolf Alpha thing; it might not be safe to meet an Alpha's eyes because they see it as defiance, but it is also difficult169
  • the base component of what an Alpha does for his pack: he provides a safe place to be; touch is better than any word170
  • you know you have a good Alpha when everyone beats each other up trying to throw themselves in the tar pit after he jumps in298

Mercy Thompson Series #10: Silence Fallen

  • the Alpha had a job to do, but it didn't make him more important than the most submissive of the wolves in the pack71
  • Alpha werewolves practically needed a treaty drawn up to move around112
  • now-vanishingly-rare Alpha who felt like that sleeping with their pack mates was the only way to dominate his pack125
  • Alpha werewolves don't tend to be the kind of people who dither135
  • possessive bite of an Alpha wolf who feels like someone is trying to take his pack away from him175
  • the Alpha can tell if his pack is experiencing intense emotion through the pack bonds197
  • there's not an Alpha on the planet who isn't difficult one way or the other258

Mercy Thompson Series #11: Silence Fallen

  • an Alpha wolf can make people, even people not in his pack, follow his command47
  • as far as anyone knows, there were no female Alpha wolves47
  • an Alpha werewolf is prickly about people noticing weaknesses131

Mercy Thompson Series #12: Smoke Bitten

  • most Alphas would not protect a woman with whom they shared a temporary legal arrangement13
  • a toll came with being the Alpha of a pack110
  • part of the need to protect those around him that made one and Alpha116

Alpha & Omega Series

Alpha & Omega Series #0.5: Alpha & Omega Novella

  • the Alpha is responsible for the actions of his pack178
  • Alphas are supposed to keep the Marrok informed when people die, or when new wolves are Changed208
  • most Alphas have their members give ten percent of their earnings for the for the good of the pack; especially when the pack is new212
  • if an Alpha sold one of his pack, he'd have a rebellion on his hands212
  • all their wolves are their children; they are the Alphas to love and feed, to guard and protect, to guide and teach229

Alpha & Omega Series #1: Cry Wolf

  • not many Alphas would welcome a dominant lone wolf into their territory74
  • being an Alpha isn't easy; it's a lot of responsibility, a lot of work111
  • some of the older wolves get pretty good at concealing what they are from others—that's one of the reasons Alphas don't like old wolves moving into their packs111
  • pack magic is what allows an Alpha to draw on his wolves to give himself an edge in speed or quicker healing; it lets him control wolves under his power or find them if he needs to150
  • a man made himself and Alpha, it wasn't just an accident of birth197
  • the Marrok has careful screening of the dominants under his rule before he allowed them to become Alphas207
  • Alpha's can hold pack members obedient; with a pack Alpha, distance counts, and so does eye or body-to-body contact232
  • the ability of all good Alphas is to ask specific questions254
  • consuming the flesh and blood of the Alpha also cements a wolf's place in their pack293

Alpha & Omega Series #2: Hunting Ground

  • in the end, the Alpha's word was law07
  • a wolf obeyed his Alpha or he killed him33
  • Alpha wolves don't mingle well with others65
  • most Alphas make an impression66
  • Alphas understood about watching over their own74
  • Alphas in whom the instinct to protect was paramount90
  • a good Alpha protects his own93
  • Alphas are called upon to protect even more strongly95
  • an Alpha is the ultimate control freak, ready to kill anyone who threatens his pack; he protects the weaker from the strong and suffers no defiance of his will158
  • an Alpha is the most dominant wolf in the pack, the most prone to violence; no one gives him crap, and his job is to protect his pack158
  • the Alpha can pull strength, even magic from all the pack159

Alpha & Omega Series #3: Fair Game

  • it was up to the pack Alpha to take care of dispensing commonplace justice12
  • many Alphas were unhappy with the new harshness of the laws13
  • the Marrok cannot send an Alpha into another pack's territory without it becoming a challenge that will spawn even more bloodshed22
  • they have that underlying aggressive territoriality that pushed dominant to the head of the pack37
  • some Alphas have a reserved manner; they sit in the back and watch their packs, letting matters work out as they would until they veered too far from where he wished; then he'd pounce with a brutal efficiency41
  • the bond between an Alpha and his wolves isn't a mating bond83
  • Alpha wolves tend to be faster, and they can change more often157
  • always carry that edge222
  • no one gossips like us Alphas247
  • they rule by fiat, by strength of character, and by their understanding that it was this one who kept them safe and gave them direction—and would kill them if he needed to260

Alpha & Omega Series #4: Dead Heat

  • Alphas were used to people obeying them125
  • Alphas had weird reactions to Omega wolves126
  • protective instinct that made his Alpha kick in132
  • Alphas were very responsible people132
  • the very best Alphas brought order142
  • the aura of guardianship—makes for a powerful Alpha187
  • Alphas fancied themselves responsible for the safety and well-being of everyone around them237
  • an Alpha is, or should be, the one most capable of protecting his pack; not just the safety of the pack, but the well-being of each of its members247

Alpha & Omega Series #5: Burn Bright

  • beautiful, fragile, a little helpless—just the kind of woman most Alpha wolves gravitate toward23
  • the burden of being an Alpha208

Alpha & Omega Series #6: Wild Sign

  • there are bad Alphas out there08
  • an Alpha can read the pack bonds very well234

Mercyverse Short Fiction

Mercyverse Short Fiction: Seeing Eye

  • some Alphas don't follow anyone or allow anyone around them who might challenge them163

Mercyverse Short Fiction: Roses in Winter

  • an Alpha doesn't talk just to hear himself speak277
  • it wasn't in an Alpha's nature to tamely bow to authority just because it was presented to them295
  • with some Alphas they can be knocked off their pedestal, made to look weak; it will reduce their support and weaken their magic304

Mercyverse Short Fiction: In Red, with Pearls

  • the loss of will to disobey that an Alpha could hit their wolves with—their bodies flat-out refused to move at all347

Omega

Identified Omega Wolves

Chat Transcripts

  • there are more male Omegas–because there are more male werewolves Chat 2008-02-09
  • different Omegas are “differently abled”, not stronger or weaker Chat 2008-02-09
  • few Omegas seldom meet Chat 2008-02-09

Alpha & Omega Series

Alpha & Omega Series #0.5: Alpha & Omega Novella

  • not constrained by an instinctive need to obey a more dominant wolf37
  • no werewolf, acting on instincts alone, would attack an Omega213

Alpha & Omega Series #1: Cry Wolf

  • Omegas serve much the same purpose in a pack as submissives, but more so127
  • instead of following anyone's orders they follow no one's127
  • has all the protective instincts of an Alpha and none of the violent tendencies127
  • they make sure that everyone in their pack is happy and sheltered from anything that might harm them127<?sup> * like dominance, being an Omega was mostly personality<sup>197
  • Bran liked to say, identity was partly heritage, partly upbringing, but mostly the choices you made in life; just as a man makes himself into an Alpha so does an Omega; it's not an accident of birth197
  • Anna as an Omega brought peace and serenity with her wherever she went; some of her power depended upon her being a werewolf, which magnified the effect of her magic; but a larger part of it was the steel backbone that made the best of whatever circumstances she happened to be in; those were conscious decisions197

Mercy Thompson Series

Mercy Thompson Series #5: Silver Borne

  • Omega wolves, are like Valium for werewolves55

Dominant

Mercy Thompson Series

Mercy Thompson Series #1: Moon Called

  • don't give orders to a werewolf; it's that whole dominance reflex thing04
  • the werewolf's urge to dominate those they see as lesser being10
  • guidance of a strong dominant helps newer werewolves control their wolf20
  • if the Alpha was injured or helpless, if any of the dominants had aspirations to become Alpha, they'd kill him65
  • dominant wolves heal faster than submissive wolves70
  • the downside of being dominant; if you did go moonstruck, you took everyone who was less dominant with you76
  • power of a dominant wolf90
  • humans had trouble telling a dominant from a submissive wolf182
  • most werewolves died in dominance fights with other wolves201
  • less dominant werewolves would have a tendency to panic when invading an Alpha's home214
  • nature's balance to the role of the dominant wolf; as strong as the instinct of wolves to follow those who were dominant, was the instinct of dominants to protect those weaker than themselves227
  • a dominant's instinct is to protect275

Mercy Thompson Series #2: Blood Bound

  • an Alpha's second and third were the next two most dominant males in the pack155
  • dominant wolves were always prickly around each other, unless one of them was the Alpha243

Mercy Thompson Series #5: Silver Borne

  • when an extremely dominant werewolf meets someone's gaze with his wolf in the fore, even humans bow to their knees57
  • arguing with dominant wolves could have unpleasant results69
  • really dominant wolves can add a push into their voices293

Alpha & Omega Series #0.5: Alpha & Omega Novella

  • most werewolves were more or less dominant180
  • a werewolf, especially a dominant wolf, is always on the edge of violence214

Alpha & Omega Series #1: Cry Wolf

  • it's hard for a dominant wolf to hurt a submissive wolf–if he's sane–their instincts tell them to protect them99
  • torture a dominant, and the wolf came to the forefront131

Submissive

Identified Submissive Wolves

Adda
Alan Choo
Neal
Peter Jorgenson

Mercy Thompson Series #1: Moon Called

  • submissive wolves are above women in pack position unless the male was unusually submissive38
  • heal at a slower rate than other wolves70
  • humans had trouble telling a dominant from a submissive wolf182
  • a submissive wolf's instinct is to bow to authority275

Alpha & Omega Series #0.5: Alpha & Omega Novella

  • gentler-natured people weren't usually cussed enough to survive the brutal transformation from human to werewolf; which meant that submissive werewolves were few and far between181

Alpha & Omega Series #1: Cry Wolf

  • a submissive werewolf is not incapable of protecting himself: he can fight, he can kill as readily as any other126
  • they don't feel the need to fight-not the way a dominant does126
  • they are a treasure in a pack; a source of purpose and balance126
  • protecting a submissive is far more rewarding because a submissive will never wait until you are wounded or your back is turned to see if you are truly dominant to them126
  • submissive wolves can be trusted126
  • they unite the pack with the goal of keeping them safe and cared for126
  • torture a submissive, and you were left with the human131

Female Werewolves

Mercy Thompson Series

Mercy Thompson Series #1: Moon Called

  • a mated female took her pack position from her mate, but unmated females were always lower than males unless the male was unusually submissive38
  • males werewolves treat their mates like beloved slaves94
  • female werewolves are not allowed to be lone wolves117
  • werewolves have not yet joined the twentieth century, let alone the twenty-first, as far as women are concerned117

Mercy Thompson Series #2: Blood Bound

  • unmated females belong to the Alpha124
  • a pack would never let a female out on her own; there are too few of them, and the males are too protective to allow a female to fend for themselves; they could request to change packs134

Mercy Thompson Series #5: Silver Borne

  • female rights in the challenge ring234
  • for women who are wolves, their life span is almost double that of a male werewolf because they do not fight men for dominance235
  • there are still so few female werewolves; male werewolves feel they are too precious to allow them to risk so much235
  • the counter argument; that makes sense in a species where women are important to survival; but because female werewolves can't have children some of them feel they are no more valuable to the pack than anyone else235

Mercy Thompson Series #6: River Marked

  • female werewolves were few and far between273

Mercy Thompson Series #7: Frost Burned

  • a female wolf is supposed to take her rank from her mate242

Mercy Thompson Series #8: Night Broken

  • most of the general public thought that there weren't any female werewolves85

Mercy Thompson Series #9: Fire Touched

  • Columbia Basin Pack has rearranged how female werewolves are ranked, much to the betterment of their lot everywhere101

Mercy Thompson Series #11: Storm Cursed

  • as far as most people knew, there were no female Alpha werewolves47

Mercy Thompson Series #12: Smoke Bitten

  • traditionally speaking, women didn't get their own rank89
  • bottom-of-the-pack ranking where an unmated female would normally be accounted89

Alpha & Omega Series

Alpha & Omega Series #0.5: Alpha & Omega Novella

  • there weren't so many women, there never are230
  • there are not enough females—so those we have out to be protected230

Alpha & Omega Series #1: Cry Wolf

  • females don't survive the Change as well as males124
  • when speaking of an unmated female in the pack, “brutalized” was a terrible word, much worse than “abused”166
  • female werewolves were not nearly as common174

Alpha & Omega Series #4: Dead Heat

  • females with no wolf mate to gain rank were usually put down on the bottom of the pecking order253

Alpha & Omega Series #5: Burn Bright

  • female werewolves were relatively rare, and they were more or less (depending on their pack) expected to find a male werewolf to mate with141

Alpha & Omega Series #6: Wild Sign

  • the Marrok only brings in one or two women a year who need assistance08
  • there are hundreds of female werewolves out there08

LQBTQIA2S+ Werewolves

Identified LQBTQIA2S+ Wolves

Mercy Thompson Series

Mercy Thompson Series #1: Moon Called

  • most of the werewolves in power in the US had been born in a time when homosexuality was anathema, even punishable by death in some places128
  • werewolf packs are not a tribute to enlightenment129
  • gay werewolves can't stay in the closet; werewolves are very good at sensing arousal; arousal in werewolves tends to bring out the fighting instinct in all the nearby males129
  • a male wolf who is attracted to other male wolves gets in a lot of fights129
  • a pack won't accept a wolf who causes too much trouble129

New Werewolves

Mercy Thompson Series #1: Moon Called

  • the young ones have less control of their wolves than others03
  • too young to have the kind of control he'd need to keep from killing someone his beast would see as a competing predator in his territory09
  • new werewolves have to be taught how to use their senses20
  • new werewolves unless they have the guidance of a strong dominant, have little control of their wolf form the first few times they change20
  • so new that they could be moonstruck26
  • a new werewolf just doesn't stand a chance against the older ones33
  • new werewolves are dangerous; especially when they're cold and hungry43
  • some werewolves can change relatively quickly with practice, but a new werewolf can take a lot of time to change46
  • new wolves need to be taught control so they could be allowed to live122

Mercy Thompson Series #2: Blood Bound

  • humans are not equipped to deal with a new-made werewolf125
  • basic question used on new werewolves who were ready to go for their first hunt; so what do you do when you're out hunting and you can't find any tracks or scent?224

Mercy Thompson Series #6: River Marked

  • only a very new werewolf wouldn't be able to sense truth from falsehood62

Mercy Thompson Series #7: Frost Burned

  • new werewolves are more vulnerable to the SDK Cocktail20

new werewolves have to be taught how to use their sensesMC-21 there is a support structure to educate the new wolf, to keep him and everyone around him safeMC-21 new werewolves, unless they have the guidance of a strong dominant, have little control of their wolf form the first few times they changeMC-20 a new werewolf just doesn't stand a chance against the older onesMC-34 one of the danger signs watched for in a new werewolf was a sudden change in personality or mood that seemed to have no obvious cause, an indication that the beast was gaining control of the humanCW-130 the wolf can supersede the man often in newly Changed wolves; they are vicious, unpredictable, and dangerous even to the people they loveSB-65

new werewolves were taught that the wolf was part of them, just a series of urges that needed to be controlled; it seemed to help most of them in the transition phaseCW-131

Old Werewolves

Mercy Thompson Series #3: Iron Kissed

  • old werewolves were uptight, easy to anger, and especially in this last hundred years of rapid changes more likely to be hermits42
  • old werewolves are oddly fragile; many of them go berserk and have to be killed137
  • others pine and starve themselves to death—a starving werewolf is a very dangerous thing137
  • the older wolves pull away from the world as it changes until some of them live like hermits in their caves, only coming out to feed and eventually losing interest in that187

Mercy Thompson Series #5: Silver Borne

  • werewolves don't do well on their own, especially not old wolves10

Mercy Thompson Series #6: River Marked

  • old wolves don't deal with change very well17

Alpha & Omega Series #1: Cry Wolf

  • old was dangerous for

Mercyverse Short Fiction: In Red, with Pearls

  • old werewolves aren't that common; most wolves who survive the Change die in fights with other werewolves shortly thereafter, because most werewolves don't understand body language341
  • werewolves can smell lies<ups>343</sup>

Mercyverse Short Fiction: Redemption

  • werewolves might not get drunk, but that didn't affect the flavor, or even the initial hit of good, old, smoky scotch364

Mercyverse Short Fiction: Hollow

it's hard on the older wolves to adjust to the modern ways of thinkingBB-42 they're uptight, easy to anger, and especially in this last hundred years of rapid changes, were more likely to be hermitsIK-41 old werewolves are oddly fragileIK-129 many of them go berserk and have to be killed; others pine and starve themselves to death–and a starving werewolf is a very dangerous thingIK-129 some of the older wolves get pretty good at concealing what they are from othersCW-111 werewolves don't do well on their own, especially not old wolvesSB-11

Outside Pack Hierarchy

Wildlings

Lone Wolves

Mercy Thompson Series #1: Moon Called

  • a lone wolf is a male who either declines to join a pack or cannot find a pack who will take him in117
  • all lone wolves aren't deviants; but werewolves need packs227
  • it takes something stronger to keep them away; a few hate what they are too much to live within a pack; most of them though are outcasts, men the pack wouldn't accept227

Mercy Thompson Series #2: Blood Bound

  • wolves need their pack, or else they start to get a little strange109
  • lone wolves were, in general, an odd bunch, dangerous to themselves and others109

Lone Wolves

a lone wolf is considered an outcastBC-34 a lone wolf is a male that either declines to join a pack or cannot find a pack that will take him in; females are not allowed that optionMC-117 lone wolves were, in general, an odd bunch, dangerous to themselves an othersBB-97

Rogue Wolves

Mercy Thompson Series #1: Moon Called

  • there is a support structure to educate the new wolf, to keep him and everyone around him safe—but there are still the occasional attacks by rogue werewolves21
  • one of the duties of a pack is to kill those rogues and find their victims21

Rogue Wolves

a rogue is a wolf who has no official standing when tracked down a rogue is given the opportunity to join a pack, lone wolf under the Marrok's rules, or killed also a lone wolf who breaks the rules “goes rogue” and is hunted down and killed rogues can also be new wolves who don't know much and try to stay out of sightCW-95

Alpha & Omega Series #1: Cry Wolf

  • even a werewolf deserves a chance95
  • a rogue hiding out in the Cabinets is pretty desperate, and there's a good chance he's a victim95
  • if only moonstruck, out of control through no fault of his own95
pack_dynamics.1626912994.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/07/21 17:16 by linda