Our camp is a bit hard to find if you don't know what to look for. It is hidden in a glade, surrounded by cliffs. Thick bunches of ferns surround the clifftop giving us shelter from prying eyes. You need to be careful if running through the ferns as many overexcited young wolves have tumbled over the edge. Luckily there are few rocks and the bottom is sandy, so no pup is ever seriously injured.
Our camp is well guarded day and night so don't try to sneak up on us. Follow me through this concealed tunnel of ferns and we'll head down the cliff path into the camp. You can see that it is well worn from generations of paw steps.
The path comes out to the right of the Defender's den. The Defenders are in charge of protecting the camp and our territory from intruders. It is their duty to guard the wolves, young, old, and injured, who can't protect themselves. It is a great honor to do so and our packmates take this role very seriously. They sleep among the roots of this willow tree. Their den is very open so that they can be prepared to defend the camp at a moment's notice. In Cold Time (Winter) and in bad weather, they are able to retreat into this large cave beneath the tree roots where it is much warmer.
Do you see those two rocks up against the cliff face to the left of the path? That is the hunter's den. The role of a Hunter is to bring back food for the pack and make sure that everywolf gets their fill. This job is also very important as Hunters need to be skilled in tracking and it takes a lot of practice. Their den is more enclosed giving them more shelter from the elements all year and is made up of the two rocks you can see. If you come closer you will see that there is a cave on the other side. It goes right into the cliff giving lots of shelter.
What is that wonderful smell, you might ask? Well, you see that purple flowering tree across the clearing? That is wisteria, and yes I know that the seeds are poisonous. We take great care to tell all our pups at a young age not to eat them or they will get very sick. Lucky for us, that tree overhangs our Healer's den so if anything were to happen, they wouldn't need to go far for help. What does a Healer do? The Healer might have the most important role in the whole pack, and I'm not saying that because I'm the healer. No, it is my duty to help any of my packmates that are sick or injured. I am well versed in the purposes of herbs that can be found in and around our territory. It takes great skill and many years to master the role of a healer.
Oh, our Alpha Male has just left his den, now's our chance to take a peek inside. Over here, between these two boulders. This is the Alpha's den, you don't want to get caught in there by yourself. No, don't worry he won't bite your head off, he is very fair and will understand you mean no harm. It is his responsibility to lead our pack, whether it be into battle or just on patrol. He and his Bond Mate, the Alpha Female bear the burden so that others don't have to. It is a great honor to fight and provide for the pack, but it is a greater honor to lead it.
The rock that forms the roof to their den is called the Pack Rock. The Alphas use it to call Pack Meetings in which they share joys, sorrows, and news in general. Sometimes I get to stand on it to give information about any of our injured packmates, while sad, it is necessary to inform others of their condition so that we may all support them in their recovery.
The last two dens are the heart and future of our pack. The Pup Den contains the most important part of our pack as the young wolves are the next generation and will inherit all the skills and knowledge of their packmates. It is the most protected den in the camp, that cave next to the Defender's willow tree. The entrance is protected by these brambles, while prickly, are the best defense other than the Defenders themselves. If you listen carefully you might hear their soft snoring, the mothers usually make them sleep at this time of day. It is my duty to bring them into this world, and I instantly regret it when they get into my herb supplies. Don't get me wrong I love the pups, they bring all of their energy to the pack.
Once they are able to leave the Pup Den and explore the camp, they instantly find their way into the Elder Wolves' den which was poorly placed right next to them in that clump of ferns. It is not uncommon to hear the displeased voices of the Elder Wolves being woken from their slumber. Despite their grumpy attitude, they hold great wisdom from their many years of living. If your patient and kind to them, you might be lucky enough to hear one of their infamous stories about how they supposedly fought off a whole pack of coyotes by themselves, or how they took down a moose just by growling at it.
While small at the moment, our pack is ever-present and ready for whatever the world has to throw at us. I hope you found this tour enjoyable, but now you must leave. I can scent our Defenders returning from patrol, and they are not as keen on strange wolves as I am. Thank you for visiting!