Redtail Rise paua

Words.  Redd knew she would need to grow used to them.  She was silent for a moment as she tried to find the right ones to describe, for an outsider, the hierarchy she naturally felt.  Ranks were something she found unnecessary; the line between Berserker and Ulfhedinn, between Ulfr and Bjern, meaningless outside of tradition.  When a threat came the pack would defend.  When hunger came the pack would hunt.

Yet she did not seek to change this.  There was value in focus.

I am Wealda.  Wealda leads.  Only where followed, but this was natural.  She did not feel the need to complicate the explanation unnecessarily.  Ulfhedinn is hunt lead.  Ulfr follow him.  In the way of the hunt.  There was a better way to say this, perhaps.  It was enough.

Bjern are the way of the fang.  They would follow Berserker, fight lead.  None have claimed this.  All were young.  

You are Blod.  Unchosen, unproven.  Hælend and Caru care for the pack.  They lead if the pack wishes it.  Ashlar never had, but could have as readily as Masquerade in Redd’s eyes.  Yet he would have needed to command a respect that he lacked.  There was value in both healing and pupsitting; a trust granted by the pack beyond even that of Berserker.  She tucked that away to mull over later.