Porcupine Ridge let's give it a shot

Hello porcupines! (Yes I am calling us this, hehe). Hopefully you all have had a chance to read over the unique ranking system we're experimenting with here at the ridge. Our first pack hunt roll was a success, so I thought I'd start us a thread that takes place after the kill. This is a great opportunity for a wolf to rise to the beta male spot as a lot of dominance rituals happen around feeding time ;) This thread is mandatory if your wish your character to have the chance to establish themselves in the pecking order. Otherwise, they'll be assumed to be standing off to the side waiting.
@Capriccio @Farstep @Terich-mir @Anwyl

The snow was tramped with cloven tracks and paw prints. It was redddened with blood and strewn with long white hairs. The pack had come together to howl of their claim on this ridge, and then had come together again to fell their first mountain goat, with Capriccio landing the killing bite as the rest of the pack hamstringed and hobbled their prey. They were yet strangers among each other, but already the black wolf's chest swelled with pride in his wolves. His joy was such that he thought to stand back and allow them to eat first, but now was not the time for his benevolent generosity.  

Capriccio had risen to the rank of alpha female by virtue of being the only female the pack had, but no beta male had yet been determined. Taggarik knew, as did any proper wolf, that hierarchy was perhaps never more obvious or necessary than when it came to food. From top of the ladder to the bottom, the wolves would eat. It was one of the perks of leadership that made the burden and stress of responsibility tolerable to those who wore the crown.

The pack was but a fledgling, and here and now the initial hierarchy would be set. So as the black wolf approached the goat he carried himself tall with his tail lifted above his hips, its full length swaying gently, for he was not severe in his assertion of his rank. Capriccio was at his side, and his gray eyes looked to his wolves. None challenged his right to eat first, and so he dug in, seeking out the liver and other choice cuts. He ate until he was full, more out of principle at this important time for the new pack, than his desire to ensure he selfishly took the most he could. Their bellies full, he and Capriccio stood aside to watch.

Who would step forward to eat next? Would they be challenged?

Who would become the first beta male?

I've gone ahead and assumed no one is interested in challenging Taggarik at this time based on previous interactions. If you would like the opportunity to do so, please do not hesitate to PM me! I only assumed it this time in the interest of moving things forward enough so that folks can start vying for beta male right away in their replies :)

Waiting was difficult. As a lone wolf, Farstep ate whatever he caught the moment he caught it, without the luxury of knowing when another meal would come. It was exceedingly tough for the Gamma to stand by and watch as Taggarik and Capriccio, the dominant pair of the pack, ripped into the belly of the goat. His stance was low out of respect for the Alpha pair and his tail swung side to side like a pendulum, loose but not completely lowered, for the excitement of the hunt still held him in thrall. His paws danced on the snow and every so often, he lurched daringly, but a well-timed growl or warning snap of jaws held him at bay. There was no question about Farstep's deference to Taggarik and Capriccio, even though he pushed the envelope out of anticipation for food, but the others... time would tell.

Almost the instant that the alpha pair stepped back from the carcass, Farstep's posture changed dramatically. The lead pair had fed, establishing themselves still as the rulers of the pack, but now it was time to determine who would go next, and he accordingly displayed his newfound confidence, assured that the Alpha pair would not see it as a challenge of their own authority. His tail stiffened slightly, still waving but definitely less freely than moments before and much higher than previously, and his ears turned from the sides of his head to the top of it. His fur bristled just enough to make him look larger and he stood taller as he took his first few steps toward the goat, intent on being the next himself to taste its succulent meat.

Anwyl loved the feeling of hunting with a pack again. He'd always been good at hunting, but during his time as a lone wolf he hadn't gotten to eat very much. He had found that catching deer and other large prey was much hard when you're on your own. He was in no mood to challenge, but the large white beast looked very appealing. It would be his first decent meal since his old pack, and he could feel his instincts hungering for a bite. But he was the youngest, and he felt it wasn't his place to eat first. The yearling would wait and then see what happened next.

Finally, Tagg and Capri finished eating their share, and backed away to let the others eat. Not only was now the time to eat, but also to establish where he would rank in the ridge pack. But Anwyl wasn't thinking about that. He was all about the goat meat. Farstep, the silent brown male was quick to step forwards, chest puffed out and tail held high. Anwyl began to trot forwards, but once he noticed the obvious dominance of the male, he stopped and waited. He was an easygoing boy, and as nice as it would've been to eat next, he was fine to wait his turn. There were only five of them, and one massive goat. There would be enough.

The icy eyed male sat back, waiting for the other male to make a move. If Terich-mir didn't seem too ambitious, the boy planned to go in after Farstep.

*rubs hands together*

It was with quick paws and flashing teeth that the pack took down their first mountain goat. Terich-mir hadn't tasted that flavor in years, but as soon as the blood from their quarry reached his lips, a fierce memory alighted in his mind. His father, strong and steadfast, running toward their own goat kill, his own father on the other, closing in, with Terich-mir watching from nearby as any infant should. As Taggarik and Capri stepped forward to eat, Terich stepped back with a shake of his head, flinging the memory back into the drawer from whence it came.

Their leaders ate and no one challenged them; Taggarik because he was a strong and able leader; Capri because she was the lone female, and as far as Terich knew, Taggarik did not prefer male mates to female ones. Not that Capri and Tagg were mates, but it almost seemed inevitable now that the pack was formed. The two stepped back and almost immediately Farstep took their place, stiffening his tail and looking from side-to-side for a challenger.

It was not in Terich's interest to become a leader, but hell would freeze over before he let some stranger eat before him. He and Capri had been with Taggarik almost from the beginning. Terich didn't know the other wolf well, but he was as silent now as he had ever been. Before he could think things through (typical Terich behavior), he stepped forward with his head high and tail raised above his hips. He definitely didn't look the type - slender and lean - but Terich-mir had a nasty streak in him that rarely showed, but it might arise if this other didn't realize his place. Bristling fur and puffed chest made him seem taller, though not overly so, but the stubborn streak in his posture and gaze told a story to all - he did not intend to back down.

There was a certain thrill of having their first official hunt as one official unit, and when the mountain goat had been felled, she felt the rush of adrenaline at sapling the morsels of what it offered first, alongside Taggarik. Her position was defaulted only, and while she was uncertain how to feel about such a thing, Capri for the moment indulged in the benefits that came along with it -- for the first female they accepted would potentially come for her rank.
 
Belly full, a crooning growl escaped the she-wolf as a paw lifted to rub at the side of her muzzle sleepily. But as she took to the side of the ebony Alpha, her frosted eyes were instead riveted upon the display before her. Anwyl seemed content to wait his turn at the meal -- but her eyes were instead upon Farstep and Terich-mir, both of who were going to settle where they stood amongst the hierarchy.
 
She made no movement to interfere -- while she longed for nothing more than her assumed brother to be placed amongst the Beta rank, she had also found the tawny wolf to be an asset amongst the pack as well.

Taggarik is just observing for now so feel free to skip me and continue on. :)

He was not surprised to see Farstep move forward first; the wolf had shown that he was willing to accept the dominance of another, but that he also had the confidence to hold his own and assert himself. He was a properly balanced wolf in that respect. Taggarik was surprised, however, to see Terich-mir come forward to challenge Farstep. Terich had struck him as a gentler, submissive type, and his ears flicked forward with interest, a smile winding onto his lips. At this time, the black wolf was impartial and he was not inclined to interfere unless it was required of him, if neither wolf would concede to the other.

His gray eyes drifted briefly to Anwyl, who had not stepped forward to challenge Farstep, but perhaps he would assert himself above Terich. Or perhaps not. He may be content on the least stressful, lowest rung of the ladder. There was plenty of food for all, so perhaps he saw no reason to have to compete for a better position in the pack's hierarchy. Taggarik could respect that.

He glanced to Capri, and then back to Farstep and Terich.

Farstep's keen eye swept over the other males as he approached the goat. For just a moment, he let himself believe that both Terich-mir and Anwyl would allow him to establish himself. The yearling male took a step forward, eliciting the sharp lock of Farstep's eyes on him, but then Anwyl faltered back. It wasn't personal—Farstep very much liked the yearling, and already his respect was growing. Every wolf likely fancied themselves worthy of eating next and it wasn't always easy to sit by and let others have their share first, but Anwyl favoured order more than his own pride, making him an excellent companion. Farstep himself was less concerned with ambition and more with eating before the others. He felt his activity upon the ridge since his arrival warranted respect from his peers, and he intended to claim it by eating next.

Terich-mir did not feel similarly. The silver-furred wolf with his brilliant blue eyes did not stand down as Anwyl did, but swept forward, regal and defiant. Farstep's eyes widened as he made a half-turn, placing a paw possessively over the felled goat in the process. They were of similar builds, though that had never made any difference in his world—Farstep's father was a Beta once, and his son had outgrown him in his first year of life—and probably similar ages. Terich-mir did not smell immature like Anwyl did. Farstep recognized his scent among those of the pack's tracks, but the male seemed to keep to the lower reaches of the ridge, for his scent was much fainter higher up, where Farstep liked to be.

He sharpened the points of his ears and arched his neck, allowing his hackles to flare to full. His tail stilled completely and stood quivering over his hindquarters as the severity of his posture intensified. His stance was squared, and still his eyes were wide as he bored them into Terich-mir's own. Twin blue eyes locked as both males struggled for the top position and the right to feed next. For the moment he made no other move, but stood astride the goat with his paw placed alongside its haunch, awaiting Terich-mir's response to his own defiance. Would he attempt to force Farstep down, or would he relent?

I was told we can keep going since Tagg is mainly watching now!

Anwyl stood back. Obviously the other male Terich, wasn't going to back down or lose his spot. Anwyl was fine with that. He knew even if he did challenge either of the others, he wouldn't win. He was rather wimpy when it came to a real fight. Besides, he was fine standing back and letting them squabble over the position. As long as there was enough food in the end. He would be just fine waiting. Being humble was a good trait of his, one of his virtues, and a given when it came to his personality. He wasn't a sore loser. He was patient.

The ice eyed yearling watched anxiously and his friend Farstep held a challenging position against Terich. He didn't know Terich very well, and didn't know what type of a wolf he was. Anwyl didn't like violence though, and hoped nothing bad would come of the challenge. Farstep places a paw on the white goliath's side, a very dominant move. He turned to Terich, eyes wide as he waited to see what the male would do.

Sorry for holding this up! Got home from work & crashed. <3

Terich was vaguely aware of the others watching him, of Taggarik's crooked smile as he watched what unfolded before him. The DeMonte was not doing this to show off or impress; he truly felt it was his turn to eat next, and no one was going to stand in his way. So when Farstep placed himself protectively over the goat, one paw outstretched, Terich knew he could not let this insult go unanswered. He wasn't angry as he stepped forward, though, keeping his crown held high, ears forward, eyes bright and alert as he postured before the other male and their meal.

With his chest held up and his shoulders pushed back, Terich-mir took another move toward Farstep, one lip curling upward to show his teeth. Anger and aggression were not evident in his posture, though it was clear with his movements, the tail held high, and his eyes staring straight into Farstep's own blue eyes, the two males would be stuck at an impasse unless someone moved. So after a moment, Terich took another step toward the goat, a low noise beginning in his chest, a sign of warning. He did not want to physically overpower the other slim male, but he would if necessary.

Skipping with permission~

Farstep remained astride the goat. His two options in terms of things to do now were pretty clear on their benefits and risks. He could continue standing his ground and provoking Terich-mir until one of the two males stood down or forced the other down, or he could risk opening himself to being bowled over in order to snatch a few mouthfuls of meat from the goat. The ranks were so new that the pack wasn't likely to back either male up no matter how it went, so it was anyone's game at this point. Perhaps if their number had been greater than five, he would've chosen the latter option for the sole purpose of filling his belly.

But with only five wolves, there was plenty of meat, so getting his jaws on it wasn't as crucial as it could've been. Now it was mostly a matter of being cheeky, of daring to believe he could stand above the male that challenged him if he continued trying to intimidate him. Terich-mir intimidated Farstep, as all wolves intimidated other wolves to some degree, but he wasn't yet so intimidated as to stand down. After all, he'd had the confidence to step forward first, and intended to hold that position as long as he could muster in hopes Terich-mir would step back first, though it could've been either of them. The intensity would rise until one or the other had enough of it. It wasn't high enough yet for Farstep's threshold. So he stood his ground, peeling back his own lips into a responding agonistic pucker. He rumbled lowly.

Omg I'm so sorry I didn't realize that you guys maybe we're waiting for me so sorry xP

Anwyl stayed back, watching the two males in their standoff. Farstep had become a good buddy of his, and he was sure that Terich was also a kind and brave male. Either would fit the rank well. Epsilon. Perfectly fine for Anwyl. He watched as they stared at each other. They were both holding back, trying to avoid a fight. Anwyl was glad for that, he hated fighting. But he wasn't sure how much longer this could go before one of them had to make a move. The intensity of their glares and the strength in every shift in posture amazed the young boy. He still had much to learn, and much he could learn from his new pack mates.

The two slim wolves stood facing each other, neither willing to back down or step forward to claim what was theirs, at least not yet. Farstep had the advantage at the moment, being the one standing over the goat, and Terich's brilliant blue gaze studied him carefully. There was a hesitancy in his step, in the way his eyes roamed the area between them, that told the DeMonte that perhaps he could win this challenge more easily than he originally thought.

Not that the challenge was orchestrated as such; Terich-mir just thought that being Capri's companion made him the obvious choice to go next. He wasn't aware that such a challenge might afford him a higher rank; he was simply hungry. After a long moment of silence, with the tension stretching paper-thin between the entire group, Terich-mir decided to act. His ears twitched forward and he took one, two, three steady strides toward the other, now nearly chest to chest with Farstep. Terich was slightly taller, though not by much, but it allowed him to crane his neck over Farstep's, to reveal his teeth, and place his muzzle against the other's nape. With a slightly nip, he physically revealed his intentions of overpowering the other, using his bodyweight to push his chest against his.

Since this was not a violent tussle, Terich gave Farstep the opportunity to back down before his teeth sank in deeper.

He stood solidly over the goat carcass, never wavering in his bid for authority over Terich-mir. He played the part of a dominant wolf well. Without the explicit backing of the pack, Farstep could only rely on Terich-mir backing down first, an outcome he hoped to force with sheer intimidation. His wish was that it remain non-physical, not only because it became threatening then but because it was his preference.

Unfortunately for Farstep, Terich-mir had no qualms with getting physical, and closed the distance between them. Farstep's snarl intensified and his lips peeled back further the closer the dark wolf got, but he respected their positions as pack mates, so although he would've mangled the approaching snout of a stranger, he held still. He held Terich-mir's gaze until the moment that his nape was pinched, and it was at that moment that Farstep knew he'd lost, because winning now wasn't worth biting back. They were evenly matched and it would create undue tension between the pack's wolves for their dominance spat to continue. Besides, there was plenty of meat this time.

He pressed back his ears and relented, letting his tail fall and his head with it. He allowed Terich-mir the grip on his nape as a sign of victory over this encounter, but he didn't remain there for too long before he pulled away to wait for the light-haired wolf to feed. For now, Terich-mir would be the superior between them, though he would always push the envelope as he tended to do, and perhaps a day would come when the pack would become involved and choose one or the other. For now, he accepted his place beneath Terich-mir with a low whine, a wiggle of his lowered tail and a submissive grin that hid his teeth. Though his submission was obvious, it wasn't very severe, as evidenced by his pulling back; he fully intended to be next in line now, supposing Anwyl would allow him to be.

Anwyl watched as the challenge ended. He felt bad for his silent friend, but knew that this was just how a pack worked. He watched Terich take his prize, and allowed Farstep to feed next. He lowered his head and gave a gentle wag of his dropped tail. It was a submissive position, he didn't mind waiting a few more minutes for his turn to eat though he was very hungry. However he'd rather wait his turn than dispute with the older wolf. This would be his place in the pack. An Epsilon. That was an average rank. He wasn't lowly, neither was he royalty. It was fine by him. However if more wolves soon joined, he knew he would fight for his position. He only hoped that wouldn't happen anytime soon.

So he continued to wait, eyeing the other wolves as well.

Quick post.

After a long pause where they stood facing each other, Terich's teeth on Farstep's neck, the other wolf finally relented. Terich-mir accepted the submission with a snap of his teeth and stepped over the goat as Farstep retreated. He then fed himself, no longer unsure of his status in the pack. After a few moments he stepped back, licking the lifeblood from his lips, and nodded to Farstep. He could eat now that Terich was full. Terich moved to sit with Capri, nuzzling her dark nape as he took his place by her side, and turned his blue eyes to study the two remaining wolves. Farstep ate next, and Anwyl watched with an anxiety that nearly made him twitch, before he too was allowed to eat. The pack had its hierarchy and its first kill. These were good signs as far as Terich-mir was concerned.

Last post for me. Feel free to wrap up with another post in if you wish! I'll be archiving this soon.

He would not allow his wolves to draw blood, but fortunately, it did not come to that. Farstep and Terich settled their ranks among themselves, leaving the yearling to feed last. Tagg was content, and stretched himself out onto his stomach, resting his broad head across his paws. Once rested, the pack would open their first cache and store the rest of the mountain goat within.

She felt Taggarik's presence beside her with an awareness that left her puzzled. Ranks, where she had come from, were placed upon your merit, rather than your dominance, and while dominance always held importance to her birth pack, it had been the Alphas to select who  stood where, unless a rank challenge occurred. Taggarik's approach was refreshing.. and yet she worried.
 
Terich-mir rose to the challenge. Her eyes followed her friend -- his claim to Beta. The unnamed tawny wolf also was persistent -- and while she enjoyed his company and he was far more active upon the borders.. she could only hope her best friend found his place amongst the pack they had chosen.
 
Terich-mir won, at least for now. Anwyl remained silent -- the youth taking in what had happened. With the hierarchy settled for now, Taggarik stretched himself out, and as her silver friend made his way to her side, she tipped her muzzle up and nudged his cheek in silent congratulations. Following suit to the dark Alpha, Capri stretched her own form it upon the snowy ground, her eyes heavy as they fluttered shut with sleep, cradled against Terich's side.

Once satiated, the tawny wolf retreated some ways away, choosing to remain closer to Taggarik than the others, although he was careful not to encroach upon the Alpha male's privacy. He let his side hit the ground and stretched his body out, licking his chops. For a moment he observed the others—watching with a slight suspicious narrowing of the eyes as Terich-mir cuddled up to Capriccio and she reciprocated. His gaze drifted to Taggarik, but the Alpha male didn't appear to find this threatening. Where Farstep was from, the Alphas were a pair and a display like that even from a Beta was met with a great deal of discomfort from the Alpha male, whose place was beside the Alpha female as mate and companion. He watched Taggarik for a moment longer, determined that the Alpha was not quite as predictable as those of his birthplace, then dismissed it and placed his head upon his paws to rest.

Last post for me c:

Anwyl watched as the others filed into their places. Everyone seemed to fit in like a puzzle, each wolf a different piece. Satisfied with how it all went, Anwyl went forwards for his turn at the carcass. It's flesh was still warm and juicy in his mouth, the best he'd tasted in a while. However it would've been nice to get the prime cuts. But he was fine, this was fine. Coming to Porcupine Ridge had been a great choice. Once he was finished, the yearling licked his lips of the blood and went over to the others to sit by Farstep. He turned and gave the silent male a faint smile, glad that the whole challenge thing was over. He then waited for the pack to make the next move, he would follow his alphas into whatever came next.