Vocabulary

The vocabulary in this world is incredibly important to understanding it. Below are common terms used in the story and in the universe of Omicron and Upsilon.

## Familial Terms

Ultriarch- oldest Upper Dynamic member of the family

Mediarch- oldest Middle Dynamic member of the family

Subiarch- oldest Lower Dynamic member of the family

Triad- the Ultri-, Medi-, and Subiarchs of a family, all together as one

Mother- informal term for one who bears pups

Father- informal term for one who makes pups

Dam- formal term for one who bears pups

Sire- formal term for one who makes pups

whelp- used to refer to an infant between the age of 0-1 year.

pup- used to refer to a child from 2-10 years. Interchangeable with "kit."

yippie- used to refer to a child from 11-13 years.

juvenile/“juvie”- used to refer to a child from 14-19 years

yodeler- a derogatory term similar to “tattletale”, used mostly within pups.

kit- another term, mostly used in Clans or Tribes, to describe pups between the ages of 0-6 years.

## Sexual Terms

bedded- a term for someone who has bonded and mated with another.

laying doe- slang, used for a person in heat.

buck- slang, used for a person in rut.

heat- term used for when some Middle and all Lower Dynamics go into a stage where they have a high drive to mate. Happens once or twice every three and a half months and happens in cycles.

* pre-heat- occurs two to three weeks before a heat. The laying doe will often prepare by nesting, binging on food, and some light sleeping.
	+ reception- the time of fertility for a laying doe, lasts about a week. They generally do not eat, drink, or sleep much during this time, though they do bathe. A buck cannot successfully mate a laying doe unless they are receptive.
		- receptive- a term used for a laying doe whose body is prepared for a buck
		- repulsive- a term used for a laying doe whose body rejects the buck or is not ready for the buck

* post-heat- the period after reception and before pre-heat when the lower is no longer fertile. Often times, the lower will sleep for long periods a few days after. Normal body function returns after about four days.

rut- for an upper or the mate of a lower, this is a period of increased aggression and sperm production triggered by the mate's heat or a bondmate's heat. If a lower is heat-blind and an upper comes in contact with them, they will be triggered to rut and mate with the laying doe.

suppressors- medication for uppers, middles, and lowers that stop heats and ruts. They wear off if not taken for a week.

Spring Heat- slang, used for the time between April and July when many juvies experience their first heats or ruts.

## Pregnancy and Parenting Terms

heavy doe- term used for a pregnant lower/middle.

waiting buck- term used for the sire of a heavy doe's child.

whelping bed- term used for a heavy doe in labor; “on the whelping bed.”

lone dam- slang, a dam who raises their children alone.

lone sire- slang, a sire who raises their children alone.

juvie dam/sire- slang for a juvenile parent.

watcher- term for a non-blood person who watches over or takes care of whelps, pups, and yippies.

young elder- term for a youngster who is intellectually or socially advanced for their age, or a youngster who has many responsibilities

castaway- term for a youngster who is rejected by the parents

## Societal Terms

wanderrouge- term for a loner who often displays aggressive tendencies and travels alone. Generally transient.

rouge- term for a loner who lives in one place, alone. Generally residual. Not as aggressive as a wanderrouge.

bluepaw- term for a disabled individual. Usually derogatory.

softpaw- derogatory term for a rich person who has lived a posh, comfortable life.

homebound- one who does not live in a Tribal or Clan group; not as negative as a Red-Tail.

Red-Tail- one who conforms strictly to the Red-Tail Society. Very negative.

Red-Tail Society- outside of the Tribal or Clan Society, the societal structure in which worth is determined by your biological rank.

Tribal or Clan Society- the societal structure in which your biological rank does not determine your worth, Tribes/Clans are headed by a Tau/leader, and dominance is decided by your personal ability.

rabbit foot- a term for a youngster in a tribe/clan who is not yet at full rank and is still in training.

Lambda- one who has gone through a heat or a rut, or, for those infertile, has matured enough to become active in their Tribe/Clan and is ready for their Upsilon/Omicron assessment.

Upsilon- a full member of the Tribe.

Omicron- a full member of the Clan.

Leader- the highest rank in a Clan, chosen by the previous one before stepping down. If the leader dies before announcing an heir, the Triad will choose a leader.

Tau- the highest rank in a Tribe, chosen by the previous one before stepping down. If a Tau dies before announcing an heir, the Triad will choose a leader.

Tribal Code- code of conduct, similar to chivalry, which dictates how Tribals should behave. Used in reference when dealing out punishment.

Omicron Code- code of conduct, similar to the Tribal Code, which dictates how Clan members should behave. Used in reference when dealing out punishment.