Lore in Packs

***Spoiler warning:** Plot and/or ending details follow.*
Over the course of the many years the Packs books were written, the series has developed extensive lore that prevails across some or all of the books.

## Lore

### Pack structure

#### Lupus

Lupus, also known as Lupus of the Skies or King of the Skies, is the deity-like figure the wolves of the clans worship. Many of the wolves' customs, practices, beliefs, and ceremonies are dedicated to worshiping Lupus. He only appears by name in Wilderness Run.

#### Spirit wolves

The spirit of wolves who have died and gone up to heaven to join Lupus. They ordered that during a blood rose crossing ceremony, no wolves can leave until the alpha has made it to the other side. However, some spirit wolves can be evil.

#### Clans

Groups of wolves are organized into clans that are usually named from where they live, such as the Forest Clan for wolves living in the forest, the Desert Clan for wolves living in the desert, the Mountain Clan for wolves living in the mountains, etc. There are several packs within each clan. The only two packs recorded are the Pack of the Fallen Leaves and the Northern Pack.

#### Alphas

The head of the wolf packs. They rule over the day-to-day activities and participate in special ceremonies like the blood rose crossings. Vivlin and Eyiona are the alphas of their packs.

#### *Gionadhs*

"*Can’t you see? This mayhem is my job! Killing wolves is all I do! Runaways don’t deserve to live with their filthy pups. They deserve to die.*"
―Cavidha to Uionshu *Wilderness Run*, page 4

*Gionadhs* are wolves who track down she-wolves who run away from their packs to deliever pups. If the *gionadh* finds the wolf, they can kill the she-wolf and their pups. *Gionadhs* are male wolves who are typically portrayed as vicious, heartless wolves who take pleasure in killing harmless and innocent she-wolves and pups. This position is heavily inspired from the Obea from Wolves of the Beyond. The only known *gionadhs* in the series are Cavidha, Hioq, and Iosdawni.

### History

#### Storm of Storms

"*Beware of the Storm of all Storms, little pup. You are strong and powerful, and perhaps you may become a great leader. But beware of the storm that wipes wolf packs out in seconds.*"
―a soothing voice to Morkef *Wilderness Run scenes*, scene 8, page 2

Sometimes called the Storm of All Storms. A devastating storm that passed through the Land many years ago that wiped blood roses out.

### Language

#### Pup-cuff

A light hit one pup gives another, typically on the ear.

#### Foaming cow

An insult, meaning the wolf is crazy like a cow with rabies.

#### Aibne, Abhainn

The name of two wolves. Their names mean "river" in the ancient wolf language.

#### *Wnaii*

An alpha's ceremonial robes, necklaces, and other important trinkets.

#### The Land

The name the wolves gave the land they lived on.

### Culture

#### *Killinggroup*

A group of wolves, typically organized by a *gionadh* or alpha, to track down and kill a wolf.

#### Medicine

Wolves treat their injuries with a variety of herbs, plants, and other foliage. One example of this is Uionshu using spiderweb to stop Yogna from bleeding from her neck after Cavidha attacks her.

#### Blood roses

They only grow in the Forest Clan's territory and on Moose Island. The flowers are described as lustrous, with their petals gleaming like crystals in the sun. However, their lustrous green stems are quite dangerous, as their thorns are sharp as wolf fangs. Every six months, the alpha crosses a meadow of blood roses in order to get blessings from Lupus. Many years ago, blood roses were more prevalant across the Land, but they disappeared after the Storm of Storms. Only a few months after Uionshu gave birth to her pups did they show up again.

*End of spoiler warning*
## References and citations

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 *Wilderness Run*, page 6
2. ↑ *Wilderness Run scenes*, scene 8, page 3
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 *Wilderness Run*, page 1
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 *Wilderness Run*, page 3
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 *Wilderness Run*, page 9
6. ↑ *Wilderness Run*, page 5
7. ↑ *Wilderness Run scenes*, scene 8, page 2
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 *Wilderness Run*, page 7
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 *Wilderness Run*, page 4