the winter gathering trials

History

the winter gathering began as just a meeting of the five packs to check that they were all doing well then as the blood of each pack began to run thin the pack leaders decided that they needed a way for some of the cubs to move from one pack to another so that the genes of each pack would remain healthy so the pack leaders decided that at the next gathering the new cubs would be given a test by each pack to see were they were best suited to live. however it turned out that each cub could only complete the task set by there own pack because they simply hadn't been tort how to hunt in different terrains this problem was solved by the founding of the nursery pack were the cubs would learn the techniques of every pack so would all be equally prepared for the trials. then after several very young cubs tried to take the trials the pack leaders decided that all cubs must remain in the nursery pack until they were at least 14 years old. the next change was small and was to make sure that no cub was left without a pack to join by saying that the cubs birth pack has an obligation to take that cub into there ranks nonmatter how the cub performed in the trials. the next rule to be added was that full pack members could take the trials again to change which pack they are in however if they choose to take this option then they can't come to the next gathering and can't take the trials again for five years (this is to prevent spying). the final change happened when the fifth pack was disbanded and was that the first pack would make up the fifth trial (usually one taking place at night) to keep the number of trials the same.

Execution

a large fire is lit at the start of the gathering and is extinguished at the end. while the fire is lit the packs are one and no fighting is aloud. it also symbolised that they are neither wolfs nor human (to them anyway). the pray court by the cubs in the trials is shared among all the morfwolfs at the gathering helping to bring the packs together, show that the cubs are promising hunters and that there will be more pray in the spring to come. each cub is given an amulet on a cord around there neck at the star of the gathering that represents the pack they were born to; wood for the first, a peace of pottery with grass and flowers imprinted on it for the second, a peace of bone with a mountain engraved on it for the third, a pebble from the bottom of the lake for the forth and a peace of metal for the fifth. when the cub has chosen which pack it wont to join from those that would accept it at the end of the gathering the number of the pack they join is riten on the pendant.

Participants

nearly all the full pack members atend the gathering however it is the cubs that wish to become full members that take part in the trials and it is the 4 pack leaders that deside wether each cub has pased the trials to that packs standard.

Observance

the trials of the winter gathering take place over two days the seconde of wich is the shortied day of the year. the trials are opened at sunrise on the first day and closed at sunset on the seconde.