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* DIRE PEAKS - located north, dire peaks is one of the larger summits found throughout the mountain range that surrounds most of jasper. only the more experienced hikers can often find themselves safely navigating this treacherous peak. laced with sheets of black ice and narrow ledges on the way up, it is a path that has little foot traffic from humans. past these dangers lay a vast mesa with boulders, trees, and a picturesque view of the town and it’s surroundings below. although it is one of the meeting points of the wolves of lichen creek for centuries, it isn’t ideal due to how risky the path is. usually, a meeting is called upon the peaks if and when it is emergent and they cannot access beartooth point.
BEARTOOTH POINT - located northeast, between the snowy peaks and the town of jasper, it is used a lot by thrill seekers such as rock climbers and abseilers. somewhat mountainous, but not enough to be classed as one of the peaks, beartooth point is surrounded by little-to-no snow and luscious fauna. a dense forest line follows the hill rock all the way up to the top and the ground has a mix of dirt, pine needles, and moss. this area is considered the pack’s main meeting point, and although it is far less dangerous than the peaks, there is a heavier flow of foot traffic which increases the risk of being seen up close by the public.
JACQUES LAKE - located southwest, it is surrounded by the peaks. a far-reaching tranquil lake wraps itself around the bottom of the mountains and several streams and rivers flourish down different channels to create a system. it is frequently used by jasper’s locals for things such as fishing and aquatic sports. as well as being a wonderful source of water for nature, including the pack. with a slightly rocky shoreline it can be a little slippery, but nothing that would be a cause of major concern. layers of moor-like grass surround around the shale rocks and continue beyond the tree line. larger pools of grass can be found dotted around the edge, which makes perfect areas to sit and watch the sunset disappear behind the range.
THORINGTON VALLEY - located west, this part of the valley is connected to jacques lake by various small streams, and has been named after the largest stream, thorington brook. several forest trails can be found around here which can lead back to the town as well as some of the viewpoints around the valley. this area is moderately busy in terms of foot traffic, but the stream and thick woodline allow a great deal of flora and fauna to thrive here, which makes it a perfect hunting ground for the pack.
TENEAU MEADOWS - located south, a large open meadow can be found amongst the forest. sometimes the valley experiences bad weather, and signs are easily knocked down and covered by the dense foliage. this just so happens to be one of the areas that has hardly any signposts throughout the trail and is one of the harder spots to find for both some locals and all tourists. due to how quiet teneau meadows are, it provides the wolves of lichen creek both a notorious sparring ground and a peaceful lounge area to relax.
WAPITI CAVERNS - located east of the town of jasper, this cavernous system is where the remaining pack members hid for their survival for the better part of a year. it goes incredibly deep underground and some areas are consumed with large pools of water, which can be dived down into and explored. these caverns are usually only open to expeditionary ventures by the public and tourists throughout the summer as it is deemed unsafe during the harsher winter months. there are a couple of paths that have been blocked from where the rock has eroded and caved inwards. stalagmites and stalactites ranging of different sizes dangle from the roof and uproot from the ground, which can also sometimes erode and break. because of the non-existent presence of humans during the autumn and winter months, the wolves were able to hide out here. some choose to stay in their shifted form completely, but others reverted back, bouncing between shifts.
LICHEN CABIN - found between teneau meadows and jacques lake, a beautifully built wooden cabin is nestled amongst the dry grass and pine trees. a gravel footpath that leads up and around the property. this cabin was built by the first wolves of lichen creek and throughout the generations, it has been passed down, it has been modified with the appropriate developments. the inside being what you’d exactly expect, wonderfully cozy and perfectly utilisable to an outsider's view, the cabin is just privately owned by a group of friends. however after tragedy struck the group, the cabin is currently in ruins. floorboards ripped up, doors kicked down and even some of the windows have been smashed by the hunters. it’s going to take a little bit of time before it’s returned back to its former glory.
SHERIFF'S STATION - located near the outskirts of town, next to jacques lake, this is where locals go to report concerns and crimes involving other townsfolk to the current sheriff and their deputy.
JASPER RESIDENTIAL - located behind the center of town, this is where many of jaspers residents live. large road accompanied by decently sized houses and gorgeous gardens.
TOWN LIBRARY - located in the center of town this huge library is full of knowledge and is often where locals will go to find out information and delve their minds into fictional states. a few books mention "legends" about the lichen creek wolves, but nothing has been documented to prove their existence. simply just an old wives tale.
ELK PINE DINER - located near the sheriff's station, close to the campsite, it is commonly used by the locals to grab a quick beverage and something to chow down on. it's locally run, being passed down through several generations.
BOBBY'S RESTARUANT & BAR - located in the center of town, it is surrounded by many shops and used by many if not all locals as their place to socialise and clink a few drinks together.
RHODES CAMPSITE - located between jacques lake and teneau meadows, it can be used by both locals and tourists to either sit down with a picnic or to simply camp out. a perfect place to tell your friends' stories, roast marshmallows, and conspire about superstitions.
* - this is the area where the leadership was taken over by force.
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APPEARANCES- a shapeshifter’s appearance can vary in both human and wolf form, with some individuals sharing traits and coming across more alike, whilst others may share little to no similarities and appear very different. the height of these wolves range from those seen in “twilight”, reaching a minimum of 5”0 and a max of nearly 5”8, and could be mistaken for larger mammals such as bears from afar. the average height of these shapeshifters sits between 5"3 - 5"5. one of the most common differences seen in these shapeshifters is eye colour, with many of the individuals having a completely different colour to that of their human form. individuals with the same eye colour are uncommon and is thought to be a genetic phenomena. Scarring and blemishes seen on a shapeshifters human form can sometimes be seen on their wolfs’.
WEREWOLF BEHAVIOUR- when shifted these werewolves are known to be susceptible of being more emotionally heightened, which may explain their natural inclination to be a little less docile in social settings involving other pack members. aside from this, the personality of each wolf stems from that of their humans’ and the relations they have with one another do not differ when in either human or wolf form. like 'twilight' wolves they have the ability to imprint on humans and other wolves, more often when they come across their 'soulmate', this can range from platonic relationships to romantic ones, in the simplest of words it can be anyone the individuals feels a deep connection with.
SHIFTING- transformation is not dependent on a full moon and can happen at anytime. depending on the individual, shifting may occur due to certain triggers such as an extreme loss in temper or other “extreme” forms of emotions (it does not necessarily have to be anger). shifting back and forth generally takes a lot of physical and mental practice, and once mastered it can be less stress on the shifter’s body. these werewolves have the ability to shift for as little or as long as they want, although prolonged shifting may effect the individual on either or both, physical and psychological levels. depending on how long a werewolf has remained in their wolf form will factor its effects and severity. some many have milder affects such as brief changes in temperament and temporary exhaustion. others may have more extreme effects such as having difficulties with future shifting and are more at risk of having eruptive spouts of emotion.
WEREWOLF ABILITIES- when shifted, werewolves possess enhanced speed, enhanced strength, extended durability, heightened senses and reflexes (hearing and smell most of all) and self-healing. self-healing is more often regenerating minor injuries that do not require additional herbs and medicines. although it can somewhat aid in major injuries, it does not prevent the possibility of death. when unshifted some of their abilities can cross over, such as enhanced strength and heightened senses and reflexes. with having these abilities in their human form, they will sometimes 'downplay' their limits to cover their tracks and arise less suspicion amongst humans. werewolves also have a form of telepathy that allows them to communicate with one another, but only when both sending and receiving parties have shifted into wolf form. werewolves are known to find their optimal strength in numbers, rather than in solitude.
PACK STRUCTURE- the lichen creek hierarchy does not differ much from that of regular wolves. the status of alpha is usually passed down through lineages, however it can be challenged if more than one member is unhappy with the leadership. although alpha's are considered a very important member to the pack, it is in fact the healer - due to their specialist knowledge of herbs and medicines that can be used to treat a werewolf's injuries. without a healer, a group of werewolves can suffer greatly which can cause members to leave in fear/panic that they will not survive or if hurt, succumb to their wounds. some members that are placed under 'omega' find peace with the rank and decide, even after proving themselves, they suit the role better than their last. subordinates usually make up the bulk of a pack's hierarchy and although they are not as "dominant" as the alpha or beta, they are still highly valued members.
ATTITUDE TOWARDS HUMANS- in general, werewolves have the capability to co-exist with humans because of their synergistic origins and personalities. the only mention of werewolves existing are fictional stories, for the most part humans are unaware of the true existence of werewolves. although for the folks in jasper the superstition is what brings the town it’s economy. the majority of the town’s modern disbelief towards the supernatural allows the wolves to easily co-mingle with their human cohorts. a werewolf’s attitude towards humans varies from individual to individual. some see humans as nothing more than the inferior species and some feel compassion for them because they can somewhat relate to them when in human form. some even go as far to enable friendships, family-like bonds, and even romance with humans. as a result of hunters becoming ever more so common, individuals may harbour some paranoia towards humans in fear that they’ll be found out.
THREATS- having supernatural abilities doesn't always follow the rose-tinted fables. a balanced force of nature has allowed for werewolves to be "borderline apexes" in their own environment (especially when grouped together), but when it comes down to their human halves - they have their fair share of threats. the biggest one of them all are hunters - humans who have grown up in hunting families with a "specialist expertise" in poaching the supernatural. they often try to keep their knowledge and "side-hustle" away from public eye to prevent mass-panic. other dangers werewolves have to avoid coincide with hunters. a hunters' most valuable equipment are two potent herbs known as "wolfsbane" and "larkspur" that can incapacitate a werewolves' conscious state, strength and healing abilities both in their human and wolf forms. there aren't many differences between the two and both cause the same affects, however wolfsbane is considered the more threatening as physical touch or ingestion can cause burning sensations, whereas larkspur can be physically held, just not ingested. a common misunderstanding is that silver can be used to kill werewolves and burns when physical contact is made, however it is merely a myth created by werewolves themselves to misdirect hunters. silver is known to actually have healing properties, so although a werewolf may be struck with silver objects, there is more of a chance that it will slow them down than anything else. shifters can also be at risk as the same things as ordinary humans are, this can range from illnesses to accidents. though they have the ability of self healing and the additional support of their "healer", some instances can still prove to be fatal..
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this is more of a generalised timeline, extra information about the timeline can be added if requested.
- one omega disappears from the group, unknown last location and thought to have deserted the pack.
- three days later, a subordinate turns up deceased between jacques lake and thorington valley, causes the pack to be on alert.
- within the same week a subordinate who is known to handle themselves well on their own, disappear near thorington valley.
- the next evening, two subordinates and the beta search throughout jasper for the missing werewolves, only to find the alpha talking to a group of hunters (who are from out of town) and pointing in the direction of lichen creek cabin.
- the beta approaches and is killed by the hunters, all the while the alpha stands by and watches. the sound of the other werewolves nearby alerts the alpha's and hunter's attention.
- the same night, the alpha calls an "emergency meeting" in beartooth point to try and blame the two subordinates for the disappearances and recent death of the beta.
- one of the two subordinates from the search party rebels, revealing the details of how it is the fault of the alpha and their "hired" hunters.
- anarchy spreads amongst the ranks, unsure of which party speaks the truth, a pivotal split occurs. with some of the members refusing to believe the truth, whilst others stand beside the subordinate in hopes it will cause the other half to stand down.
- the hunters then suddenly ambush the group and the wolves witness them ignoring the alpha and realise the subordinate was speaking the truth.
- a battle between hunters and werewolves break out, with both sides taking heavy fatality. the alpha targets the subordinate who spoke up against them.
- in a brutal fight, the alpha becomes hurt and tries to escape. the subordinate - carried away with adrenaline - chases them until they reach dire peaks. finishing what was started, the subordinate overthrows and kills the alpha.
- in the aftermath, the new alpha and the surviving members ditch the lives and relations they made in jasper to hide in wapiti caverns.
- knowing the hunters were originally from out of town, the wolves of lichen creek are making a comeback after 12-long months of hiding.
xxx 
