Waelak Social Structures
Since Waelaks were discovered biologists have been closely observing them both in their natural habitat and in captivity in an attempt to understand their complex social structures. While we are constantly learning new things, a few basic ideas have been established.
Waelaks live in family groups called Clans, often consisting of a Head Female, the Matriarch, who is often the eldest of the females, and her offspring or relatives. Typically there are more females in a Clan than males, and it has been noticed that if a Rouge (clan-less) Waelak seeks to join a clan, the Head Female will allow them into the Clan depending on the age of the Waelak. The Matriarch is more likely to accept younger female Waelaks than males or older Waelaks. The second in command is often a close relative of the Matriarch, usually one of her offspring but also occasionally a sibling. Once the Matriarch dies, the 2nd in command, or Beta Waelak, will take command if female, or, if male, his mate or a daughter will take over. If the Beta is male and has no daughters or mate, then a female sibling may take over, or another close relative of the previous Matriarch. Power disputes are common at the passing of a Matriarch, and Waelaks will often fight for dominance, striking at one another with their hooves. Most times an older Waelak will win a fight, but occasionally a younger Waelak will be able to overcome the elder and gain rank.
The Matriarch's job, besides leading the Clan, is to keep power disputes to a minimum. It has also been observed that a Waelak not from the Clan seeking to take one of the Clan members as a mate must seek approval from the Matriarch before even courting the desired Clan Member. Approval may be sought by gifting the Matriarch with food, colorful objects (feathers and certain stones seem to be popular), or simply by appealing to her better nature through dance and various gestures.
For a while it was believed that male Waelaks were simply uncommon, however this has since been disputed. As it turns out, while Clans consist primarily of female Waelaks, there are large groups of male Waelaks that live together. As adolescence approaches, most male Waelaks will leave their clan to join one of these groups. These groups do not seem to establish a territory, only restricting their travel based on where they can find food while avoiding Clan territory. Only during the breeding season will the males split up to court the females in clans. When they do split up, males that are mates will often travel together and will court females within the same clan, while related males will avoid traveling together and seem to make an effort to go to different clans. Then, after the breeding season is over, those that did not join a pack and clan will gather once again into the all-male group, coming and going from said group as they please.
While female Waelaks are dominant within a clan, outside of a clan there seems to be no such thing, and hierarchies are formed based on skill and cunning alone.
The only devotion that seems to form between Waelaks is between clan members or mates. Not every pair of Waelaks that produces pups will form a pack, more often than not they will split up after the pups are born. If both the male and female are part of the same clan, they will both raise the pups, but do not show the same affection towards each other that mates would. If they are not apart of the same clan, the pups will stay with the mother and the father will return to where he came from. If the father is a part of a pack (as pack members will often reproduce outside of their pack), his pack members will usually wait for his return on the edge of the clan's territory.
It is uncommon for female Waelaks to not live within a clan.
"Dancing" plays a very important role in Waelaks lives. Waelaks dance by leaping, twisting, whirling, and bounding in various patterns, using their natural grace, agility, and flexibility to their advantage. Dancing may be accompanied by occasional stomping and soft chirping. Waelaks seem to dance for many reasons- in victory, in delight, in mourning, and when trying to court or appeal to another Waelak.
While Waelaks do often mate for life, they may have more than one mate. A collection of Waelaks who are mates is known as a Pack. Packs are headed by an Alpha (who is subordinate to the Matriarch and Beta) who may be male or female, but is always the first Waelak who started the Pack by courting another. It is the Alpha's decision who joins their pack, and also his or her job to maintain peace and stability within the pack. Of course only a male and female Waelak can produce offspring, but it has been observed that a Waelak will take a mate of the same sex.
All Waelaks within a clan will assist in the rearing of young. A female Waelak will nurse young that are not hers if the mother is away (hunting, etc) or if the mother has died. It has never been observed that an adult Waelak will harm a baby, even if the baby is not apart of its Clan. Waelaks are very likely to take in orphans and raise them as there own, much like elephants.
No discriminatory behavior has been observed in Waelaks at this point in time, not even towards disabled Waelaks (such as blind, albino, injured, etc). In fact, disabled Waelaks are rarely without a clan (even males), and the others of their clan tend to take care of them by providing food, directing those with poor vision, and such. This behavior is extremely unusual, but it has been noted that sometimes the Matriarch will assign an older Waelak to act as a guide and caretaker of a disabled Waelak. While Waelaks rarely kill, if a non-clan member harms a disabled clan member, the other clan Waelaks are highly likely to kill the nonclan Waelak in defense of their clan member.
