Alpha Male and Alpha Female Ceremonies:
Pack alphas are the heart of the pack; their personality affects how the pack operates and how their warriors treat one another and the world around them. It is up to the alphas to set a good example and guide their packmates along the path of the warrior code. They are responsible for calling pack meetings, appointing warriors, mentors, and apprentices, and deciding the policy and strategy with the help of their betas and any wolves they choose to consult with for help (usually shaman, elders, or senior warriors). Although, only Alpha Females do ceremonies for female wolves and Alpha Males do ceremonies for male wolves.
When a wolf becomes an alpha, he or she must travel to the Spiritstone and share tongues with the warrior ancestors of Spirit Pack of the Star Trail. The pack's shaman accompanies them on the journey but leaves them alone for the ceremony, in which the alpha is granted eight extra lives and a new name. The Alpha Male gets a name ending in 'star' and the Alpha Female gets a name ending in 'moon'.
This process can be surprising and painful, but it is important for alphas to be able to fight fiercely for their pack and live long enough to pass along their wisdom and prepare a new alpha. During the ceremony, each life is given to the new alpha by a wolf whose life was significant to the new alpha in some way.
When a alpha loses a life, he or she blacks out for a short period of time, during which that wolf visits spirit Pack of the Star Trail and speaks with its warrior ancestors. On returning to consciousness, the alpha must still recover from the injury or illness that felled him or her. Shamans can usually tell how many lives an alpha has left, although the number is kept secret from rival packs.
Beta Male Ceremony:
Alpha Male: "I say these words before the body of (old beta male), so that his spirit will hear and approve my choice. (new beta male) will be the new beta male of (Pack).
Beta Female Ceremony:
Alpha Female: "I say these words before the body of (old beta female), so that her spirit will hear and approve my choice. (new beta female) will be the new beta female of (Pack).
Shaman Ceremony:
Shaman: "I, (Shaman's name), Shaman of (Pack), call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this healer. She/he has trained hard to understand the way of a shaman, and with your help, she/he will serve his/her pack for many moons. [Healer's name], do you promise to uphold the way of a shaman, to stand apart from rivalry between Pack and Pack, and to protect all wolves equally, even at the cost of your life?"
Healer: "I do."
Shaman: "Then, by the powers of Spirit Pack of the Star Trail, I give you your true name as a shaman. (Healer's name), from this moment you shall be known as [New shaman's name]. Spirit pack of the Spirit Trail honors your knowledge and certainty, and we welcome you as a full Shaman of (pack)."
Healer Ceremony:
Shaman: "(Healer's name), is it your wish to enter into the mysteries of Spirit Pack of the Star Trail as a healer?"
Healer/Pup: "It is."
Shaman: "Then come forward"
Healer follows order.
Shaman: "Warriors of Spirit Pack of the Star Trail, I present to you this wolf. She/he has chosen the path of a shaman. Grant her/him your wisdom and insight so that she/he may understand your ways and heal her/his pack in accordance with your will. Now lay down next to the pool."
Healer his/her nose gently into the Spiritstone as Spirit Pack of the Star Trail sends the new healer a sign of approvement.
Warrior Ceremony:
Alpha Male or Alpha Female: "(mentor's name), are you satisfied that your apprentice is ready to become a warrior?"
Mentor: "Yes, she/he is ready."
Alpha Male or Alpha Female: "I, (alpha's name), Alpha (male or female) of (pack) call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He/she has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I command him/her to you as a warrior in his/her turn. (apprentice's name) do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this pack, even at the cost of your life?"
Apprentice: "I do."
Alpha Male or Alpha Female: "Than by the powers of Spirit Pack of the Star Trail I give you your warrior name. (apprentice name), from now on you will be known as (full warrior name). (Pack) welcomes you as a full warrior."
Alpha Male or Alpha Female rest his/her muzzle on the new warrior's head, the warrior licks his/her Alpha Male or Alpha Female in respect.
Apprentice Ceremony:
Alpha Male or Alpha Female: "By naming apprentices, we show that (Pack) will survive and remain strong. (Pup's name) from now on you will be known as (Apprentice name).... (Warrior's name) you are ready for an apprentice. You shall be (Apprentice's name's) mentor, you have shown yourself to be a warrior of (compliment 1) and (compliment 2). I'm sure you will pass on all you know to your apprentice"
New mentor and apprentice touch noses.
New Mentor Ceremony:
Alpha Male or Alpha Female: "I call upon my warrior ancestors to give this apprentice a new mentor. (Apprentice's name), you have lost your first mentor, so your new mentor will be [New mentor's name]"
Mentor and apprentice touch noses
Elder Ceremony:
Alpha Male or Alpha Female: "(old warrior's name), is it your wish to give up the name of warrior and go to join the elders?"
New elder: "It is"
Alpha Male or Alpha Female: "Your pack honors you and all the service you have given us. I call upon Spirit Pack of the Star Trail to give you many seasons of rest."
This information was found in Warrior's Field Guild, Secret of the Clans by Erin Hunter, but was altered a little to fit the needs of this guild.
Pack alphas are the heart of the pack; their personality affects how the pack operates and how their warriors treat one another and the world around them. It is up to the alphas to set a good example and guide their packmates along the path of the warrior code. They are responsible for calling pack meetings, appointing warriors, mentors, and apprentices, and deciding the policy and strategy with the help of their betas and any wolves they choose to consult with for help (usually shaman, elders, or senior warriors). Although, only Alpha Females do ceremonies for female wolves and Alpha Males do ceremonies for male wolves.
When a wolf becomes an alpha, he or she must travel to the Spiritstone and share tongues with the warrior ancestors of Spirit Pack of the Star Trail. The pack's shaman accompanies them on the journey but leaves them alone for the ceremony, in which the alpha is granted eight extra lives and a new name. The Alpha Male gets a name ending in 'star' and the Alpha Female gets a name ending in 'moon'.
This process can be surprising and painful, but it is important for alphas to be able to fight fiercely for their pack and live long enough to pass along their wisdom and prepare a new alpha. During the ceremony, each life is given to the new alpha by a wolf whose life was significant to the new alpha in some way.
When a alpha loses a life, he or she blacks out for a short period of time, during which that wolf visits spirit Pack of the Star Trail and speaks with its warrior ancestors. On returning to consciousness, the alpha must still recover from the injury or illness that felled him or her. Shamans can usually tell how many lives an alpha has left, although the number is kept secret from rival packs.
Beta Male Ceremony:
Alpha Male: "I say these words before the body of (old beta male), so that his spirit will hear and approve my choice. (new beta male) will be the new beta male of (Pack).
Beta Female Ceremony:
Alpha Female: "I say these words before the body of (old beta female), so that her spirit will hear and approve my choice. (new beta female) will be the new beta female of (Pack).
Shaman Ceremony:
Shaman: "I, (Shaman's name), Shaman of (Pack), call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this healer. She/he has trained hard to understand the way of a shaman, and with your help, she/he will serve his/her pack for many moons. [Healer's name], do you promise to uphold the way of a shaman, to stand apart from rivalry between Pack and Pack, and to protect all wolves equally, even at the cost of your life?"
Healer: "I do."
Shaman: "Then, by the powers of Spirit Pack of the Star Trail, I give you your true name as a shaman. (Healer's name), from this moment you shall be known as [New shaman's name]. Spirit pack of the Spirit Trail honors your knowledge and certainty, and we welcome you as a full Shaman of (pack)."
Healer Ceremony:
Shaman: "(Healer's name), is it your wish to enter into the mysteries of Spirit Pack of the Star Trail as a healer?"
Healer/Pup: "It is."
Shaman: "Then come forward"
Healer follows order.
Shaman: "Warriors of Spirit Pack of the Star Trail, I present to you this wolf. She/he has chosen the path of a shaman. Grant her/him your wisdom and insight so that she/he may understand your ways and heal her/his pack in accordance with your will. Now lay down next to the pool."
Healer his/her nose gently into the Spiritstone as Spirit Pack of the Star Trail sends the new healer a sign of approvement.
Warrior Ceremony:
Alpha Male or Alpha Female: "(mentor's name), are you satisfied that your apprentice is ready to become a warrior?"
Mentor: "Yes, she/he is ready."
Alpha Male or Alpha Female: "I, (alpha's name), Alpha (male or female) of (pack) call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He/she has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I command him/her to you as a warrior in his/her turn. (apprentice's name) do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this pack, even at the cost of your life?"
Apprentice: "I do."
Alpha Male or Alpha Female: "Than by the powers of Spirit Pack of the Star Trail I give you your warrior name. (apprentice name), from now on you will be known as (full warrior name). (Pack) welcomes you as a full warrior."
Alpha Male or Alpha Female rest his/her muzzle on the new warrior's head, the warrior licks his/her Alpha Male or Alpha Female in respect.
Apprentice Ceremony:
Alpha Male or Alpha Female: "By naming apprentices, we show that (Pack) will survive and remain strong. (Pup's name) from now on you will be known as (Apprentice name).... (Warrior's name) you are ready for an apprentice. You shall be (Apprentice's name's) mentor, you have shown yourself to be a warrior of (compliment 1) and (compliment 2). I'm sure you will pass on all you know to your apprentice"
New mentor and apprentice touch noses.
New Mentor Ceremony:
Alpha Male or Alpha Female: "I call upon my warrior ancestors to give this apprentice a new mentor. (Apprentice's name), you have lost your first mentor, so your new mentor will be [New mentor's name]"
Mentor and apprentice touch noses
Elder Ceremony:
Alpha Male or Alpha Female: "(old warrior's name), is it your wish to give up the name of warrior and go to join the elders?"
New elder: "It is"
Alpha Male or Alpha Female: "Your pack honors you and all the service you have given us. I call upon Spirit Pack of the Star Trail to give you many seasons of rest."
This information was found in Warrior's Field Guild, Secret of the Clans by Erin Hunter, but was altered a little to fit the needs of this guild.
