The Foundling Packs
The Hearthstone Packs exist for two reasons: First, to provide purpose for our men and women returning from fighting a human war.
Second, to provide safety and security for youngsters orphaned by war or abandoned by cruel clans.
Werewolf wilderness is brutal. Some packs exist outside of the Clan structure familiar to the Railway Alliance. Some clans exist outside of territorial pacts. Some wolves wander into the territories of the Railway Alliance from other areas. Occasionally, a werewolf is exiled from their pack.
The system that would become the Foundling Packs began at the end of the American Civil War when a small number of clans in the Smoky Mountain Territory organized a system intended to reunite werewolf families separated by slavery, now freed. These clans provided financial and moral support for the reunifying families and absorbed the packs that formed as the families reunited. They became packs in their own right, but they opened the door to something unexpected.
Following the American Civil War, something unheard of with previous wars occurred: Hollows began to appear in the uniforms of Civil War soldiers from both sides of the war. These wolves had, for whatever reason, never made it back to their packs. When the territorial leaders began to see evidence of Rootless former soldiers, they understood that something had to be done.
Thus, the first Hearthstone clan was created. It would be the turning point from which the Foundling Packs would come.
What's a Foundling?
The term "foundling" is generally accepted to refer to a youngster (child in human terms) who has been abandoned by their mother. In media, this often occurs with a child being left on the doorstep of a church or orphanage. In werewolf terms, the term is sometimes applied to abandoned adults who are neither Sigma nor Hollow.
Youngsters are rarely abandoned, and this is the reason that the Hearthstone Clans became the Foundling Packs in the first place. Most often, foundling youngsters are the result of being orphaned or the disbandment of their pack. This is especially common during and following periods of human war. The system originated during the Civil War and has now continued through the post-World War II period.
Without foundling packs, youngsters are often fostered within their clans. This works in the majority of cases, but as with human foster care in the 21st century, abuse is common. This does include abuse within the foundling packs, which one might consider to be a "clan orphanage" of sorts. The quality of the pack depends largely on the High Fang's attention to the needs of the pack and the constant oversight necessary, with a high degree of reporting from healers within the clan.
Adult foundlings (or "wanderers" for those who prefer a more grown-up term) are often found wandering due either to abandonment by their pack when they return from war "different" than they left, or when their pack disbanded while they were fighting in battle. Those abandoned always run the risk of becoming Rootless, and those who returned to a disbanded pack still run the risk of Withering.
What is the Difference Between a Hearthstone Clan and a Foundling Pack
The main difference between a Hearthstone Clan and a Foundling Pack (apart from its scope, which should be obvious) is that a Hearthstone Clan is nearly always led by high-ranking veteran werewolves with the assistance of Delta and Omega civilian werewolves devoted to psychological and physical healing practices and provision of care for traumatized war veterans.
Most Territories have one Hearthstone Clan, and each Hearthstone Clan has its own Foundling Pack. Foundling Packs within the Hearthstone Clans often take veteran Kit werewolves (between the ages of 19-24) and, depending on their natural rank, place them in positions of power within the pack. Foundling Pack Betas and Deltas are chosen from among Kit werewolves, who are still considered youngsters themselves. Alphas are nearly always adult werewolves but often younger than their counterparts in other packs.
TL:DR Hearthstone Clans are Clans (made up of about 7 packs) where war veterans heal from their emotional, psychological, and physical wounds while reintegrating into werewolf society. Foundling Packs are, in essence, werewolf orphanages. Every clan has a foundling pack. Most territories have a Hearthstone Clan.
Hearthstone Clans
When needed, Hearthstone Clans emerge as branches of the territorial "tree." Often, a high-ranking elder werewolf (generally a veteran him or herself) separates from the clan in which they previously served and recruits from the other clans in the territory any Betas in the middle rank of succession (meaning that they are unlikely to be called into Alpha status within their own packs). When possible, these Betas are chosen from the High Fang's line, if the High Fang and Hearthparent are willing to spare a child for this purpose. Since it is usually considered an honor to have one's child serve in this capacity, most High Packs are willing.
From this point forward, when wolves return from war without a pack, they are "adopted" into the new clan and given a rank within the first available pack. Some will become alphas of their packs. Others will take on Gamma roles because it's all they know how to do. All will work together to care for the kits who were drafted against their will for the sole purpose of hiding the identity of their kind.
Discipline within Hearthstone Clan packs is always handled by a civilian wolf and therefore usually by the High Fang of the Hearthstone Clan (typically a former sparefang from the High Pack). While veterans are technically in charge of these packs, when issues arise that require a calm and steady hand, these are handled by those who have not seen human war themselves.
While not intentional, this rule makes the Hearthstone Clans the safest place for orphaned youngsters.
Foundling Packs
Always led by a "sparefang" (a non-heir but generally male offspring of the High Fang and the Hearthparent), the Foundling Packs represent werewolf "orphanages," places where orphaned or abandoned youngsters receive care. Although the times are currently changing (much ahead of human development), the chief purpose of these packs is to keep the youngsters alive. They cannot survive in the wilderness on their own, so they come to the Foundling Packs where they can be fed and kept warm and clean.
As foundlings age, they will be assigned to roles within the foundling pack. Some will rank up from Delta to Beta, while others will serve in Omega roles unless they are "adopted" into another pack. Adult wolves in Foundling Packs are always either Alpha or Omega. While they are still considered juveniles, foundlings are assigned chores based on their age range (whelp, pup, cub, or kit). Starting with Pups, foundlings are also expected to train with their Deltas.
Though the Foundling Packs have no Gamma classification, Foundling warriors are among the best in the clans, and they are therefore often recruited as Gammas at the clan level. Yes, this exploits their trauma. But it is 1946 and these wolves aren't thinking about that -- yet.
Discipline is maintained through the pack, starting at the Delta level (usually a kit-aged juvenile), moving up through the Beta level (usually a kit-aged juvenile), and finally reaching the Alpha if necessary (always an adult, may be offspring of the High Fang or may be a "graduated" foundling). Wherever possible, these packs are made up entirely of foundlings.
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