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Rought translated to; Traveling Hyenas. Because I suck at names. emotion_awesome

Pack colors: Dark Green (almost black) and Burnt Orange


The basic premise of this pack is a traveling pack of horse-themed hyenas. ONLY naturally horse-colored hyenas are allowed. That is probably about the strictest thing you'll see here. The pack is lead by a female, as per usual with hyenas and wild horses. Unlike most wild horse herds, males will not be pushed out once they reach breeding age. Familiars are permitted, although birds are the ones most useful to the pack. Snakes and other creatures that can't keep up with the pack? Not so much.


History

The Kusafiri'fisi didn't always travel. Many generations ago the pack lived by a small lake just southwest of Mount Kilimanjaro and north of the Masai Steppe, nestled in the surrounding mountains. Their culture was very Native American in nature, and very spiritual. Before each hunt they would ask for the blessing of the guardian spirit of the hunt, before each birth, a blessing from the spirit of child birth, and so on. They also made use of everything - bones, furs, stones, nothing was wasted, and they were very grateful to the Great Guardian Spirit for all things it provided.

Then one day, it is said, one of the spirits, the guardian spirit of travel, revealed them self to the pack and brought forth a prophesy; Should the pack remain here then great misfortune would befall them - first hunger, then illness, and finally death. The only way to avoid this was to travel the land for all eternity, and he would show them where to go, and when to leave. These places would later come to be the rest stops the pack takes on their journey.

At first the pack's leader refused - their pack had always lived here! They would not leave! But then the hunters brought back no prey, and the children began to fall ill. Finally when the leader's own litter arrived - dead at birth - she relented. The pack would become nomads. As the decision was made, a great light was seen in the distance, and that was the direction they proceeded. For each stop along the way another light, until a year had gone by and they were back home. The spirit of travel appeared again.

"I have shown you the way, now you must follow it. Each year another cycle. So long as you do this, your pack shall remain forever prosperous."

Generations have since come and gone, new traditions have been made, and yes, the pack has been prosperous. It is not known if the being that appeared truly was a spirit or not, but the pack has no reason to believe otherwise, and whether in gratefulness of its blessing, or fear of what might happen otherwise, they travel ever onward.

Deities of importance in the pack;

The pack doesn't worship the gods per say, but they do acknowledge what they believe to be the 'guardian spirit' of certain things;

Travel
Home
The Savannah
The Hunt
Healing
Fertility
Trade
Wanderlust

Celebrations

Celebrations generally take place to honor the history of the pack, and take place at the special rest stops the pack takes. Some celebrations are minor, but there are a couple major ones.

1st stop on the Kilimanjaro trail: Fertility Celebration.
This is the start of the pack's major breeding season. Even though breeding can happen any time, the Kilimanjaro trail is historically the time of greatest birth for the pack, and the first stop of the season is reserved to honor the guardian spirit of fertility, as new blood is important to sustaining the pack. During this celebration, new couples or those trying to matem may receive a fertility blessing from the pride's seers over-seeing the ceremony.
Major Celebration

3rd stop on the Kilimanjaro trail: Pack Roots Celebration.
This stop is said to be the land of origin for the pack. This celebration is to honor the history of the pack, those who have come and gone, the great deeds, and to honor the earth itself. There are feasts and much storytelling to be had!
Major Celebration

1st stop on the Serengeti trail: Savanna Celebration part 1.
The pack is starting their trek across the great savanna that is the Serengeti plain. This ceremony is to honor the guardian spirit of the savanna for a safe journey and fruitful hunting.
Minor Celebration

2nd stop on the Kilimanjaro trail: Savanna Celebration part 2.
Held to thank the guardian spirit of the savanna for safe travel after crossing the Serengeti plain.
Minor Celebration

1st stop on the Blue Mountains trail: Honoring the Spirit of Travel.
Travel is the Kusafiri'fisi's way of life, so it is only right that they hold a celebration to honor the guardian spirit of travel! There is a large feast, dancing, stories, and games! The younger generation, nearing adolessence by now, usually, are also encouraged to start pairing up so that they can get to know one another for the rest of the year's journey, and get a blessing during next year's Fertility Celebration.
Major Celebration.

2nd stop on the South Desert trail: Healing Waters Ceremony.
Coming upon the end of another long year of travel, this is the final ceremony, and is lead by both the healers and the seers. The lake the pack stops by is thought to have special healing properties. Those who are hurt or ill are bathed and blessed in the lake. A special feast is held in honor of the guardian spirit of healing, as well. Also in this area grows many of the herbs that the healers of the pack use, and time is taken to refill their stock.
Minor Celebration. Usually observed by the seers and healers of the pack.


Views on other species:

Lions/Leopards/Cheetahs/Hybrids: Not to be trusted. Lions and Leopards are large, opportunistic, brutes in their eyes. Cheetahs, although not as big and brutish, are guilty by association. The Kusafiri'fisi does come across the Bonelands pride on the Serengeti trail and interaction can be anywhere from curious to hostile at times, depending on individual interactions.

Wild Dogs and Maned Wolves: Weird mutant hyenas. The Kusafiri'fisi views them as an oddity. Interactions can be anywhere from curiosity to fear.

Birds: Very useful and well looked-upon.

Snakes: Dangerous to the young ones. Be weary of them!

Other Familiars: Potential food.

Breeding information;

Most of the pack practices polyamory; the practice, desire, or acceptance of having more than one intimate relationship at a time with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved.

A male could have many mates, just as a female can have many mates. Just the same though, there are some that choose to be monogamous. The pack accepts this, as well as homosexuality.

Breeding most often will take place during the months of March through May while the pack is on the Kilimanjaro Trail, just after the Fertility Ceremony. It is done this way because it it is thought that by the time the pack makes it's year long trip and comes back to this trail, the pups born then would now be adults, and capable continuing the cycle.

Breeding is discouraged while the pack is on the Southern Desert Trail, December through February, because the waterways they travel along often invite animals that would gladly snatch a pup for food in the otherwise tough sub-desert environment.

Rogue breeding is allowed, but any offspring that don't look 'horse enough' will be asked to leave at adolescence. Usually the pack will hold some sort of 'send off' feast if the number being sent away is small. If there are only a few, then it is usually left to the family to hold their own private celebration.

Naming in the pack or original members is largely either Native American or Swahili in origin, but don't strickly have to be. All the rank names are in Swahili.


That said, OOCly breeding is always open. I just encourage members to think ICly when plotting your breedings.

Open for posting! Right now things are still in the brainstorming phase, and nothing is really set in stone! Feel free to offer your suggestions!

Awesome! and TY for the gift, btw. =3

I may or may not have gone to several horse sites to learn about their hierarchy before just settling for watching Spirit. XDDD

Ranks given names and descriptions! =D Please, anything you'd like to suggest/see, so tell! =D

This looks aaaaawesome! I love the name, too. I'll have to start questing for a yeenur to throw in here as my only yeenur is full of non-natural colors. x]