The time has come: after obtaining her third major injury on a hunt, Hazrohi -- almost six years old, when she would be mandated to step down anyhow -- steps down from her position as is the law.
The question immediately comes: who will replace her?
Three candidates come forth after ranks and ages are properly evaluated: Hazeet’ohija the Herbalist, Johgwohi the Finisher of the Thawed River Runners, and Seh:ax the leader of the Far Flight hunting pack....
First -- an evaluation of their general abilities and their trust among the pack. Hazeet’ohija takes this easily: he has been in the Aagwatz since it was founded, as one of the two dispersal siblings taken in under Hazrohi’s claw. Additionally, he easily dominates the second trial -- that of wisdom. As hostile as Johgwohi may be, she cannot name herbs with such ease, nor can Seh:ax hope to compete with a wolf who has spent his life among the plants and roots when it comes to finding the herbal tinctures to heal minor infections.
All Hazeet’ohija needed to do to take the leadership for his own, but he couldn’t do so. The trial of strength, a test of breaking bone and enduring pain, was won effortlessly by Johgwohi, who stood with her paws on hot rocks and endured bites from her packmates with no noise at all.
As the sun rose, the hopeful leaders embarked on their final trial: a test of agility and endurance in that way. They ran into the mountain passes together, and Axlooziyooc the Hunter followed K’ioo the scout to see who would emerge first from the mists at the pass’ end.
Seh:ax outpaced the others easily, not so much as panting by the time she came from the stony trails and skidded to a quiet halt before the observers.
With each of them winning a single trial, this left the leader position to the only of the wolves who had taken two victories:
Hazeet’ohija, the young herbalist, was draped in thin metal ornaments. In the evening, after a day of celebration and feasting, he led his closest supporters -- including his pregnant mate, Eevz -- on a victory parade about Aagwatz territory.
After the end of it, he stood before the pack and gave himself a second name, as was the new tradition: Hazeet’ohija Heart-Keeper, in reference to both his kind nature, his love for his wife, and his having saved multiple lives of the pack.
He quickly made Johgwohi his beta, and declared that she could have a litter whenever she so chose, without seeking permission, even if the litter came during winter-time. The same went for Seh:ax, but as pack tradition mandated, she needed to be over three years of age to do so.
