EL VIEJO'S WORD
Before we go into pack law, we should first describe punishment for breaking it and El Acabado.
The way one is punished and whether or not they're punished at all falls to the leader of the pack only. If a leader thinks a broken law merits only a scolding, then so be it. If they believe it merits a torn ear, then so be it.
Light punishments include:
- Having to clean out the grass nesting from the nursery area.
- Having to watch pups so mothers can have a break.
- Having to fetch the water for a few days straight.
- Having to pick at and rip away any overgrowing weeds from the nursery and camp entrance.
- Confined to camp and only being on guard duty.
- Picking at and ridding the camp of overgrowing weeds.
But if a leader seeks to prove a point or they believe a law has been more severely broken, then some harsher punishments include:
- The ripping of ears.
- The loss of an important sense (hearing, smell, taste).
- The loss of a tail or foot.
- The breaking of a front paw
- A 'ramming' where a dog is repeatedly rammed into a hard surface, like rusted metal or a rock, shattering their shoulder blade.
- A 'ripping' in which a law-breaker's underbelly is severely ripped at.
The highest level of punishment is known as El Acabado. This is often performed when a dog has killed another or severely gone against El Viejo's word, or the leader themself.
A leader will call out that the pack is holding an El Acabado. During this time, the pack will gather the offender will stand before the pack, with the leader standing above all. The leader will announce the crimes the dog committed, and the leader will then deem either exile, or death by the attacking and ravaging of their onlooking pack members.
There has been only one El Acabado in the last several years. A dog known as Masienna killed multiple dogs in secret and in cold blood, and so the leader deemed death by the tooth and claw of her pack members. Her young were forced to watch as the pack piled atop of her and ripped at her until she collapsed and died.
It is a fate that no dog wishes to face.
Now that the fun stuff is out of the way, here is pack law!
- Blood must answer for blood; one who sheds it will face judgement and the wrath of the pack.
- The pack will always provide and serve for you as long as you do the same for it. If you will not fight for us, we will not fight for you.
- We do not accept food or anything similar from humans; one must always hide from humans and report any sightings of them to the pack. They are a danger to our livelihood. Human involvement can even be worth El Acabado.
- Dogs bit by coyotes will likely be killed the following Sundown, unless another pack member can find their attacker and show that their attacker was not Rabid. Otherwise, coyote bites do merit death due to rabies.
- One may not attack or harm their pack member. If you wish to defend yourself or what you stand for, you may challenge another pack member to a Flank, and they may meet you when ready or the following Sundown. In other words, blood that is shed outside of a flank will be answered for through El Acabado.
- One may not deny a flank challenge, but they can immediately give in to their opponent, at the cost of admitting dominance and submission. (People CAN say no to a flank OOC, so don't go around challenging everyone IC without OOC permission.)
- The leader rank is fought for through the act of flanking, and can be taken and fought for at any time, this ensures that our leader is only the strongest dog and it allows others to take a stand if a leader is unfit.
- Every dog, once accepted by the pack and mentored, will go through their rite.
- Defend the pack's territory, even if it means shedding your own blood.
- A pup is a pup until their fifth full moon, at which time they start training. A mother is allowed to train her young, but officers should take care of the heavier training, such as hunting large game and fighting.
- Mothers will not be "interrogated" about the origin of their litters. But if they are somehow found to be those of an outsider, another able mother shall raise her pups. Traitors will not get to raise a forbidden litter. If no mothers are available, the mother will be asked to abandon the pups.
- Trainees are the responsibility of officers, their lawbreaking falls on officers as well.
- It is as much a lower's responsibility to show up and accomplish training as it is a higher's responsibility to assign and teach training. Training is imperative and goes both ways. Officers will train trainees (note this before going for an officer rank!)
- Follow El Viejo's Law, for it has ensured our survival for many years.