LIfestyle and Behavior

Tribe structure:

The members of the Quileute tribe live as a group in the Quileute Nation on the La Push reservation and are governed by the council of elders. The tribe consists of everyone who is a descendant of another Quileute. The Quileute pack is a subset of the tribe; every member of the pack is a member of the tribe, but the majority of the tribe are not members of the pack. Moreover, most members of the tribe are not aware of the reality of the werewolves. Only the members of the council and the pack are in on the secret. While the tribal elders work closely with the pack, only those individuals with the ability to phase are actually classified as members of the pack. The leader of the Pack is referred as the Alpha. The role of the Alpha wolf is Inherited; the oldest descendant of the previous Alpha as the rightful claim to the position. If, for any reason, the oldest descendant of the Last Alpha refuses the position, the Alpha title can be claim by either the next closest relative of the last Alpha or by the chronologically oldest member of the pack. In such situation, each member of the pack must initially choose to support this Alpha candidate. After that support is given, the Alpha has the ability to impose control over the members of the pack, and no members can refuse the Alpha's commands. According to the tribal traditions, the Alpha wolf is not only the head of the pack, but also the chief of the entire tribe. As the tribe is govern by the council, The Alpha takes the position of the most senior tribe elder, despite his age.

One Factor affecting which members of the tribe transform is the number of vampire scents in the area. Throughout Quileute history, the pack has usually consisted of of three members. With most vampires traveling alone of in pairs, there was never a need for more than three werewolves to defend Quileute land. However, with a large vampires coven settled in the area, the tribe memberswith the strongest blood ties to the former pack are not the only ones to transform, Everyone in the tribe who as a relation to past wolves has a chance of joining the new pack. As more vampires enter the area in response to the resident coven, even more tenuous bloodlines result in new werewolves.

Recently, as a result of the size of the Quileute werewolf population and the accompanying tension, the pack split in two separate groups. The first time in Quileute history, there are presently two Alphas, each with his own pack. There are presently seventeen members of the two werewolf packs.

Rank:

The wolf pack has a very complex system of rank that helps keep them organized and prepared for all eventualities. The Alpha's absolute authority over the pack makes them an effective fighting force, and if something happens to the Alpha, there is no debate about how to proceed. The pack does not lose effectiveness due to confusion.

Every Alpha has a second in command - referred to as his Second - who immediately assumes control if the Alpha in incapacitated. Ranking under the second is the Third, who is next in line to act as Alpha.

In case of a large pack, each Second and Third, and so on down, so that each wolf has someone in line to step into his responsibilities within the pack if something should happen to him. In a large pack, during a fight the werewolves tend to operate in three-wolf pods.

Imprinting:

Some werewolves experience a bonding incident called imprinting, in which they become unconditionally tied to a human of the opposite sex. There are several theories on why imprinting occurs: Some believe that imprinting ensures the passing on of the werewolf gene others believe that imprinting happens to produce larger, stronger wolves in the next generation. The werewolves do not know the answer for certain.

Imprinting occurs only after a werewolf's first phasing. It can happen with anyone, regardless of previous personal feelings. Imprinting happens the first time a werewolf sees the human object of his imprinting; if the werewolf does not react to a human the first time he sees her after he phases, he will never imprint on that human. If the werewolf does imprint, he is forever changed. From the second he sees the object of his imprinting, he will do anything to please and protect her. All other commitments in his life become secondary, even his commitement to the pack. 

The relationship between the imprinting werewolf and the human imprinted upon is one total acceptance and support on the werewolf's part. No matter the age or living condition of the human, the werewolf automatically becomes whatever the human wants him to be, at the loss of his personal free will. If the human is young, the werewolf becomes the perfect platonic playmate and protector. As the human ages and changes, the werewolf instinctively switches roles to fulfill the human's needs.

It is against pack law for any werewolf to kill the object of another werwolf's imprinting. Such an act would be devastating not only to the wolf who suffered the loss, but to the entire pack. Given the telepathic ability, of the pack, each pack member would suffer the pain of the wolf whose mate has been killed. Even if the death of a wolf'S mate was an accident, the two wolves involved would fight to the death.