Pack History: Somnus

INFO

Beside an isolated lake, where all was silent but the choral buzzing of life waiting to be given purpose, two wolves awoke side by side. They had traveled long together, and felt so at peace as to suggest building a family in this snug, untouched sector of land. Their names were River and Rage, and their new home was Somnus.

Meanwhile, another, less convivial pair traveled the rogue lands in search of shelter. Ocean, the beast, escorted his survival-driven companion, Azaelia, across the lands where they conquered the various fits of danger that few could endure. They bickered, but it was clear as the bond between River and Rage, that they were in love.

One day, Ocean and Azaelia presented themselves at the borders of Somnus, which had now been claimed by two alphas equally as passionate about family as they were in love. They accepted these two rogues into their home, and thus, Somnus welcomed its first guests.

Azaelia was quickly promoted to Beta, and her poor lover Ocean would find himself tossed away; the expense of Azaelia's strong leadership. The Adversary would look for hope in one of the new members of Somnus, Shadow, a fierce, blind she-wolf who would lead as Sentinel, while Azaelia would seek friendship in another: Violet, a gentle, motherly spirit who would become the pack's first Delta. Both of the torn companions found love in new places. Somnus was flourishing.

But all good things came to an end. One fateful day as the Somnus wolves gathered to scare off a looming bear, death called the name of Somnus' most beloved, Alpha Rage. His pregnant River lost two of her pups, Ariel and Abel, shortly after. Though she still had her three remaining pups⏤Luke, Eureka, and Draco⏤River found it hard to lead as the Alphess she once was.

But the lovers were among many to suffer in Somnus. Death called many other names, too, including gentle Roxas, who's lover would become too unstable at his death to continue living in Somnus. Hence, Nova was dismissed.

But death still loomed. It whispered in the forests and killed the deer. It laughed in the gardens and killed the flowers. It possessed the coywolves as they stole the food from Somnus and their neighbor, Noctis. For the first time, two packs would come together in allegiance to fight a common enemy: the coys.

There was no real winner by the end. Death claimed the lives of pack members on either side, including the coys. Among the Somnus wolves to fall was Shadow, the adored, blind Sentinel who had saved Ocean's blackening heart. She whispers to him as she becomes heavy beside him, "I am eternally grateful for you, even in my deepest sleep."

It was the end of a long line of suffering for poor Somnus. Eventually, River would discover that her only chance at healing was to retire, so she could forgive herself for every death that broke her family. If an alpha was broken, so was its pack. Thus, she appointed her strongest and longest friend, Azaelia, to take her position.

It wasn't long before Somnus was thriving again. Azaelia felt fulfilled for some time, and River's lasting pups were growing into fine adults. Among them, Luke took to leadership the most, leaving eventually to build a family of his own. This family is what remains of Noctis. Eureka was not far behind.

One fateful night, a crumbling Ocean, devastated at the loss of yet another dear she-wolf, disappeared from his home. He had set out to end his life. But death was not ready to call his name. Instead, the force that called him was, once more, love.

A small, gentle rogue named Francesca had stopped Ocean from committing a crime he could not seek redemption for, and they opened each others hearts so that they could each love again. Death still called, but it wasn't Ocean's name that whistled through the mountain prairie. It was Francesca's.

After a deadly fall from an unstable cliff, Francesca's body was found by a Somnus search party. Ocean had no choice. He had to go home. There, he would see her die, just as Shadow did. All hope seemed lost.

When Azaelia felt the weight of death's call begin to crush her, she decided she was not fit to lead anymore. Much like River, she had to forgive herself before she could be a great leader. So, she retired and handed her title to the bright, compassionate omega, Eureka.

Finally, Azaelia felt free. Yes, free enough to surrender to love. Ocean's first and truest love had returned to him, and they will reside over Somnus with their coming litter until their dying breath.

Death called River's name kindly, and with a final breath, Somnus's original alphess died in peace. Eureka and Draco set out to inform Luke, who now resided over Noctis, of their mother's death. Their time in Noctis was quite wonderful, but what followed would be the subject of Somnus's second great fall.

A snowstorm took Eureka and Draco off of their path home. They met some helpers along the way, Red and Ridley, who guided them to shelter. But it only protected against the storms...

Not the beasts.

The team was ambushed by Mortiul. Eureka was attacked by their beta and forcefully impregnated with a bastard litter. Saved by the talents of Nevermore, the courage of El and the guidance of Blue, Eureka was able to return home with new companions who were sworn to secrecy regarding the attack.

Two additional friends, siblings Merida and Percy, were met just before Eureka's arrival to Somnus. Somnus would see the reunion of three long-lost siblings: Merida, Percy, and Azaelia.

But they would also see the end of their esteemed hunter, Uzumati, who fell quickly to a heart attack. His burial is in motion.

Yet, love still flourishes. Draco and Sentinel Aelin have finally united in love. Beta Violet may even be finding herself a suitable partner. Eureka and Draco's bond remains strong, and Azaelia may have found the true redemption she has been seeking throughout her life.

The future of Somnus is unclear. Will Eureka, the once innocent and positive young alphess, recover from the attack? Will death call once again, and if so, when? Why?

No matter where or how unrelenting tragedy may be, Somnus remains an unbreakable family willing to do whatever they must to stay strong for themselves, and for those around them. What will come of the Somnus wolves over time is unknown, but no matter what, their legacy will ring as the region's most tenacious, compassionate, and eternal family.