Adrianna nods, to indicate it's similar here. That the history is immeasurable, and in some cases, lost forever.
It is a lot, and a true understanding would take time that they don't have. What they have is hard-won and imperfect and ever-evolving, but it bears being tried by others. By the people it will benefit.
"This place isn't so old," Adrianna admits, running her thumb over the side of her mug, a gesture that Jude makes often. There are little things like this, small glimpses, to say this world isn't so impartial as they would all like to believe.
"Ours is a tenuous peace, hard to enforce due to a disparity in power. We live because we are still a wildcard. An unknown. It works because the human government does not know just how powerful we are, and who would aid us. We are just powerful enough to be a significant problem to exterminate, but not a threat to their control."
Adrianna grimly sips her drink. "Our agreements with the human government are local to this country, and called the Shifter Accords. We are allocated this land, Yellowstone park, as our territory. No human may build or trade here without our approval, but they are welcome to freely come and go within certain areas. We are entrenched in business, in science, in the internet. Humans have need of our expertise, our goods, and our strength. We agree to provide agents to be used in conjunction with their military, who operate as independent contractors, managed by their alphas. They have specific rights equal to any contractor for their military, and if they are abused, they have legal recourse. Our agents, much like your people, are powerful players with specialized skills, not easily replaced and endlessly useful. They are often deployed as independent units who answer only to top leadership."
Another sip of her drink. "Our outer borders are protected by enforcers and scouts. All of our young ones are trained in self-defense from the moment they are able to walk. We have regular patrols both from the skies and the earth. Our way of life, even our pups' games, playing at learning to hunt, all circles back to keeping us safe."
"One thing that may not work for you, and what may cause trouble in the future, is our absolute leadership. I am alpha. There are no democratic elections. My authority is recognized utterly."
There's a note in her voice, something sad, resigned.
"The weakness in our system is in that. A pack is only as good as its leadership. Compassionate, strong leaders create compassionate, strong packs. A weak or cruel or stupid alpha is a sickness that eats away at a pack from the inside. While these can be unseated, the damage is often extensive. I am fortunate to know and remain good friends with many strong, compassionate alphas of their respective peoples."
A grim cast appears at the corners of her eyes.
"When a corrupt or abusive alpha surfaces in this country, they are removed, and depending on the area, the local alpha will assume responsibility and care of the pack. Ideally, it will be through a tribunal of shifter courts, where they will be accused by their pack of a misuse of power, and have a trial. Jurors are chosen from the entire population of shifters within the country. If they are found guilty of abusing those they are responsible for, or threatening the security of our treaties with the human government, they are imprisoned in the north with the polar bears. They are not kind wardens. However, there are very few prisoners."
The grim cast only grows more grim. "Our kind, when corrupt, most often prefer trial by dominance battle. Ideally this will not end in death, but with imprisonment. It's not often so ideal."
no subject
It is a lot, and a true understanding would take time that they don't have. What they have is hard-won and imperfect and ever-evolving, but it bears being tried by others. By the people it will benefit.
"This place isn't so old," Adrianna admits, running her thumb over the side of her mug, a gesture that Jude makes often. There are little things like this, small glimpses, to say this world isn't so impartial as they would all like to believe.
"Ours is a tenuous peace, hard to enforce due to a disparity in power. We live because we are still a wildcard. An unknown. It works because the human government does not know just how powerful we are, and who would aid us. We are just powerful enough to be a significant problem to exterminate, but not a threat to their control."
Adrianna grimly sips her drink. "Our agreements with the human government are local to this country, and called the Shifter Accords. We are allocated this land, Yellowstone park, as our territory. No human may build or trade here without our approval, but they are welcome to freely come and go within certain areas. We are entrenched in business, in science, in the internet. Humans have need of our expertise, our goods, and our strength. We agree to provide agents to be used in conjunction with their military, who operate as independent contractors, managed by their alphas. They have specific rights equal to any contractor for their military, and if they are abused, they have legal recourse. Our agents, much like your people, are powerful players with specialized skills, not easily replaced and endlessly useful. They are often deployed as independent units who answer only to top leadership."
Another sip of her drink. "Our outer borders are protected by enforcers and scouts. All of our young ones are trained in self-defense from the moment they are able to walk. We have regular patrols both from the skies and the earth. Our way of life, even our pups' games, playing at learning to hunt, all circles back to keeping us safe."
"One thing that may not work for you, and what may cause trouble in the future, is our absolute leadership. I am alpha. There are no democratic elections. My authority is recognized utterly."
There's a note in her voice, something sad, resigned.
"The weakness in our system is in that. A pack is only as good as its leadership. Compassionate, strong leaders create compassionate, strong packs. A weak or cruel or stupid alpha is a sickness that eats away at a pack from the inside. While these can be unseated, the damage is often extensive. I am fortunate to know and remain good friends with many strong, compassionate alphas of their respective peoples."
A grim cast appears at the corners of her eyes.
"When a corrupt or abusive alpha surfaces in this country, they are removed, and depending on the area, the local alpha will assume responsibility and care of the pack. Ideally, it will be through a tribunal of shifter courts, where they will be accused by their pack of a misuse of power, and have a trial. Jurors are chosen from the entire population of shifters within the country. If they are found guilty of abusing those they are responsible for, or threatening the security of our treaties with the human government, they are imprisoned in the north with the polar bears. They are not kind wardens. However, there are very few prisoners."
The grim cast only grows more grim. "Our kind, when corrupt, most often prefer trial by dominance battle. Ideally this will not end in death, but with imprisonment. It's not often so ideal."