I don't know if Eldemore's creatures typically live wild, but this is what I've come up with (for wild groups):
Direwolves are sorted into packs with an alpha pair and beta pair. There are Watchers who serve as guards, messengers and sentries, sorted by the time of day they Watch for; Songweavers who are responsible for training younger pups and recording or relating history; Hunters and Huntresses who fight offensively, scout, and assist the lead pairs if necessary.
Dires are usually monogamous and faithful; however, if one of a pair is departed for whatever reason (banishment, death, otherwise leaving the pack), it is acceptable for the remaining direwolf to take a new mate.
Names given at birth are 'pet names', as simple nicknames so others don't have to call 'Hey, you'. Usually around adolescence, a direwolf will choose a name for itself. Families may have a similar prefix or suffix. Direwolves are not required to change their name; some choose to keep it the same as the pet name and make it official.
After becoming a Songweaver, direwolves are required to add 'song' to their names. They may only use their new name for formal purposes, but it must be there to use.
Alphas are chosen on a basis of strength and leadership proficiency. A chosen alpha's mate choice is usually scrutinized, for they will have a lot of power, and must not misuse it.
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Ligers live in prides with strict hierarchies. Lone males are, by default, mid-ranking hunters; lone females are mid-ranking scouts.
Leaders are chosen based on strength and leadership proficiency, as are direwolves' alphas, but liger leaders must also be capable of defending the pride near single-handedly. Therefore, it is common for challenging ligers to invite the current leader out for a duel. These duels are never fatal, as the pride must have a leader, but there is a great amount of shame attached to the leader's loss.
Ranks are assigned based on general proficiency and cannot be changed after a year of adulthood. There may be up to six ligers in a rank per pride, except for the Kaephen and Duesste, which may only consist of a single mated pair each. (This limits the size of a pride to 16, as Loners do not actually identify with the pride. Young ligers may stay with the pride until the transition to adolescence; afterwards, if there is a place in the pride, they may stay with it. Otherwise, they must take a mate (or not) and leave.
Mates are taken at the transition to adolescence and confirmed at the transition to adult. Mates cannot be changed after the confirmation.
(Which allows for forbidden romance stories.)
• Kaephen • Duesste • Hewlyaen • Lewkaen • Rashyrr
Leaders, Secondary, High-ranking, Low-ranking, Loners
Hewlyaen are generally hunters, fighters, scouts, the like. Lewkaen are more responsible for the artistic side of liger life, preserving traditions and legends. Although they are called 'low-ranking', this is based purely on strength, as Lewkaen ligers tend to be physically weaker than other ligers (although this is still quite strong). Lewkaen ligers are the ones who choose Keepers and live on Mount Bastion.
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Otters live in rafts of general confusion; there is no strict high or low classification. There is a leader and a second; these are the only distinct ranks. Younger otters and their mothers are treated with more care than usual, although this is the norm among most groups of sentient animals. Scouts are held in somewhat higher regard. The raft does look out for its members and most otters in a raft are extremely loyal to it.
Territories' boundaries are not strictly placed, for how does an otter mark a border over the infinite sea? There are rough restrictions, though.
Otters mate for life, and usually do not take another mate after the death of the first.
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