Wild imp lifespan, bonds, and bondmates :)
Okay... so I was thinking about the future of Jesper and the wild imps, and more about their dynamics and hierarchy.
I still don't have an idea of lifespan, but I'm probably thinking 50-ish years? Maybe a little longer... I know by age 5, they are considered a young adult.
I think this particular cluster of wild imps is a relatively new splinter, as it's not heavily populated (maybe 5 or 6 groups of 2-4 imps each), and there are only a few juveniles, and their elder is still relatively young.
On occasion, an imp will leave it's cluster in search of another, or to establish a new cluster, like honey bees. I don't think they're affected by inbreeding, and isn't really a thought or concern.
There's no familial heir to becoming an elder, it is something either established by beginning a new cluster, or bestowed upon an imp before an elder dies. If an elder dies before appointing someone to take their place, the imps will come together to decide, but it's typically based on age.
Imps specialize in different things, for example Kena is typically a hunter. Sol is an imp who tends to forage. But I do believe it is versatile, as imps come together and figure out what their current needs are, and will send someone out in according to that need.
In this particular cluster that Jesper knows, the elder is a female imp named Ona. Each cluster of wild imps have sub-groups called "bonds".
I was picturing that, in the future, after visiting for a few months, Jesper is appropriately acquainted with a good majority of the local cluster of imps. They don't mind his presence by then, and would allow him to nap in their den, but he still mostly sticks with Kena and Sol. I would love to write it out to really flesh out the scene, but I was thinking of Sol asking Jesper if he wanted to be their "bondmate".
What I'm picturing Sol explaining is this: in these smaller groups, "bonds", these typically 3-6 imps are bonded to one another. They will always be defensive of their entire cluster, but they are closest with one another. It doesn't have to be a forever thing, some may come and go, or others may join as juveniles age, or if an imp leaves to find another cluster, etc., etc., but in the meantime, they are bound to one another. Basically a QPR... Sol and Kena are bondmates, but since they're small in numbers, they sometimes stick with other bonds.
Love love love the image of Jesper vaguely understanding what Sol is offering, but his the first thing out of his mouth is, "Kena okay with Jesper in bond?" and looking over him, Sol happily smiling and saying yes, Kena not wanting to look directly at Jesper. When Jesper says yes, Kena just starts grooming Jesper for the first time.... !!! I think up until that point, Kena would join in on naps and going out doing whatever they do, but grooming felt too intimate so he sat that one out.
I imagine grooming is an odd one for imps because it's either, they don't care, it's a group activity, or it's an extremely intimate act... So Jesper has definitely been groomed before, just not by Kena, who was a bit more reserved about it.
Also have this image in my head of Sol asking Jesper if he would tell Yarrow, and if he would be able to explain it... Jesper just, "um... imp understands! ...Does not know how to explain!" and then when encouraged by Sol to try to explain it back to her, Jesper is a little sheepish about it, "um... Imp in bond. Is group. Um. Is group that... uh... imps like each other. Uh..." but then cutely reiterates that he understands, he just doesn't have the words for it. Sol helping him come up with something simple to say, like, that a bond is a group that are very close... !!! My heart.
I also think that Sol and Kena had to talk to Ona about this---and understands that Jesper is an outsider and will come and go---but they view him as harmless and helpful with his ability to identify a lot of plants, insects, and animals.
This is unrelated, but I also want to write a scene where, in the early days when Kena is still very weary of Jesper, that Sol shows Kena that Jesper's claws are trimmed down and that he's not going to hurt anybody unless he bites too hard. Really just love the idea of her tiny hands taking his and trying to show Kena.