A/N: Yes, I went there... Though I can hardly believe it myself. Also; beware of misspellings.
Summary: Researchers are still constantly working on uncovering the mysteries of the Circulus Castellum (duae) pack behaviour. But some progress has been made concerning the evolution of a Spy.
Documentary: The Spy (circumspector rubeus)
Despite much research, the ellusive Spy, known by its Latin name as Circulus Castellum (duae) Circumspector, still remains a mystery to us. What we do know, is that the Spy keeps to himself, despite being part of a pack. The Circunspector male we've chosen to follow belongs to the Rubeus kind, as is evident by the deep red of his coat.
From his behaviour, we can tell that this Circunspector Rubeus is fully grown, likely in his prime, with a mate and offspring hidden somewhere. Unlike most other species, the Spy does not introduce his family to his pack-mates, likely due to a mutual sense of distrust.
The signs of a mated Spy are in clear view, but often difficult to spot, seeing as a Circumspector never stays within sight for long. Though a common belief among researchers is that the Spy tends to wander from one female to another, a mated Spy is easiest to spot from a large gun he carries: upon this gun can be seen an engraving of the mated Spy's chosen partner. The Valve research team (VRT) have found and shared evidence that the Spy stays surprisingly loyal to its mate after choosing one. This has lead to the theory that the Spy never fathers more than one offspring. No record of a offspring of female gender has yet been made.
Approximately three years ago, the VRT documented view-changing proof, that the Circulus Castellum (duae) Circumspector is attracted to shapely females of the opposing colour (see Valve's document: 'Meet the Spy' for more information). Though we've yet to actually see the mate of this Circunspector Rubeus, sightings upon contested territory has lead us to believe that this Spy as well has sought out a female of the Caeruleum, or BLU, kind. These sightings will be discussed shortly.
The Spy often infiltrates the enemy pack, and researchers have been led to believe that it is by similar means that he seeks out and seduces his chosen mate. Though the female is much aware of the male's true colouring, it stands to argue that she may be the only one with this knowledge. It is also likely that she chooses not to share knowledge about her mate with anyone else. During this time of seduction and what can only be described as a "honeymoon," the Spy will seek to visit his mate several times. Any offspring fathered will be raised by the female.
Due to the lack of identified females within the Explorator family, researchers are lead to believe that evolution has decided that there is no need for females of this species. It is very possible, though, that the Explorator females are so rare and so adept at hiding, that none has simply been witnessed and identified yet. The more accepted theory is that the Circulus Castellum (duae) Circumspector mates with females of other species to keep the bloodline strong.
The Spy will meet its offspring at least once during its birth, and likely a few times while the offspring is still too young to form a proper memory of its father. Despite this, the Spy can still identify its own offspring several years later. The child, also a male, will adapt to his mother's views, and even inherit his mothers colouring. This, and earlier made notifications of the territorial dispute, further proves that the Circunspector Rubeus we are studying now indeed has a young son within the enemy pack. At this age, the young of the Explorator family is called a Scout, or a Circulus Castellum (duae) Antecursor.
It is to be noted, that almost every offspring of a Spy will eventually seek out a pack of its own and begin a long territorial fight with a opposing pack. There lies a unproven theory that members of the Explorator family have a genetic bloodlust that will manifest itself when the Antecursor begins to reach maturity. This is a long process that may take several years.
The Scout we have spotted carries a blue colouring, which marks him as a Antecursor Caeruleum, a BLU Scout. He will carry this name and classification until reaching full maturity.
It is interesting to watch the interaction between the Spy and his offspring, as the Spy has clearly recognized and singled out his young. The Scout has left his mother's protection, and the Spy will now take a more dominant role in the Scout's life. This domination is often expressed as ruthless attacks and taunting. Some researchers argue that this is a classic "lion throwing its young off a cliff" interaction, in where the adult Spy teaches and strengthens the Scout. It is said to be a unique parenting method within the Circulus Castellum (duae) Explorator family.
During this time a strange animosity begins to form between the enemy packs' Spy and Sniper (Circulus Castellum (duae) Percussor). Up 'till now the RED Spy and BLU Sniper have had a clean dislike towards the other, but many researchers have taken note of the clear increase in hostility when the Scout joined the Caeruleum pack.
In early researches, the VRT have brought forth proof of a companionship between the Circulus Castellum (duae) Percussor and the Circulus Castellum (duae) Antecursor (see Valve's report: 'The Insult That Made a "Jarate Master" Out Of Sniper' for further details). This may be due to fatherly instinct, or a need to protect a younger pack-mate on the Sniper's part, though nothing has yet been proved on the matter. It is likely that the Spy feels threatened by the closeness between his enemy and his son, and as such sets out to cause more harm than before.
On the battlefield, surrounded by his own pack, hunting the enemy pack and hounded by the RED Spy, the BLU Scout will continue to mature. At this age, he is prideful and enjoys the attention of both pack-mates and rivals. However, this phase is only temporary, as the Scout grows, his movements will slow. When this occurs, he will be forced to seek a different means to contribute to the pack. This will become a stressful time for the Scout during which he will take on several new habits.
Eventually the Scout will leave his pack and seek out new means to live. Most Scouts have been reported to migrate all over the world when this happens. Sightings of the almost adult Scout can be made for perhaps a year or so, before the Scout disappears. Where these maturing Circulus Castellum (duae) Explorator's disappear to still remains a mystery to the researchers.
Sooner or later, however, the bloodlust passed on by the father's genes will call the young Explorator back to its pack. Now the Explorator will have matured into a adult and his former pack-mates will not recognize him, yet they will still welcome him among them. The world-wizened Circulus Castellum (duae) Antecursor has then become a adult Circulus Castellum (duae) Circumspector.
In time, the offspring of this Circumspector Rubeus will make a similar migration, and return as a Circumspector Caeruleum. He will first spend some time merely dwelling on the Caeruleum territory, but will eventually seek out a female, most likely of the Rubeus kind. And so the circle of life continues for these creatures within the Circulus Castellum (duae).
End.
Research notes:
Antecursor – Scout
Caeruleum – BLU (blue)
Castellum – Fortress
Circulus – Team
Circumspector – Spy
Duae – Two
Explorator – Both a Spy and a Scout
Percussor – Sniper
Rubeus – RED (red)