Valenth

Social
Leupaks are social, highly-intelligent creatures by nature. Wild leupaks are not particularly territorial, often sharing ground with other individuals with whom they frequently mingle, hunt, and share prey, regardless of gender. These social groups are called gigs.

Much like any other creature, leupak life focuses upon finding enough food to sustain the reproductive cycle. Being large beasts with intelligence equal to that of other sentient beings, they understand that working with others usually results in more prey and host creatures than working alone.

Furthermore, their cunning and boldness can be absoutely frightening. They know not only to watch prey for signs of weakness, but also to learn what certain creatures subsist on. They use such knowledge to "farm"; controlling food sources, dictating when, where, and how much food their prey has access to, as well as defending those creatures from other natural predators.
Also, on countless occasions, I have witnessed leupaks raiding nearby settlements for hosts which they will then keep alive for repeated use-- going so far as to provide their captives food and drink and even protecting them fiercely from unfriendly outsiders or would-be saviors.

Leupaks often patrol their territory searching for others to form gigs with. A gig of leupaks can contain anywhere from five to thirty leupaks of varying ages who tend their territory in unison, often assigning specific tasks to different members based on their abilities.

Periods of activity seem to vary based on gig-- I have seen some leupaks who prefer to hunt by day, others only after nightfall, and still others rising to hunt only when something draws near.

Singular leupaks coming across members of a gig will be unharmed provided they either avoid upsetting the gig's food sources or seek to join the group, approaching in submission. Attempts upon a gig's food supply are typically met with a warning display by nearby members and followed with an attack.

Leupaks new to a gig are expected to prove their worth and loyalty. How varies, but I have personally observed new members being sent off to retrieve particularly desirable prey or hosts, chasing away potential threats to the gig and its livestock and lands, or to secure new land for the gig with help from other young members.
Ultimately, the most senior members of a gig-- typically a pair or small group of three to five-- will decide whether a new leupak will be allowed to integrate.

This behavior often extends to "civilized" leupaks as well as wild-- this is the sort of mentality which houses stem from.

Hunting and Diet

Leupaks often rely upon their innate abilities to catch prey and hosts, so specific technique can vary widely between individuals.
All leupaks make use of the element of surprise, avoiding detection by a target for as long as possible before striking. A common method of attack is to propel the tongueclaw from the mouth to latch onto prey, pulling it back to the leupak where it can be grasped with the forepaws and consumed or carried away.
When dealing with sentient prey, they seek to incapacitate it before help can be alerted; generally this involves invenomation, preventing distress cries or otherwise rendering the prey unconscious.

Leupaks always prefer sentient prey for use as egg hosts, while they have no such preferences for food; easier to catch and more filling is usually better, though particular leupaks may undergo increased risk of failure in order to procure a favorite meal.

Leupaks can consume almost any organic matter, though they have a particular fondness for live or freshly-killed meat, sweets, and blood (in that order). Most leupaks will seek one of the former normally, but all leupaks periodically consume only blood for a period of a few days out of every month in order to replenish their egg supply. This habit can prove particularly eerie to settled communities near a leupak's hunting grounds, as corpses of bone-dry, shriveled and chewed-upon animals and people are often found lying in dark and cool places.

Most leupaks can easily consume two to three times their weight in a sitting if given the opportunity; such gluttony is usually followed by a day or two of rest, after which the beast shuffles off to hunt again.

Leupaks are perfectly capable of chewing their food-- however, they are also known to swallow creatures whole if particularly hungry, or if a meal is at risk of being stolen. I have seen a small number of cases in which leupaks have actively hunted others of their own species to eat.

Communication

Leupaks' native language is Mir'aa-- the language of the Fatis Mirajin, shared with the boralion dragons. They are highly intelligent, however, and capable of picking up most other languages which involve the use of a tongue and lips (though all leupaks have a distinctive accent when speaking due to the tongueclaw's structure).
In addition to spoken language, leupaks also communicate through a wide variety of vocalizations such as growls, whistles, trills, chirps, and roars, as well as extra emotion relayed through their ears.

As a rule of thumb, a leupak with ears held tilted slightly forward is relaxed and docile, while ears straight up is excited or curious. When one of the beasts lays their ears back flat against the back of the head, it would be a wise move to either make amends or a swift exit. Angry leupaks may also puff themselves up with air to seem larger than they truly are-- a gesture which may be seen as somewhat unnecessary to other sentients.

Civilized Leupaks

It should be noted that much of the behavioral study mentioned above is in reference to those leupaks who live in the wilds, outside of modern society. Civil leupaks are little different from their more "feral" counterparts, save for the restrictions of society and its rules of etiquette and law.
Many civil leupaks have devised ways to satisfy their unique needs (such as drinking donor or animal blood, for example) without breaking city laws.

Of course, there is emphasis on the "many" in that statement for hopefully obvious reason.