Idea: Ver Sacrum
I really like using the Roman idea of Ver Sacrum as fodder for an exploration / weird world post apocalypse story.
In times of strife or danger, a community may send a group of its youths off into the wild to preserve their culture, conquer new lands, or be subjugated. Kind of a bleak outlook, but one of those “at least our children live on” moments.
Tie that in to the kickass female community that sends out a matron, a couple skilled combatants, and a “pure” breeding male.