Rin

Name: Rin (Marina)
Gender: Female
Age: 2 yo.
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Species: Mackenzie Valley Wolf
Rank: Healer

Picture(s):
Pelt: Soft sandy undercoat, with a thick topcoat. A mesh of black and brown fur run down her back, and the tips of her ears and tail are black.
Build: Small and slim. Rin is noticeably smaller than most wolves, but not tiny. She's lean with strong muscles, and very agile.
Eyes: Hazel
Height: 71.2 cm (28 in.)
Length: 152.4 cm (5 ft.)
Weight: 70 lbs.

Personality: Rin is a bit shy and fairly reserved, but she's not off-putting. The she-wolf actually likes to be around others, immersed in the action--she just might not participate as much, is all. She's open to conversation and making friends, and when she's in the mood she'll play around. First impressions mean a lot to her, though. It's difficult to gain her trust and easy to lose it. She's most at ease when she's gathering or sorting herbs, and it's nice to do it with a friend.

Rin knows the world isn't black and white, and while she has a strong sense of justice, she's never quick to judge. She tends to avoid conflict, something she's not too proud of. Undoubtedly, Rin is a follower, but all that really means is that she'd rather not play leader. She's not sheep, and if something seems wrong she probably won't go through with it unless forced. Speaking up is harder, though. She hates being talked down to, especially when it's undeserved.

Likes: Gathering herbs, sunbathing, hunting hares
Dislikes: Conflict, fighting, being subdued or condescended to
Strengths: Anything to do with medicine and healing, quick thinking, fast runner
Weaknesses: Fighting, gets frustrated easily

History: Rin was born to the Alphas of a pack of fourteen wolves, named the Swiftwater pack for the river that bordered their territory. Her full name is Marina, but as she was learning to talk she shortened it to Rin, and the nickname stuck. With all the busyness of a large pack, and the packwolves fawning over the Alphaess's children, she found it more desirable stay in the company of her grandmother, Morgan. Morgan was the pack's Shaman, and was often away either gathering herbs or treating patients--something quiet. When Rin was three months old, Morgan took her on as her protégé. The pup took well to the work, and learned about as quickly as she grew. She loved healing, never wanted to be off the job, and mastered the hunting and combat preliminaries early simply to continue her apprenticeship. Smart as a whip, by the time she was a yearling Morgan declared her a full healer. It was the best news of her life.

The worst news came at the beginning of summer. A new pack, called Rathbone, claimed a territory near theirs. Their leaders assured peace, and negotiations for an alliance was even underway. But soon after their arrival, they ambushed the Swiftwater Alphas and a few Elites, killing them and claiming the territory for themselves. Only half of the Swiftwater pack remained, not enough to match the force of twenty wolves. They were given the choice to stay or to die. Those who stayed were integrated into the pack by blood trials: they had to prove their worth by killing one of their own.

Morgan, in her old age, died. Rin, young as she was, was spared from the trials at the word of one of the milder Rathbone betas. But in place of that, she was made omega. The meaning of that rank varied from pack to pack, but for the Rathbones it meant that she was their new chew-toy. In the coming weeks she learned how ruthless wolves could truly be. Any wolf could rough her up on a mere whim. Oh, she was allowed to fight back, but with a small frame and little fighting experience it wasn't much use. The other yearlings were especially vicious, even more so than the adults. One day they nearly took out her eye, and she slinked off to the woods to treat her wounds with herbs. The same beta that had spared her earlier saw this, and suggested to the Alpha that she be apprenticed under their lone Shaman, Nikita. The wolf was growing old and slow; they would eventually need a new one.

The Alpha agreed, and Rin found herself apprenticed once again. But Nikita's methods were different from Morgan's. Mistakes were treated with harsh nips, and she was always blamed if someone wasn't healing fast enough, or if there weren't enough herbs stocked up--things out of her control. When he wasn't snapping at her, Nikita slept all day. The bulk of the job was shifted to her, and only got worse as the weeks passed. Since there was always fighting, there was always a wolf to be healed. The pack was slowly growing with new members acquired from packs felled by the Rathbones (or rogues who wandered to close). The territory was quickly expanding as the pack amassed its empire.

Months later, another Healer joined her. She was a gray and white wolf named Lucia, a full year older than Rin. They became close friends, both damaged by the destruction of their packs. Lucia's mate and her new pups had been killed in the raid. She was almost mother-like to the younger wolf, and she needed someone to care for as much as Rin needed to be taken care of. One day, Lucia hatched a plan to escape. The warriors were planning a raid on yet another pack, the Yukons, and on that day the two would slip away and head north to the tundra. But things didn't go according to plan. Somehow, the Yukon Pack had found out about the raid, and attacked the Rathbone Pack's main territory a day early, while the wolves were sleeping. Startled and terrified, Rin hid in the medicine den, but Lucia calmly explained that in all the confusion it would be even easier to escape. So they struck out. They had nearly reached the border when a Yukon wolf slammed into Lucia's side, and Rin cried out as his jaws sunk deep into her jugular. The she-wolf was dead before she hit the ground, and Rin fainted at the sight.

When she came to, the Yukon wolves had gathered around her and other wolves from the captured packs. Most of the Rathbone wolves had been driven off, for the moment, and after intense questioning they finally figured out who among them had been the Rathbones' victims rather than true members. No one mentioned Lucia. The Yukons offered them asylum until the Rathbones could be defeated for good. Most accepted, as well as Rin. Dazed, she was led back to the Yukon camp and passed out as soon as she felt grass under her paws. The next few hours were a blur. She remembered waking up in the middle of the night and heading north, and she was still walking when she finally got her senses, and decided to continue on her own. She wanted an end to the bloodshed. She wanted to leave her past behind, for good.

Family: Morgan (grandmother, deceased); Cheza (mother, decease); Erik (father, deceased); Bear, Nora, Eliot (siblings, a/d/d)

Relationship Status: Unmated
Crush: None
Mate: None Yet
Pups: None
Best Friend: Formerly Lucia
Friends: None
Acquaintances: None
Enemies: None in Skotádi
Arch enemy: None

Endurance: 11
Agility: 13
Strength: 6

Theme Song: (None)

Oh, I must have misread the number allowed... somehow... heh. Changed to add up to 30.

Thank you!