Character Name: Morrigan

Age: Nine months.

Gender: Female

Species: Timber Wolf

Appearance: Still stuck in the awkward stage of puppyhood where she has yet to grow into her body, Morrigan lacks the long-limbed grace of an adult, but has shed most of her puppy fur in favour of a darker, more protective pelt by now. Her fur is mostly dark grey, dappled with a range of lighter shades and shot with silvery grey, most prominent in the thick fur around her neck and shoulders. Lighter grey tones dust the fur around her nose and her underside, though her tail and paws approach a solid black, making them look as if she dipped them in ink. Her fur helps her against those who rely on sight, as the mottling of various shades breaks up her outline when hiding in the dark. Her eyes have long since changed from the blue of a truly young pup to the gold of an older one, though her eyes have a deeper, ruddy hue that makes her stare look penetrating, even when she is just following the path of a particularily appealing butterfly. At this stage, with her limbs out of proportion to her still growing body, it is impossible to tell if she will end up sturdy or slender of build.

Personality: Morrigan might have been confident, even arrogant, if her circumstances had been different. However, they are not, so instead of being carefree, she is both suspicious and weary, having found out just how unfair the world is at a very early age. She would not have survived as she did without being quick-witted, but it sacrificed her willingness to relax and trust in others. She is quite perceptive, and has a tendency to distance herself from what's happening unless it involves, or could potentially involve her. She is no stranger to being abandoned, and though she welcomes company of others, she is somewhat at a loss of what to do around others, especially when she isn't sure if she can trust them or not.

She can and will play and frolic like a normal pup - but only does so as a release of energy and tension. She does it for the exercise, not fun. As well, when compared to others her age, she doesn't share their curiosity or exuberance - the things in the world can be divided into things that will hurt her now, or could possibly hurt her, and even wolves fall neatly into such classification. She could easily be seen as selfish, but her experience of the world is that everyone else is, and to survive, one must care more about themselves than others. Thus, she is focused on her own safety, and could care less about anyone else, if only because what drives her isn't ambition or greed, but simply the need to cling to life for just a bit longer. However, at the core is the deeply rooted belief that she is misfortune born in the shape of a wolf, and that not only is she bad luck to others, but that her death is owed to winter, and eventually winter will claim it.

Likes: Being by herself, stargazing, eating, the feeling of the breeze on her fur, running through dew-drenched grass, lying in the sun.

Dislikes: The sound of howling, crowds, long conversations with more than one person at a time, dreams, winter.

History: Morrigan was an oddity, born alive, and not still-born during the winter, to a small pack of wolves that roamed between territories when the pickings became lean. The alpha, after the first surprise of his pup being alive, was disappointed that she was both female and a runt - not meant to survive the last fangs of winter, surely. And survive she did, but barely, and only because the pack had already lost a few members to the bad luck that seemed to be plaguing them. Morrigan was told blatantly that she was not welcomed as a change in that luck, and there were no expectations set for her. The wolves were determined to spare themselves more grief, and assumed she would eventually give up and die.

A larger wolf pack eventually forced them out of their usual range - but the misfortune followed them: droughts and famines would blight the areas they traveled through, forcing them onward, lightning would strike and start forest fires, normally solitary bears would congregate and attack them if they accidentally entered their ranges... It went on and on, until her parents and one hunter were all that remained, as those that weren't wounded badly simply left, wanting to ensure that the bad luck didn't stick to them as well. Her mother decided that it would be best for the hunter to part ways, taking Morrigan with him, and if the mated pair survived, they could try to reform a pack the next year, with a litter of healthy pups.

The hunter escorted her part of the way, but was caught in a trap. Though he got free, the wound left behind became infected, and Morrigan, desperate to live, finally abandoned him, knowing an injured lone wolf could attract dangerous attention. Panicked and unable to think clearly, she eventually stumbled, exhausted, into the territory of the Yamamori...