Full Name

Annakpok (meaning 'free' in Inuit)

Also Known As

Annak, Old Annakpok, The Ancient One

Gender

female

Age

very elderly - rumoured to be at least 15 years old when she joined the Riverside Pack in 1959

Breed

Interior Alaskan Wolf x ?

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Build, Appearance and Height

lean, strong build, very fit and flexible even when elderly; stands about 65 cm at withers; roughly five feet long, from nose to tail

Fur Colours

shades of dusty greyish-brown and beige

Eye Colours

amber and bold copper

Markings

paws and ears are darker, as is ''ruff'' around neck; has a dark, arch-shaped marking over each eye; underbelly, chest and part of neck lighter in colour; has a lighter patch of fur on each cheek close to ''ruff"

Physical Characteristics of Note

has thick fur on ears

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Family

Kelle Son of Koltav (mate - open to create); five cubs and many grandchildren

Friends

Chugiak, Elizabeth, Sasha, Issark, Niju, Britocka Nava, all Riverside Pack wolves 

Foes

a few wolves from her old clan (open to create)

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Personality 

In her younger days Annakpok was vicious, mean, and unfriendly towards strangers. But after spiritual experiences in her adult years, her hostile traits gradually lessened. Into her old age, although remaining as strong-minded and independent as she always had been, Annakpok became a much gentler wolf of great wisdom and generosity. Stubbornly however, she is not one to give anybody or anything more than one chance, unless firmly pushed - it was only because of her mate Kelle's persistent nagging that she agreed to return to the clan of her birth (see History).

 Likes

being helpful; spending time with Issark and her other fellow Riverside Pack members; telling the stories, myths and legends she knows; chewing seal blubber; sucking yolk from birds' eggs

Dislikes

being interrupted when she is speaking; cold days

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Jobs

none - holds the rank of an Elder in her current pack

Home

currently the Riverside Pack

Hobbies

searching for bird eggs to suck the yolks out of

Habits

talks herself to sleep every night (usually tells herself a story)

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Background

Born into an unpopular wolf clan known as the Moonlighters, daughter of the alpha pair

History

The Moonlighter wolves, Annakpok's clan, were violent, vicious and thieving. They seldom hunted, but stole ready-caught and -gathered food from other packs and animals. They had a bad reputation for their hostility towards any strangers - intruders on their land were set upon and mauled, if not killed. Brought up among these brutal wolves, Annakpok was no exception. She was one of the most hostile and fierce of the pack, a free-spirited and resilient youngster. Her parents thought she was very likely to become their successor.

However, that was soon to change. 

Nobody in the Moonlighter pack knew at first, but into her adult years Annakpok became ''spiritually open''. Her experiences started off with vivid dreams - usually featuring a strange male wolf called Nava. Later Annakpok began to converse freely with her spirit guide, Britocka, and was also able to talk to the Moonlighter clan ancestors, most often with her great-grandfather  Niju. Like Britocka, Niju appeared to Annakpok in different forms, usually as a seal or bird. From Niju, Britocka and Nava, Annakpok learned of moral legends and stories which her clan had long forgotten. 

Annakpok kept her spiritual awareness secret, but eventually her fellow clan members noticed a huge change in her personality - since first connecting with the dead forebears of the Moonlighter clan, Annakpok had become far less fierce. She had stopped contributing to thieving raids, and she was no longer hostile towards intruders on Moonlighter territory. 

Annakpok was shunned for being 'soft' and 'uncooperative'. Her high reputation within the Moonlighter clan sank. Before long she was ranked an omega and later kicked out of the pack altogether. She was forgotten for the many years that followed. 

Then one mid-winter, Annakpok returned with a male wolf called Kelle whom she had met during her banishment. It was Kelle, a plucky character of great bravado, who persuaded Annakpok to see if the Moonlighters would give her a second chance.

Annakpok's parents had perished of hunger, and there was dispute among the Moonlighter wolves over the rank of leadership; Annakpok and Kelle managed to avoid being driven off by the Moonlighters (who were weakened due to lack of food) and established themselves as the new alpha pair. Of course the Moonlighters were not happy about this, but they saw that Annakpok was, despite her peaceful nature,  a wise, resilient wolf. The current winter was severe and the clan needed a strong alpha, so they agreed to let Annakpok lead for the while. But plans were made to rid of her as soon as spring came - she was to whelp her first litter then, and would be vulnerable.

Spring arrived and Annakpok gave birth to five cubs. She had worked hard throughout the previous winter; although not joining any thieving raids, she had hunted food to top-up on the packs' meagre pickings. Her generosity was overlooked by still-resentful Moonlighters, who began to plan her overthrow. However, the plot was delayed, as Annakpok had won the hearts of a few young wolves, and they helped Kelle protect her from harm. Annakpok's enemies found she was gaining more and more support from Moonlighter members as time went by. But still they awaited their chance. 

Summer came. Annakpok unexpectedly handed over the rank of alpha to her enemies, stating that she and Kelle planned to form another pack elsewhere. She then left with her small family, and although they were never asked to, the majority of the Moonlighter clan followed her.

Annakpok named her new clan Wanderward, and under the guidance of Niju, Britocka and Nava, led her wolves in search of new territory, which they eventually found. The Wanderward clan, later rechristened Niju's Tribe, flourished profoundly over the years following. As she grew elderly, Annakpok again put aside her rank, passing it to a grand-daughter, and retired to search for a different life. She discovered a neighbouring clan, the Riverside Pack, into which she was welcomed.

Relation to the Balto Universe

 Annakpok is the great-granddaughter of Niju, and a friend of the deceased Nava.

Many Thanks To...

Wild Wind, for help with Annakpok's history