Akuto

Two Brothers (NPCs)

## Application Sheet

Akuto is a silver-gray she-wolf with blind misty-green eyes and a notable scar across her left eye. Originally serving as an Apprentice Medic in Vale, she left the pack to live as a loner until reaching the high mountains of the far west. There, she was the founding alpha of a revived Tentaka, which she led for many seasons until she died in the eruption of Ascension Peak. She was created and RP'd by Fireshrike.

Her familiar was Michael, a northern saw-whet owl.

## Personality

* ***Blunt*.** Akuto will tell you the truth, whether you like it or not.  With those she cares about, though, the bluntness will morph into simple honesty.  The she-wolf cares about the truth, and would rather find and solve the real problem than dance around it.
* ***Loyal*.** Steadfast and hardy, Akuto's will and commitment is unbending.  She is a friend for life.
* ***Scrappy*.** Though finally having a stable life has done wonders for her, Akuto remains small and wiry, with an attitude to match. She isn't afraid to challenge something she disagrees with.
* ***Playful*.** Even the formal atmosphere of Tentaka won't stop her from (affectionately) poking fun at her packmates sometimes.
* ***Perceptive and Quick-Thinking.*** Akuto will shift back and forth from lackadaisical to serious, depending entirely on the moment. She perceives before she judges, waiting for the moment in which a target gives themselves away before she makes a call. Calculating and opportunistic, next to nothing escapes her perception, possessing a survivalist's instinct. Though her blindness is still a setback, she knows how to utilize the rest of her senses to their peak performance, and then does so. The she-wolf is quick-thinking, light on her feet and decisive, with an agile wit as scathing as sandpaper.
* ***Partially Empathetic.*** What she has lacked in the past, however, was empathy and a true concern for others. Having lived and learned to survive above all else, little room was left for others in her life. Few friends, few connections, few concerns. But after her attempted suicide and "resurrection", and all the wolves she has met since, she has gained a clarity in her life she previously did not possess. No longer so hyperfocused on her own survival, a larger place in her heart can now be given to others.  She will reach out to those close to her - or even complete strangers - if she senses they are struggling with something she did, because she understands. She's been there, she's lived it, she's fought it, and she wants to help - Akuto wants no one else to go through what she has. And if they can find the same peace she has without the terrible risk it took her to achieve it, she will do everything in her power to help them do so.
	+ Though she struggled with empathy in the past, since her "resurrection", she has worked hard on it, and exercises it regularly with her fellow Tentakans (to the best of her ability). Akuto deeply appreciates her packmates: the ones who have chosen to remake Tentaka into reality with her. Though previously skeptical of everyone else, and reluctant to socialize, her pack alone has found itself in her heart when nothing else has. She enjoys spending time with the wolves and Tentaka and acts with playful sarcasm and tender leadership, not afraid to put her paw down when the situation demands it, but not rude about it either.  She tailors as best as possible her reactions to the different members, keenly aware of her own experience and how deeply words and actions can influence another, particularly when vulnerable. The wolves of Tentaka are the ones who have made her new life possible, and they mean the world to her.
* ***Private and Enigmatic.*** Enigmatic, private, and sometimes even solemn, Akuto is an engaging leader, but even her closest betas may not know her true self. She keeps her past staunchly hidden from all who know her, with few exceptions, and only guesses can be made in regards to her life before Tentaka. On the rare moments when caught alone, she may seemed weighed down, or lost in thought - upon questioning, however, Akuto might not try to hide her state, but will refuse to share. The denial is not usually unkind, but is adamant nonetheless. Akuto is steadfast but not uncaring, and maintains a friendly - if private, and often sarcastic - attitude around her pack.  Outsiders, however, will be met with ferocity and a merciless cunning wit.

## Pre-Group History

Akuto originally lived with her small family, which consisted of her parents and two older siblings from a former litter, as a bit of a informal pack.  Her family was very close-knit.  As such a tiny group, they were no strangers to hunger, nor cold, nor weariness - but their bond was very strong, and that relationship was what kept them together.  Because of their trials, they learned how to stay close to each other and work in harmony.  That said, Akuto was always a bit of a rebel.  She needed room to stretch her legs and express herself and her individuality.  Though her family loved her dearly, her need for freedom conflicted with her family's need for harmony.  One day, enraged by her perceived lack of independence, she ran away.  She was only 5 months old, so naturally the escapade didn't last long: it soon sank in that she didn't have her parents with her, and despite her classic determination to run away she quickly became scared and cried for her parents.  Since her stubby puppy legs hadn't carried her very far, they found her quickly.  However, the reunion was short-lived.  A large mountain lion - summoned by Akuto's howls - attacked the group, and though Akuto's father and her older siblings fought ferociously, because of their poor health none of them were able to do more than delay.  Akuto and her mother escaped, but at the cost of the others' lives.

Her mother tried her hardest to keep them both alive without the others, and Akuto aided as much as she could, but months passed.  It was late fall when the two were separated from their pack, and neither of them were healthy. They lived alone in the wilderness, and faced all of the struggles that entailed.  The weeks turned to months, and the chill in the air turned to bitter snow.

By spring, Akuto had reached her ninth month of life, but by then she was alone. Her mother had died in a vicious and bloody battle with a lone wolf several weeks prior.  Akuto escaped, but she was given two long scars across her left eye as a mark of her newfound freedom. After all, that's what she'd always wanted, right?

Several more months passed before Akuto found her way to Vale, and by this point her true nature had been covered by a hard outer shell in order to protect herself and cope with her profound loss and pain.

## Group History

When she arrived at the borders of Vale, she was discovered by Wren. Wren initially warned her off, as an intruder, but seeing Akuto's pathetic state, she grew more gentle and welcomed the young she-wolf into the pack, to be tended to by medics. Wren fetched Faust so that he could judge Akuto's level of help-or-hindrance to the pack, and Akuto stated her case plainly, and assured him that if they didn't want her, she would be able to care for herself elsewhere (though it seemed more braggadocio than reality, as she was severely malnourished and injured). Still, Faust was willing to take her in, on the condition she learn some healing abilities from Wren and settle for being a Medic. Outraged by this, Akuto turned inward and bottled up her anger at this turn of events, offending Wren to a degree. She didn't *want* to be a Medic - that's not her skill-set, and she wants to be a *hunter.* She wants to *be herself.*

She settled begrudgingly into duties as Wren's apprentice. She didn't like the fragrances of some of the herbs, and loathed that she didn't have a choice in the matter of which task she took. She admitted her frustrations and fears to Wren one day, and Wren explained to her that settling in as an Apprentice Medic was Faust's way of seeing if she could fit into the pack, and said she could speak to Faust about her changing tasks to better use her skills.

Akuto joined a party assembled to get rid of a rabid bear that invaded the territory, brought in because she was training as a healer, and they needed one in case matters went wrong. She was frustrated to not participate in the fight, though after witnessing the fight, realized that the cacophony of howls and sounds, and the scents of overpowering bear and blood, would have made it difficult to participate in the fight. She stood back, and when the bear was killed, worked on healing her packmates - particularly Brunhilda and Orson - from their injuries.

When Wren discovered that she was pregnant, she desperately sought reassurance that Akuto would be able to replace her as Vale's Medic. Akuto, unfortunately, missed several questions when Wren sprung a pop quiz on her, and the pair got into an argument, resulting in Akuto fleeing the scene. When she left, she found herself throwing a temper tantrum in a pond, reflecting, and realizing that she needed to take control of her own fate. So, she returned home and apologized to Wren.

She continued to isolate herself from her Valerian packmates. Loki approached her, asking about how the bear attack went, and Akuto, wanting to be left alone, was terse and relatively uncooperative with the dark male. She spoke to Notah about the bear attack, too, in more depth - he wanted to know how she managed to land so squarely on the shoulders of the bear, and she went more in-depth about her heightened senses. She admitted that she *hated* being a Medic, hated having the lives of other wolves in her paws, and really wanted to be a hunter. Notah pondered this, then told her that he'd put in a good word with Faust.

She nearly got in trouble for crossing over the borders, though. She crossed out of Vale's territory into unclaimed lands while hunting, and met a wolf from Vektren named Veron. Veron told her that he was a killer of wolves, from Vektren, and Akuto, puzzled by this, took her leave of him, fortunately without getting into a fight. The pair would meet on occasion, unable to get one another off their minds, curious about life and loss in the other's past. She felt that he was a friend - something she felt she was truly lacking in Vale, apart from Wren.

When Renier overthrew Faust and took over, Akuto approached Wren and asked if it was true, what she'd done. When Wren confirmed that she'd been in a secret relationship with Ren, Akuto assured her mentor that she wasn't angry, and didn't hate her. But there was nothing left for her in Vale, after this, and so, the two said goodbyes, and Akuto departed from Vale.

She met Rhaegan while wandering alone. Neither had much hope for the future, but while talking, Akuto thought maybe, just *maybe*, hope wasn't such a bad thing. She never learned his name, though. She was also tailed by Joseph the fox for a time, but she continually tried to ditch him.

Living alone wasn't as great as she thought. She found herself missing the company of Vale often, and wrestled with doubts about whether or not she *could* even go back - if they'd take her. Her pride wouldn't let her admit she was wrong, but...maybe she was?

Akuto was traveling on her own for nearly four moons, over a season, yet despite her wandering, found nothing that she originally set out for. The wind, once right on her tail, seemed to be abandoning her. She felt guilt and regret over leaving Wren when she needed Akuto most, and struggled daily to find conviction that what she has done was right. Additionally, the harsh weather of the great plains southwest of Vale took a great toll on her, and Akuto's state of health returned to what it was before she found Vale.

Sure, she met a few wolves on her travels, like Sparrow and Elia, but she was unwilling to trust, unwilling to form anymore friendships. None would be like the one she had with Wren.

She decided to return to Vale.

But everything was different. She was greeted by Loki, who was stunned to see her, and informed her that Wren and Renier were both gone. Mortified by the loss of her only friend, she left, unwilling to rejoin the pack without Wren there. She was *shattered* by Wren's loss. And in her most desperate hour, she tried to take her own life, flinging herself from a cliff into a river.

She survived. She was found by a loner who offered to take her to see fireflies, to try and reassure her of the magic in the world - to which she bluntly told him that she was blind. He tried to assure her a different way, explaining that she really ought to follow her heart, her conscience, and do what it was telling her to do - to live her best life. And then he left.

She spent a few days pondering over what his words meant, what her life meant, and after those few days, she realized - she could start again. Start anew. And so she did, traveling far to the west, with a world of possibilities in front of her. First, she came upon Heylguard, which was suffering from a plague, and she offered to see if she could help, when Kestrel explained the situation. Next, she was near Highvalley, and encountered Edythe, desperately needing help after being attacked by a mountain lion - Akuto intervened there as well. She even met Shiloh, who saved her from a flash flood! She stayed for a meal and to recover from nearly drowning, but opted to continue her journey to the west.

And then, she discovered strange things in the mountains: a carving in the dirt which seemed to represent wolves...and a volcano; a stick with markings in it, jammed into the dirt; whispers of a place long-gone. Tentaka.

While in this area, she met Rudyard. Rudyard, completely inept as a hunter, asked for some help hunting, and Akuto agreed, working to be a better wolf since her 'rebirth'. She also met with Hayes, and saw the return of a familiar figure - Rhaegan.

Akuto set about building the pack. She recruited several members - or, rather, they found their way to her. She was welcoming, eager to help wolves join her pack, for it was new, but rooted in traditions that were much older than any living wolf. Amongst the early wolves to join her were Kuro, Rudyard, Rhaegan, Hayes, and Flama.

Akuto would learn about the old pack Tentaka from a variety of its descendants, though they numbered few: Meiling, Flama, and Moriko among them. She grew closer to other wolves in the pack, too, as time passed - like Qiang and Yuuzai.

An earthquake racked Tentaka, and Akuto was terrified for what might have become of her packmates. Fortunately, most of them were unharmed.

Akuto would learn more secrets about the territory as time passed. One of her wolves reported word of a wind beneath Ascension Peak, and a Tentakan patrol, led by Akuto, went to see what was beyond the ashen gale. What they discovered were the grim remains of Old Tentaka: the charred bones of ancient Tentakans, preserved in volcanic ash. This place, The Ancestral Den, became a sacred place.

One day, Akuto would meet Michael - a tiny Northern Saw-Whet Owl - who decided to become her personal attendant. She had to admit, it was nice to have another pair of eyes (or, rather, *a* pair of eyes) to help her along with the rest of her senses. Though initially she was wary of him, because owls were sacred birds to Tentakans, she couldn't rightly be rude to him, or send him away. The two grew closer as they spent more time together, however.

Akuto continued to guide her pack, though she feared that she might not be the best leader. Her past - and the past of Tentaka - haunted her greatly.

The past came back to bite.

The volcano at the heart of the territory, Ascension Peak, unleashed a mighty roar, and erupted one horrific day in autumn. Many of the Tentakans were able to escape, but Akuto, stalwart in her position as caretaker of Tentaka, remained behind, ultimately losing her life in the eruption. There are rumors that her spirit still guards the ancestral lands of Tentaka, immovable as the mountain itself.

## Trivia

* Akuto was born blind, and as such the rest of her senses are heightened and highly sensitive.
* She's generally uninterested in romantic engagements, though there's potential for something to happen someday.

## Quotes

* “Even when all there is is death, sometimes...a little bit of hope lives on. Maybe this wasteland isn’t as dead as you think." (to Rhaegan, *Solitude*)
* "That's all we've got. I don't know what your beliefs are, but thing is, we only get this opportunity once. So, please....live your life to the fullest. Do what you know you need to do. Follow your heart and learn to be true to yourself, and to what your conscience is telling you. It knows what it's doing. And please...whatever you do, even if you don't take the rest of my advice...don't try it again." (the loner to Akuto after her suicide attempt, *Sunrise*)
* “We don’t *claim* the Valley, its energy protects us. It’s our home, and in exchange, we respect the life and beauty it provides. This is the realm of the spirits, the realm of Tentaka. *Nobody* owns the Valley. The Valley owns *itself* - we're merely privileged enough to live alongside it." (to Kleio, *Beyond the Veil*)

## External Links

* Official Application Sheet
* Fireshrike's deviantART Gallery