Ruston

## Application Sheet

Ruston was a russet-furred male wolf with heavy scarring and lemon-yellow eyes. He lived in Havir until its destruction, at which time he joined his beloved mate Aphrodi in Heylguard. There, he served as a Cave Watchman. They had four pups together, via surrogate Siobhan: Eros, Livia, Khione, and Asclepius. He and Aphrodi raised their pups in Heylguard, and then departed the Domain together, never to be seen again. Ruston was created and RP'd by Uniskorne.

## Personality

* ***Outwardly Cold, Rough, and Blunt.*** Like his fur, everything about Rus seems rough and bristly. He's emotionless, sometimes not clearly responding to being spoken to or responding in such a way that makes him seem cold, distant, or uninterested. He grunts when he talks, speaking low and not wasting words. He's not one for polite conversation for conversation's sake, and he doesn't like to stay long in the presence of groups.
* ***Inwardly Respectful, Friendly, Slow to Anger, and Passionate.*** In truth, Rus is polite, respectful, friendly, slow to anger, and very passionate on the inside, but, because of his troubled past, he keeps his feelings to himself and watches what he says/how he acts towards others. Deep down, he is very protective of those he loves and yearns for family/pack acceptance. He also has a fledgling sense of religion growing within his heart. He knows something bigger than himself is out there, and he's pretty sure it's not the cruel, judgmental god of his Father.
* ***Withdrawn, Depressed, and Hurt.*** After the destruction of Havir and the subsequent physical injuries he endured, Ruston now suffers from some sort of mental disability that makes it hard to think and express himself. He finds it hard to think of words and speaks slowly and in broken phrases. This has made him depressed and a bit anti-social with everyone except his family.

## Pre-Group History

Ruston was the first son of his Father's first litter. This made him nothing special in his small pack, but, to his Father, it made him everything. He was given his Grandfather's name, and his future was, basically, laid out before him--success, privilege, and rewards. But, as he grew, Rus slowly realized he wasn't like the other males in his pack. While the other males his age began showing an interest in females and mating, he had no interest in either of those subjects, then, as he neared young adulthood, he realized he had no interest in females. He was shocked when he realized that his daydreams were filled with his peers and not the females they talked about, but he initially laughed off the feelings and thoughts he had as merely being confused. He began to overcompensate for this, becoming aggressive towards the girls of his age group. But, his efforts were for naught and he was dismayed and horrified to he realize that he was painfully, hopelessly attracted to his best friend. He fought to keep this quiet--more so than he had done before--as the beliefs of his pack stated *strictly* that being sexually attracted to your own gender was a sin, and prayed that it went away. It didn't, and he attempted to ignore his feelings, but his Father soon pieced together what was bothering his son and thrashed him in an attempt to chase away these 'inner demons'.

This did nothing but make Rus resent his Father and feel disconnected from his pack. He grew sullen and confrontational and earned himself the reputation of being a troublemaker, but, as he was a young male, no one in his pack thought much of this change in attitude. He'd find a mate and she would help him down a respectable path once again. However, before Rus could force himself to begin living this lie, a rumor of the red wolf's immorality reached the ear of the Prince. Being young and hot-headed, the Prince gathered his friends and attacked Rus and his best friend, forcing them to admit to their offenses or watch the other get beaten. His best friend was horrified, knowing nothing of the red wolf's true affections, and turned on Rus after he admitted his love and attraction to him. The red wolf was beaten and left for dead with a warning that he was considered dead to the pack (banished), that his family would be told of his death, and that he would be killed if he attempted to return home.

His Father's son died there but Ruston rose and carried his scarred body away from the only place he had known. He traveled for what seemed like an eternity, barely able to hunt for himself, exposed to the elements, and his heart bleeding (figuratively) from the belief that he was now damned. His spiritual sickness turned into a physical sickness which caused him to develop a fever and grow delirious.  During this time, he had a vision of other gods very different from his pack's singular god. Perhaps it was these gods that led his paws into Havir territory where he finally succumbed to his ill health and passed out.

## Group History

Ruston was found by one of Havir's healers, Aphrodi. When asked for a name, Ruston responded with the aforementioned name, despite not really knowing where the name came from...or why he chose to use it. Still, the name stuck. When he had recovered enough to speak to Saurugol, Aphrodi brought him to an audience with the Ade. He admitted that he hadn't intended to trespass, but he thought, perhaps, it might be for a reason, that he was spared. Saurugol pondered this, and decided to give Ruston a chance to stay.

Ruston was relieved, but openly admitted that he had an 'uncommon attraction' to males. Saurugol and Aphrodi were stunned by his openness, but assured him the gods did not care, putting Ruston's mind at ease. As the winter passed into spring, Ruston and Aphrodi began to experience feelings towards one another. Ruston eventually asked Aphrodi if he would care to be mates. Aphrodi agreed, and the pair went to Saurugol and Silvanus for their blessing.

The pair were affectionate through their courtship, and Ruston was the happiest he had ever been. He wanted to show his devotion to his pack, the pack he shared with his mate, and took the official task of Guardian.

Natural disasters began to strike the lands of the Domain, no pack as particularly often as Havir. The first, in early summer, was an earthquake. Aphrodi was panicked, but Ruston, once he was protectively shielding his mate, felt reassured and confident. When the shaking ended, he did his best to reassure his mate that everything was going to be alright...and for awhile, it was. Havir was not devastated by the earthquake.

It would be destroyed by fire.

This was a few more weeks away, however. During this time, Aphrodi had begun to worry about having a family, and suggested to Ruston that they try to ask a surrogate to father their pups. Aphrodi said he'd be willing to ask Siobhan, and do the task himself, unless Ruston wanted to - Ruston profusely denied this offer, admiring the sacrifices Aphrodi was going to make to bring them a family.

Siobhan agreed, and the pair became a trio, united by affection and love for one another, and the blossoming life in Siobhan's belly. Their happiness would be shattered by the second, and final, natural disaster to strike Havir: a meteor.

Ruston was severely burned in the fire, but he made sure to get Siobhan and Aphrodi out of the burning territory as quickly as possible, running into Koudem on the way, who'd tag along. He settled them into a small den on the territory's outskirts, and tried to reassure them that he would take care of them. He sat watch, taking note of a particularly bright star in the north, which seemed to be beckoning him. He made a note of it, when he heard Aphrodi's alarm that Siobhan was going into labor. While living in this small den, Siobhan gave birth to their four pups.

Ruston was immediately smitten by the little wolves. He vowed they would know no hunger, no pain, as long as he lived. Ruston couldn't be more thankful for Siobhan and her generosity. He tried to express this to her, but he realized that he was having a lot of difficulty formulating the words. He admitted that since the fire, something in his mind was...'mud'. He lamented that he'd never be able to explain his love to his children, but Siobhan reassured him that they'd know.

After a short time, they finally decided to name the pups. They were named Khione, Livia, Asclepius, and Eros. Three females, one male, the most precious things in the world. Ruston took the seven wolves with him to Heylguard, where they were welcomed with open arms. It was the perfect place for him - a place that prioritized mental and physical healing above all else. Yes, this was a good place for the Havirian refugees.

Sickness gripped the pack, however, and Ruston was alarmed by it. Though, fortunately, the Curse of Pajackok did not impact his small family directly, Aphrodi had been very stressed by it.

Ruston focused on tending to the pups. Each of them had different personalities, and they were aware of his struggles. However, because they never knew Ruston as different, they didn't treat him any differently. He also became aware of some of the struggles his own pups were dealing with, such as Asclepius's OCD. He worked to help Ace with this, and the unsafe way he felt as a result of certain things, and reassured his son that just because he was different, did not mean he was 'broken' or 'not normal'.

Khione also wanted to make her father proud, and Ruston told her about the incredible feats the females of Havir had been capable of. Most of the pack's betas had been females, and the best huntresses, the fastest runners, were female. Khione was determined to be the best wolf in Heylguard, to make her parents proud!

But like all pups, the four of Ruston's grew up, and they wanted to experience new things. Livia and Eros wanted to leave the pack, and Aphrodi escorted them to Highvalley, where they wanted to live. While they were gone, Asclepius left the pack as well, determined to be the best Asclepius he could be...leaving just Khione in the pack. When Aphrodi returned, he and Ruston decided to leave as well - to leave the pack with its sickness and dismay, and find a place where the two of them could live their happily ever after.

And so, the loving husbands left the Domain, never to be seen again.

## Trivia

* The whitish scars all over his body were from burns, sustained while fleeing the wildfire which consumed Havir.
* Like other beings with PTSD, he is unable to look anyone in the eyes and will constantly look to the side or down when speaking for long periods of time. This is all done unconsciously and is his way of protecting himself from being harshly judged and hurt.

## Quotes

* ”Ade, the river brought me here…It was not my…*conscious choice* to come here. God...perhaps, *your Gods*...it could only be some Higher Power what saved me by bringing me here, for I did not bring myself.” (to Saurugol, *Flame and Frost*)
	+ ”You have my loyalty and my gratitude, AdeSaurugol. And, when my body has returned to its former capability, you will also have my service and strength. This, I vow!” (from *Flame and Frost*)
* "High Priest, before the Gods delivered me unto Havir's welcoming den, I knew nothing of love. I know this now. I mistook idle attraction for heartfelt love, and I know now how wrong I was. I...I wake wanting Aphrodi by my side. I see the wind rustle the needles of the trees and think of Aphrodi. I have fears at night of him being hungry, lonely, sick, or injured...or...worse...and my heart bleeds. I...I...I feel empty right now without him by my side! But, I do not feel weak because of this realization. He is my strength. He breathes and I live. Apologies, High Priest--not for my passion, no, but for raising my voice in your presence." (to Silvanus, requesting permission to be mates with Aphrodi, *Walking the Path*)

## External Links

* Official Application Sheet
* Uniskorne's deviantART Gallery