Novak

Nika (Sister)

Keezheekoni (Adoptive Mother)

## Application Sheet

Novak was a small, white male wolf with gray markings and pinkish eyes. He and his sister, Nika, were rescued from their birth pack in a Damasca raid led by Vargas, and were raised lovingly by Keezheekoni, though Novak never felt in place in Damasca. When Nika left the Domain to explore, he decided to join her, and neither has been seen since. Novak was created and RP'd by JLMarts.

## Personality

* ***Careful, Cautious, and Jumpy.*** Opposing to his sister's firecracker personality, little Novak is more on the careful side. He certainly wishes to excel in something someday, but for now he's always watching out for dangers and, to be frank, he's great at finding those in just about any situation possible. Chasing insects? Too dangerous! Swimming? Too dangerous! Pranking superiors? Too dangerous! And as if his cautious nature wasn't enough, he's also very easy to scare. He'll flinch at every sudden sound and if there's one thing he doesn't like it's surprises. His jumpiness became a lot more dominant after Vargas *rescued* Nika and him from their birth pack.

* ***Protective, but Dependent and Shy.*** Although he's not the strongest of personalities, Novak is incredibly protective over his sister even if he's too shy to speak up. If he was to voice his opinion though, it's likely when others talk down on someone or something he deems important. Maybe due to their capture or possibly just because he loves Nika a lot, Novak clings to her whenever he can. He's very dependent on her and will usually ask for her advice before making decisions.
* ***Prejudiced and Suspicious.*** One thing to keep in mind is that Novak has been taught important life lessons about foreign packs, one of which was Damasca. He's learned about the dangers awaiting him in these places and therefore became strongly prejudiced as a result. His suspicion towards just about anyone in Damasca will be hard to break, for he not only has heard about this monstrous pack, but now has experienced living proof of how they kidnapped him from his parents. Little does he know Gonggoji's sadistic lifestyle is not the standard other packs live by.

## Pre-Group History

Novak's story begins even before he was born, for his destiny would be shaped by the actions of his parents prior to his birth. His father was the alpha of Gonggoji and with this honor came great responsibility. Though to the pack's disadvantage diplomacy was a weakness of both the alpha and his direct subordinates. Usually they weaseled their way around foreign relations by tricking other packs into fake trades, but when they approached a pack named Damasca to exploit their resources they started a battle that was destined to be lost.

After receiving their side of the trade Gonggoji moved to another of their familiar yet hidden grounds to avoid confrontation, living there for several months without being found out. During this time the alpha's main mate offered opportunity in form of an upcoming litter, which was celebrated greatly. In the past only other females flocking around the alpha had fallen pregnant by him, though none of their children were officially heir-worthy. Just weeks after the great announcement a litter of two was born and from the moment they met the light of day, it was clear the twins were going to be Gonggoji's pride.

From day one Novak and Nika grew up knowing they were special. This knowledge brought the two closer together than anyone would imagine. Barely was either of them ever seen on their own and whenever one of them decided to leave their mother's den, the other one followed like a shadow. Time passed quickly and before they knew it the Ceremony of Flesh awaited the children: A tradition to celebrate the pups' survival up until the point where they grew independent from their mother's nurture. As a sign of their strength each pup were to be marked by the alpha through scarification - a great honor!

For Nika and Novak this day was reached shortly after their third full moon and up until a certain point in the ritual everything went on as planned. Little did the pack know of the ambush planned by the betrayed Damascan wolves, who had finally made out Gonggoji's location. What was meant to be a raid for resources soon turned into a self proclaimed rescue mission however, as the Damascan alpha Vargas witnessed how Nika's face was cut open to mark her for life. The cruelty of such act overshadowed Damasca's desire for revenge and before Gonggoji realized its situation, the raid targeted the two heirs instead of only goods and chattels.

To Novak this very day sticks clearly as not only a kidnapping but also the interruption of the Ceremony of Flesh. He didn't realize Vargas and his subordinates rescued him from a pack of sadistic psychopaths, but instead sees the opportunity of being an heir taken from him. Despite the gentle treatment they received upon their arrival in Damasca Novak has a strong feeling of not belonging there.

## Group History

Handed over to Keezheekoni as a foster mother, Novak and Nika were happily accepted into the pack. However, Novak was not happy to be there, as aforementioned. He was cautious and untrusting of his new packmates, and worried excessively over his sister and her behaviors, especially because she *wasn't* nervous. He followed her just about everywhere, trying to be a voice of reason to temper his sister's adventurous personality, warning her not to eat strange bugs or wander off, but usually this just meant he went along with her.

When he did stray outside his comfort zone, he often regretted it. Once he ate a piece of poisoned prey Soulstorm had left as a trap (not for him). He was sickened by it and went to Soulstorm for herbs, not knowing she'd been the poisoner.

He was pretty reserved and quiet, hanging in the background of Damasca pack life as he grew from pup to juvenile, and from juvenile to young adult. But when Nika decided that Damasca wasn't the place for her, and she wanted to spread her wings and explore the world, Novak was shattered to be left behind.

He tarried over his decision, but eventually decided that he needed to go find Nika, and join her in her travels, because she was his sister, and meant the world to him. And so, he left Damasca, and the Domain, to be reunited with Nika.

## Trivia

* Thanks to his nickname he *does* like rats and he views the title "Rat Boy" as a compliment.
* The small marking under his chin from one corner of the mouth to the other tends to visually exaggerate his expressions.
* Nika and him are very close and from Novak's point of view they are almost like one being.
* Novak is jealous about Nika already having been marked by their father.
* Novak is a healthy little pup with no issues other than the obvious clumsiness and being easily scared. Unlike his sister he hasn't been marked during their birth pack's ceremony, leaving him without scars. The fact he's been taken from home however does stick to him and his mental health could be described as slightly damaged through this experience. Furthermore one thing worth noting is that despite his physical health, Novak is pretty weak and lacks body tension.
* Nika and Novak's original pack - Gonggoji - was a pack originally occupied by another of JLMarts's characters, Remus! He was long gone from that pack by the time the siblings were born, however.

## Quotes

* "Are you sure...? I don't think that's safe-" (to Nika, *Concerns* - and also on a regular basis)

## External Links

* Official Application Sheet
* JLMarts's deviantART Gallery