Lyza

Shiloh (Grand-Niece)

## Application Sheet

Lyza was a black and reddish-furred she-wolf with yellow eyes. She was born and raised in Riverfell as the eldest daughter of the pack's alphas, the older sister to Saerian the Bold (NPC). Shiloh, current alpha of Riverfell, is her grand-niece. She was seen as one of the wisest wolves in Riverfell, and tragically lost her life during the Hive Wars. She was created and RP'd by SilverPocky.

## Personality

* ***Manipulative and Charming (but not for Ill).*** Lyza has lived a long life and has learned exactly what she wants from it and from the wolves around her, because of this she has no problem "encouraging" individuals and setting up scenarios to get the outcome that suits her. She is very much a controlling lady, though usually her manipulations are mutually beneficial and not meant to cause harm. Her "encouragement" was learned during her youth; Lyza’s beauty and rank made her quite the head-turner and while age has lessened this, it isn't hard for Lyza to sweeten a room with her words and movements. As a wolf of riverfell she mastered the art of dancing quite well and has no trouble using her grace to charm those around her. Despite her manipulative tendencies, she truely has a caring heart and feels very deeply for others however, Lyza is uncomfortable with being too emotional or vulnerable so she masks this through sassy remarks and quips (those close to her can see through the act.)
* ***Serious and Straightforward.*** As Lyza matured she learned to be more aware of the world around her and is a more serious individual. Her smirks and nagging advice is very prevalent but she has little room in her heart for mercy against those who may (or may have) wronged her. As much as she empathize with others, she *loathes* her enemies and commits to that feeling in an attempt to keep her heart safe. She is a "shoot first, ask questions later" sort of wolf and doesn't plan to change that.
* ***Stubborn.*** Similarly, as her opinions are often unchanging so is her mind, Lyza is not a wolf easily swayed and has a very hard headed nature. She is quite happy to dish out advice anytime, solicited or not, but due to experiencing so much in her life she subconsciously feels she knows enough and doesn't take suggestions from others very well. Attempts at changing her beliefs usually must be accompanied by heaps of proof and many wolves has simply given up on telling the old girl anything.
* ***Wise, and an Excellent Storyteller.*** Although she is a bit overconfident in her knowledge, it is backed by the fact that she *has* experienced a lot and has many stories and truths to offer younger generations. Lyza's favorite pastime is spent telling tales to her packmates, it is during these times were she really shines, bringing her stories to life with her excitement and vivid recollections.

## Pre-Group History

From her birth it was clear that Lyza was an unusual one, she came into the world screaming and this habit never died as she developed speech and became quite the talkative and opinionated young lady. As the first born daughter of the Alpha's of Riverfell, Lyza wanted for nothing and was so well provided for it was near impossible for her not to become spoiled. The same could be said for her younger brother Saerian, whom she happily shared the spotlight and attention with. For some time as she grew from pup to juvenile Lyza didn't understand the truths of her world and felt no goal was too lofty for her, even proclaiming to her parents that one day she would be a great leader of Riverfell. At the time the alphas looked at one another with concern and left what was unsaid to be addressed when the pups were older, but Lyza as young as she was, was no fool. She stalked her parents that night and though she didn't catch much she heard enough to cause her worry for the first time in her life.

"How will we tell her Saerian will be our heir? A female can nev-"

Lyza didn't listen to the rest she turned and tore through the wooded camp, stopping only when she reached her families den. Her brother's sleeping form was the first thing to welcome her and she peered at his face with...jealousy. Saerian? No. There was still plenty of time for their talents to shine, it was too early for her parents to tell. Lyza held steady to that belief as she and Saerian worked to find their place among their packmates. Despite her spoiled nature she was naturally outgoing and open to others, absorbing lessons as readily as possible and showing promising aptitude for hunting. Similarly her brother had also begun to develop and honed talents of his own, but he did not have Lyza's charisma and was more challenging and bold with their elders. Lyza found her brother's attitude to be distasteful, but their doting tutors simply took his behavior in good humor, even giving the male a nickname "Saerian the Bold".

As the siblings aged this nickname followed, and while at first it was barely an annoyance, Lyza soon began to despise it. Saerian's mannerisms were seen as bold, but if she ever questioned to much, or pushed to hard she was reprimanded. Her brother's nickname became a constant reminder that he had allowances she didn't, he had their parent's favor and she didn't; but rather than act on her envy the budding young adult distanced herself and devoted her heart into the task of a hunter. Lyza was surprisingly successful despite the fact that she was not the largest or most powerful, nor was she the swiftest, but she was great at organizing and strategy. After countless hours of training with her fellow hunters she was keenly aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the others and herself. And as the outspoken lady she was known to be, there was little protest when she petitioned to be promoted to a Senior Hunter. Lyza took her responsibilities seriously and was quite good at her job, but she found it hard to turn a blind eye to the taunting looks she swore some males, including her brother had whenever she was made to serve them a meal. The requests became more frequent shortly after Saerian had earned his title as a member of the Gold Feathers, to Riverfell this task was celebrated and highly respected. The task was famed for being a lot of work and thus required more rations, even Lyza didn't have a problem with it at first until she caught her brother and a few others simply lazing around. Jokingly Lyza approached her brother and called that lazy wolves didn't get extra food, she had never been particularly close with Saerian but it wasn't uncommon for the siblings to swap jabs between each other. But today was different. Her brother's posse looked bewildered while his face contorted in anger, Lyza faltered a bit at the reaction and stood back when he charged toward her. The two argued, Saerian demanding the respect he believed was due, and Lyza snapping back that she was just as notable as he was, this elicited a condescending chuckle from her brother who clearly saw differently. His sister may be a good hunter, but that was all she would ever be; a wolf made to serve *him*, Lyza's pride burned hot as she denied the venom her sibling's words brought. There was one thing he said however that she could not deny, their parent's choice would be the deciding factor.

"you'll see soon."

For once Lyza had no comeback, she stood shocked before stalking off, feeling a distant but familiar burning. Her childish determination to beat Saerian and be named Riverfell's future alpha had been a distant memory, but when the day came and it was officially announced that Saerian would soon take charge, Lyza felt nothing but disgust. She stormed from the announcement confused and infuriated, though she could admit that her brother was not a lessser wolf and that he was talented and well respected; He was *not* her. Lyza looked out for the pack, providing and caring for them daily, she spoke the wisdom of the elders her sibling had turned a challenging voice to. She was a *better* leader, but it was then that the truth she'd tried to ignore came to the forefront, she was a female. She could be as accomplished a hunter as she wanted, but she was not a son and no female had ever been the head of Riverfell so why would she be the first?

Lyza had hoped in vain that effort would be the factor her parent's judged by, but it had always been Saerian. Despite the shame she felt within, the she-wolf begrudgingly accepted her brother's leadership and never brought a challenging word up to him again...Instead she used her actions. Lyza would not take her loss silently, and while she never disobeyed Saerian, here and there she would 'forget' he'd asked for the search of red meat and would return with fowl. She'd promised him a fresh meal and claim all the group could find was carrion. It was petty nips, Lyza knew that but she was not a woman easily scorned. Luckily her greatest revenge was the adoration she felt for her newborn nephew Pyre, his bright silver and red pelt proclaimed their relations easily, and as soon as the young prince could talk Lyza was there playing with him and conversing whenever she was free of her duties. It was an annoyance but not particularly troublesome to Saerian that his son spent time with his aunt, but as soon as Pyre was old enough the pair was made to see each other less and less as the young prince began his lessons to become Riverfell's next leader.

It was heartbreaking for Lyza to lose her time with him having come to love the little heir quite deeply, but she understood and hoped the ambition and righteousness she'd preach to him would follow through to adulthood. Now left with only her responsibilities, Lyza felt a nagging emptiness within herself and wondered what it was that left her so unsatisfied. At the suggestion of her aging parents she began to wonder about the possibility of having a family of her own to nurture, but to do so Lyza would need a mate. The idea made her stomach fill with dread, she'd never paid much attention to males in that way and her youth flashed again before her eyes, what if all the males were similar to Saerian in their values? She couldn't live with that! The she-wolf had started to resign herself to remaining single when a pair of particular pelts crossed her eye, she had passively been watching the Gold Feathers train when the tan pelt of Magnus (then Morgan) and silver steaks of Noah stood out to her eye. She knew little of the males, hearing bits and pieces about them from the medic Rose whenever Lyza visited to have an injury treated.

Interested in the topic the Senior Hunter visted the medic more and more often for idle gossip, it made Lyza feel giddy to speak of crushes and handsome pelts with her newly made friend. They bonded over their apparent preference for Morgan, but when it became clear that Rose was deeply in love with the wolf, Lyza swallowed her own budding feelings and encouraged her friend to step forward. Similarly she would approach Noah and they both vowed to do their best, quite excited to later to declare to one another that they'd succeeded in making their interests mutual. Eventually Lyza became officially mated to Noah, while she watched a bit forlorn but happy for her friend as Rose and Morgan paired.

Though in the best terms she'd settled for Noah, he proved to be a better male than Lyza had previously believed, he never expected her to provide for him and felt every successful hunt she brought back was a gift. He gave her the space she needed to be an individual and never made her feel as if she was lesser to him, it made Lyza's heart warm and in her own way she loved him. After sometime the pair mutually agreed to try for a litter and she looked anxiously to her friend Rose who had already birthed a litter of her own. Lyza was not a gentle wolf and she worried quite heavily that her rough habits and duties would hurt her growing pups. Being the healer she was Rose took patient care of her anxious friend and Lyza took a short break from her task. Every precaution was taken to ensure a safe delivery but when the time came the huntress was met with still bodies, heartbroken she retreated inward and seemed to take on an almost vegetative state, she wouldn't eat, barely drank. The depression persisted so much that Saerian was forced to retire his sister from her task, but the news barely elicited a response from the she-wolf. The only ones who seemed to get through to her were Rose and Noah, and eventually the pair finally convinced Lyza to leave her prison to watch as Rose's young daughter Kara was accepted as a Gold Feather. It was a phenomenon never before occurring in the pack and that small victory brought a spark back to Lyza's eye. Females were finally being allowed to flourish and fight as she had wanted to do all those years ago; in that moment Kara became a signal of hope and pride to Lyza and was just the motivation the she-wolf needed to work on recovering her own health.

In her self-inflicted confinement Lyza's body had weakened, and it would take weeks for her to even begin to regain the strength she previously held. Luckily Noah having now retired from the Gold Feathers, was ever the supportive mate and walked by her side daily as she got her muscles working again. The walks quickly became routine and the pair took these private opportunities to pace the territory and discuss their pasts and grievances, it came as a surprise to Lyza when she learned her husband had always harbored interests in her and she expressed regardless of how she felt in the beginning she was grateful they had found each other and proclaimed how she loved him so.

A few weeks later she would repeat the same over and over as she gently placed a heart stone on his chest. Noah had contracted an illness and despite the care sages gave him daily it was clear he wouldn't be able to recover. Hours before she'd placed the stone on his heart he had pressed his head to her's and vowed she would be okay. Faced with the death of a loved one again Lyza nearly buckled until she felt the calming spirit of her mate pass over her, she cried much of the night but thanked the stars for their meeting as she felt her chest swell with strength. She was alone again but this time her heart was whole and the shewolf jumped headfirst back into the life of the pack. She could no longer keep up with the rigorous work of the hunters as her strength had never fully returned to its glory days, so she settled into the task of a sage. It was around then when the outburst spread, Lyza rushed to the forefront and stood witness as Kara was accused and stripped of her feathers. Horrified she rushed to her brother's side wondering why in the world Kara was punished, and if that was just, then why was Pyre spared? Deep inside she knew she didn't need to ask, not only was Kara a female going against the pack's tradition, Pyre was it's future leader and spoiled son.

Lyza argued fervently with Saerian for days, something she hadn't done since their youth, but her efforts continually fell to death ears. Finally her brother tired of her barking and spoke of what an onlooker had claimed transpired, an event completely different from Pyre's admission. Lyza didn't push anymore, she ran in search of her nephew and only stoped when she was looking deeply into his eyes, was it true? Had he really done something so...*hateful.* The argument that ensued was all the female needed to know what was the truth. Her family had always followed a patriarchic way, but this was something different, discrimination and favoritism, it was too much for Lyza to stomach and deep within her she cut the emotional ties she'd held for her kin. She didn't know what to do but something *had* to be done, fortunately she never had to contemplate raising a hand against her kin as Pyre fell dead on the night of the Quarter Feast. Lyza among other sages looked over him and it was clear something poisonous had overtaken him; she felt a small sense of mourning but this...this was life's justice and a part of her only wished Saerian had been as *fortunate* as his son. She glared silently as her brother cried for the finding of the culprit but as anyone could guess, they were long gone. It didn't take much time to deduce who it had been for he and his daughter had disappeared. Lyza stood by Rose and comforted her close friend for the loss of her daughter and mate, but despite Morgan being a traitor to the pack she couldn't help but feel anything but, he'd done what she'd prayed for the strength to do and her heart echoed nothing but gratitude.

## Group History

When Shiloh returned to claim the title of alpha from Rhaegar, Lyza was delighted to see the return of two familiar faces: Morgan and Deonte. The trio of older wolves had been quite close long ago, and the closeness hadn't gone away over the seasons. Lyza offered guidance to Shiloh as well as to her other, younger packmates.

One packmate, Yseult, approached Lyza to ask for her guidance in becoming a Sage, and Lyza agreed to become her mentor. Lyza's skills as a healer would be critical when Sheranee began to struggle with symptoms of hypothermia during the Deep Freeze. There was a strangeness in the way Sheranee and Deonte acted while Shera was recovering, and ever-perceptive Lyza realized the two had feelings for one another.

Lyza continued to go about her duties, diligent and fearless, collecting herbs even though there was a lingering threat of Hive wolves around the territory. Eventually, though, her careful efforts to avoid the Hive failed. She was out when she caught the scent of her packmate, Jedrek, and she went to investigate. It mingled with Hive scent.

What she didn't realize was that Jedrek *was* there, but he was in audience with a Hive general called Sledge. Sledge wanted to test Jedrek's loyalties, and the pair watched (Jed, with horror) as Hive wolves streamed out and attacked Lyza.

Lyza tried to run, at first, but the swarm overcame her. Lyza was fearless facing down her opponents. She bore her fangs and taunted them for taking such measures to attack an old lady, and put up quite a fight before they eventually wounded her fatally. Jedrek emerged when the Hive departed and realized she was alive, but barely.

Lyza clung to life until the next day, when Shiloh was able to come to her. She wasn't going to survive her injuries, but she was able to pass a warning to Shiloh before she passed: the Hive were organized, somehow. Their leader needed to be found. And with that, Lyza passed away, stoic in death as she was in life.

## Trivia

* When Bourne and Mutaias were young, Lyza occasionally took the two on outings with Deonte. The young males greatly admired Lady Lyza.

## Quotes

* "Shiloh...beware these invaders. They are not as foolish as they seem. They swarm but they are organized...beware and find their leader. I'm grateful to have seen you lead Riverfell...remember to never waver, and don't ever doubt that you can do this...those pale curs will never get the best of you. I *know* it." (Lyza's last words, *Collateral Damage*)
	+ *"Sorry Morgan...Deon. I'm going first."* (final thought, *Collateral Damage*)

## External Links

* Official Application Sheet
* SilverPocky's deviantART Gallery