Shandris

## Application Sheet

Shandris was a gray-furred she-wolf with jade green eyes. She was a Hunt Master in Havir, a close friend of Ira, and well-respected by Saurugol. Shandris offered herself as bait during the Invasion of the Brothers and offered reassurance to the captured she-wolves. Eventually, she left the Domain with Wendigo, and was never seen again. However, it was confirmed that she found Faust and Ira and remains with them outside of the Domain. Shandris was created and RP'd by Halkuonn.

## Personality

* ***Brave and Determined.*** Based on her interactions with other wolves, it is clear that Shandris is brave and willing to risk herself for others, and she was determined, even from a young age, to do what she believed she was meant to do (become a Hunt Master).
* ***Loyal and Devoted.*** Shandris was a loyal friend to Saurugol and Ira, and devoted to the pack itself, and a great friend.

## Pre-Group History

Shandris was born to her mother and father, a Hunt Master named Arkus (NPC). At some point in her youth, her mother passed away, and Arkus expected his daughter to follow in her mother's footsteps as a Healer or a Priestess (*which* of these is unknown).

As soon as she was six months old - old enough to be considered of age to start training for a task - Shandris told her father that she wanted to train as a Hunt Master. Arkus fought with her, reprimanding her and eventually attacking her with claws and fangs, but she managed to get free and tell him she was going to do *what was best for the pack.* She turned from him and stalked out, and, in his disgust, Arkus left the den, seething.

## Group History

Shandris's wounds were treated by the Healer, Aphrodi, who worked wonders with Moon Milk. The wounds were still sore and tight after treatment, but she was determined to speak with Saurugol, before her father could come back to the den and try to convince her not to again. Much to her surprise, however, Saurugol approached *her*, and told her gently that Arkus had been found at the borders of Havir, killed. He had been defending the territory from either loners or some other predator. Shandris was grief-stricken, but she maintained her composure to ask Saurugol if she could begin training as a Hunt Master, to pull her weight in the pack. Saurugol admired her steadfast determination, and agreed that she could begin to train as a Hunter. After this, Shandris took some time to grieve her father's death - they might not have gotten along, but she still loved him.

Shandris began busily learning her duties. She quickly picked up on the skills of a hunter, and began to meet various packmates and learn about them as well. After Cyrus returned from being missing for some time, she introduced himself to him. While they spoke quietly, they spotted a bear, and Shandris inquired as to whether they should attack it. Cyrus taught her an important lesson - to know when a fight needs to be fought, and when they are not necessary. The bear paid them no mind as they went about their business.

Shan began training under Ira, who was immediately extremely impressed by Shandris's natural hunting skill. However, Ira didn't lavish the young she-wolf with praises, insisting that there were plenty of things to improve on. The two would grow to be the best of friends and hunting partners as the moons passed.

Shandris had been hunting rabbits when a cougar began to chase her. She bumped into Aphrodi and quickly encouraged him to run as well. They escaped uninjured, fortunately! Sometime after this, Saurugol approached Shandris and asked to observe her hunting skills. They worked together to bring down an elk, and Saurugol promoted her to a gamma.

Shandris was assigned to tutor Sage in becoming a Hunt Master, and she was a bit worried to be higher-ranking than the older female. Fortunately, Sage was thrilled to learn a bit from Shandris, whose natural skill was well-known throughout the pack. Of course, just because Shandris could catch prey didn't mean she could always *keep* it when determined loners or other carnivores were quick and scrappy and stole from her, like Desdemona. This was frustrating, but not enough to make the pack go hungry!

Saurugol and Shandris grew quite close, first as mentor and mentee, and then as friends. They bonded over a shared love of hunting. When Saurugol wanted to bring down large game, after so many tragedies had befallen the pack (Fallon's death, Veron and Phoebe's disappearances, his daughter Zevahni's death, *and* the betrayal of Valda, whom he'd chosen to kill for her treachery). Saurugol and Shandris failed to catch anything, and Saurugol admitted the defeat he was feeling, but Shandris offered reassurance.

But then *Ira* vanished, Saurugol watching her fall to her supposed death, and the two grieved *deeply* for her. Ira was a *sister* to Shandris, and her loss was devastating.

Although Ira was believed to be dead, other wolves had begun to vanish as well: Siobhan, Taiyo, and Freya. Growing increasingly concerned, Saurugol called a pack meeting to discuss the vanishings and proposed solutions. Shandris noted that there seemed to be a pattern (only females being taken) and she warned that the formation of large groups might alert whoever was responsible for stealing the females that Havir was onto them, and suggested small groups would be better. Saurugol sent out a few small parties.

Shandris volunteered to join the search parties for their missing packmates, joining Cyrus and Genesis in a small search party. They had no luck finding their packmates though.

The pack couldn't spend all their time searching, though - wolves had be fed, borders defended. Shandris was hunting when she was attacked by a cougar. Fortunately, even though she was struggling to hold her own against the beast, a lone wolf named Amberjinx spotted her and came to her rescue. Shan *insisted* she was fine, but Amberjinx ignored her, and together they drove the cougar off. Shandris was badly injured, and Amberjinx offered to help her back to Havir's dens, where Aphrodi and the other Healers could help her.

The Havirians were suspicious of Jin, but Shandris vouched for the she-wolf, and she was welcomed into the pack. Amberjinx was *quite* flirty with Shan, who, though grateful for the help, wasn't interested. Her focus was fixated on her duties, and, of course, on her missing packmates. Eventually, she had an idea, and approached Saurugol.

Shandris suggested to Saurugol that they send a "bait" female to be intentionally kidnapped by whoever was stealing Havir's females, and she would leave marks or *some* way for Havir to track her down. Saurugol was hesitant to risk another female, but, now that his loyal beta Malika had been taken, he was running out of options, and he agreed.

Shandris was watched from afar by Sage while she carefully picked her way through the forest, gathering basic herbs and looking distracted. The Brothers found her, but, fortunately, only Tadashi (who'd later help Havir find their packmates) recognized that she wasn't a *real* healer. The haphazard way she was collecting the herbs, which were basic, made that evident. Still, the Brothers ambushed her and took her away, and Shandris allowed it. Sage was approached by Tadashi, who told her that he was an ally, and would try to help them. For now, though, Shan was to be a prisoner.

It wasn't long before she would be rescued, though. Sage and Tadashi went back to Havir and reported the she-wolves' location, and a rescue party was sent, composed of Saurugol, Faust, Nadina, Arthur, Quidel, and Cyrus. The rescue effort was a success, and Shandris was delighted to hear the sounds of battle from her prison, and she'd eventually be brought out, safely, with the rest of the females - including Ira! She was *overjoyed* to see Ira was alive!

*After being rescued, Shandris could not feel better than to know that their family was finally safe. However, her faith had been constantly tested and tempted, to the point she no longer felt the same connection with the Gods as she did before. While the wolves had gathered to celebrate, she seeks out solitude to contemplate about her own apparent sacrilege, and ends up finding Wendigo.*

*Wendigo shows her one option she has not considered: leave, and return at the start of a new leaf. The two have a somewhat immediate bond, and even though Shandris' heart ached by abandoning the only family she has ever known, the Huntress knew deep inside that she needed time for herself, without the responsibility and duties. And so she decides to go with him, off to a new start.*

## Trivia

* Shandris was confirmed by Halkuonn and WynBird to have come back to Havir, only to see how terribly it had been destroyed by the meteor. Sometime after this, she actually managed to find Ira and Faust, and spends her time traveling with them.
* The nick in her ear was caused by her father.

## Quotes

* "I am going to be a huntress if that is the will of the gods, only them can deny me that with AdeSaurugol’s decision, and there is nothing you can do to forbid me of asking it!" (standing up to her father, *Determination*)
* ”How can we ever understand what they want or why things happen? They see *everything*, and we see only what we can or want to. I think of this when I don’t see any possible reason for things to happen.” (discussing the gods with Saurugol, *Friend to Friend*)
* "What is a small sacrifice on behalf of Havir? Even if they are dead, we need to ensure no one else is taken. If I die, I will do it with the joy and honor of serving my family. I'm willing to. I understand your concern, Sauru, and I'm grateful. But Havir must come before our friendship." (offering herself as bait, *A Sacrifice*)