Bram

Like father like son

As a pup he was introduced to tragedy at a young age when his littermate/little sister Bayyet died. Though he was barely a pup at the time, he still has dreams about her and how he failed. When the three of them were young, they often went unattended by both Baelris, who always put her job as hunter over her pups, and Bakirah, their pupsitter/older sister who was inexperienced and distracted by her issues with Baelris. One morning they strayed from Floodhaven and found themselves at the swollen edge of the river, where Bayyet slipped on the loose mud and drowned before anyone could save her. Bram tried to save her, but he was only a pup himself, and didn't have the strength to pull her out of the river's grasp. The memory is faint now, but he was left with a lasting sense of guilt and fear over his inability to protect her.

As he grew up, the weight of being Codac's only son soon settled over him and he realized that his father and most of the pack assumed he would be the one to take Codac's place as lead eventually. As an adolescent he tried to avoid this sense of responsibility by spending time with Murdoch and learning how to hunt, and decided to take on the role of chaser on the third hunting team in order to become strong. As much as he wanted to avoid the subject, in his heart he knew that his path would put him in the position of lead, and he wanted to be ready for it when it happened. His one fear was to not be strong enough to protect his pack, just like he wasn't strong enough to pull Bayyet from the river when they were pups.

While on the hunting team he formed a close friendship with Malvere, in spite of their natural rivalry (both being the sons of the two lead wolves of Fellworm - though Malvere was younger) Seeing Bram's internal struggle, Malvere took it upon himself to push Bram to get stronger and encourage him.

A few years into his adult life, Bram had half convinced himself that he might leave Fellworm. Codac had left a legacy by founding the pack, and he was scared of undoing it by taking over and failing. He loved his pack, and it was that love that convinced him it might be better for everyone if he struck out on his instead. As longdark crept over the mountains, he steeled himself for the long journey away from home. He knew the land from his experience hunting, and knew he could make it. Still, there was a sense of guilt which coiled in his stomach. How he could he be sure himself when so much was at stake? That night, Ninyuk met him as he left his little cove in the Outskirts, begging him to stay.

Quite literally worried himself sick in his first few weeks as lead, earning himself a much needed reality check from his sister Bailey.

Overtime he grew wiser and more confident, and his actions as leader earned him his legacy as a brave protector and steady guide to the pack. His only concern now is in securing the future with an heir.