Ruska

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."

Name meaning

The color of leaves in autumn.

Personality

Ruska is the competent founder of the pack Metsän Suojelijat (Forest Guards). Her rational and quick-witted approach to things has helped her solve many conflicts without having to resort to violence, which has gained her reputation as a leader who's peaceful but strong.

Backstory

Ruska was born to a forest where food was sparse and the tension was high among animals, leading to continuous fight for survival. Ruska's parents were old and unable to travel far, and they feared that they would be killed off one day, leaving Ruska by herself and without any protection. They made the heavy decision to give Ruska to their old friend, a wanderer passing by the area, and they begged him to take Ruska to someplace where she'd have a brighter future. The wanderer accepted their request and took Ruska with him.

The wanderer, Vaahtera, made sure Ruska wouldn't forget about her parents and told her stories about them and their home. He'd lived together with Ruska's parents for quite some time before he'd become a wanderer. The forest had been a good place to live in during their adolescence; then a pack of aggressive wolves came to the forest. They treated everything and everyone selfishly, overhunting and treating others badly. Even after those wolves were killed years later, the habits were stuck in the forest and its inhabitants who had suffered for so long.

Ruska was influenced by these stories and she swore to take a good care of whatever place would become their home. It didn't take long before Ruska and Vaahtera found a small forest that was empty of wolves. Vaahtera decided to stop traveling for the time being in order to take care of Ruska, but as time went on, he realized he didn't want to leave the forest anymore.

When Ruska was roughly one year old, another wolf came to the forest. This young male, Koivu, had fled from the forest where Ruska's parents lived and he was in search of a new, peaceful home. He told that a new pack of wolves had moved in and killed off all the weak wolves who hadn't been able to escape immediately - unfortunately Ruska's parents hadn't made it. Ruska and Vaahtera were shocked by these news and Ruska promised she'd keep this forest safe.

Soon after, the said pack of wolves arrived, having hunted down and killed all the weak creatures they could've found in the previous forest. A big battle ensued, but Ruska, Koivu and Vaahtera were able to chase the intruders off. That day, Ruska announced her desire to start leading her own pack Metsän Suojelijat, Forest Guards, and to dedicate her life for protecting the forest. She asked Vaahtera and Koivu if they wanted to be part of the pack; they agreed promptly.

Ruska and Koivu became close, and soon they developed romantic feelings for each other. Ruska was worried of their rapidly evolving relationship, and she talked about it to Vaahtera, who encouraged Ruska to not only trust her rational side, but embrace her emotional side as well. Ruska allowed herself to fall in love with Koivu, and soon she gave birth to their two sons, Haapa and Huurre.

The family was struck with heartache when Huurre wandered off and was snatched up by an eagle. Ruska refused to be swayed by this grief; she still had one son to take care of. Repressing her sorrow, she has continued to take care of her responsibilities as a leader and a mother. She cared for Haapa with extra love and attention, swearing to make sure he would grow into a fine and healthy wolf.

Haapa showed increasing restlessness as he grew older, and finally he begun to run away from home in hopes of getting to see what's outside his home forest. His parents tried everything from grounding to talking things through to setting boundaries, but Haapa continued to run away and draw his flights out longer and longer.

Finally Koivu admitted his long-hidden regret for settling down so early. Ruska was shocked to hear this, but she didn't want to hold Koivu back and so, she agreed to Koivu's plan to take Haapa with him and start traveling around the world together with his son. Koivu wished Ruska could've come with him, but he understood that she did not only have her responsibilities as a leader, but also her vow to protect the forest. Koivu and Haapa left after promising to come visit the forest every now and then, and Ruska stayed behind, feeling the weight of the forest on her shoulders.