Origin

Donnica has a background in behavioral ecology and was part of the core team that developed the warden helmets for Exodus, a human colony planet owned by Better-World. She trained many of them in their usage and had a brief romantic fling with one of the trainees, Rook. Sadly, their relationship went south when they disagreed with what to do when the terraforming engine malfunctioned and the wealthy elite abandoned them on a dying planet.

Creation

Dire Wolf first appears in a short story by Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok in the anthology one-shot Ghost Machine #1

Major Story Arcs

The Wildlife Grid

Dire Wolf believed that Better-World was not coming back and that it was up to them to fix Exodus. She wanted to find the terraforming engine and fix it. In order to do that, she needed to assemble the wardens. She first partnered with Carapace (the turtle warden) who recovered The Wildlife Grid, the orb that broadcasts the network the helmets work on, and set it up in The Oasis, a hydroelectric dam turned into a safehouse. Unfortunately, they needed three helmets to triangulate a universal network and speak to all the wardens.

This forced Dire Wolf to reunite with Rook and convince him to stay. He saw it as a way to get back at Ursaw, a mercenary hired by Better-World, who destroyed his makeshift rocket and only hope of getting off the dying planet. After sending the message, they got the attention of Ursaw, who had presumably killed the bear warden for his helmet. He laid siege on The Oasis along with Warhog (a loyalist wearing the wild pig helmet) and Kaa (snake warden and Dire Wolf's worst student).

Wolf and Rook left The Oasis to defend it. Rook took on Warhog, while Dire Wolf took on Kaa. After she used a stun spear on an enhanced snake under Kaa's control, the snake and Kaa retreated. This was only a distraction. Ursaw had stolen the grid and took Carapace prisoner. Wolf tried to stop him but was taken as well. She was ultimately rescued by Rook, who finally committed to her cause completely. His flock of crows knocked Ursaw off his own roaming fortress, putting him in a coma.

They secured Ursaw's body since the bear helmet was fused to him. The trio then agreed to go look for Bloodhound, Dire Wolf's father and creator of the world engine and wildlife grid.

The Search for Bloodhound

Dire Wolf and her new warden allies tracked down the rest of the wardens to manually turn on their communicators and bring them into the fold. While doing this, they were also tracking Bloodhound, whom Dire Wolf found in a colder climate. Unfortunately, Bloodhound had given in to the instinct influence and gone feral. With the help of Matterhorn, they were able to search the new colder climate for Bloodhound.

Together, they track him to an access hatch to the World Engine under a mountain. They were attacked by both Bloodhound and a swarm of spiders. They nearly escaped when they were interrupted by Stag, who wanted vengeance on Bloodhound for killing his wife. All four of them (including Matterhorn) found themselves stuck in a trap set by Arachne, the warden of spiders. The human under the helmet was stuck in a mech suit that was being controlled by his super intelligent spiders. They admitted to sabotaging the world engine trying to kill or run off the human population.

Character Profile

• Height: 5'10"
• Weight: 128 lbs
• Eyes: Brown
• Hair: Black
• Age: 34 (at the beginning of Rook: Exodus)
• Occupation: Warden of Canis Lupis on Exodus
• Distinguishing Features: Two scars running down the right side of her face.

Powers and Abilities

Neural Network Helmet: As a Warden, Dire Wolf was given a special helmet that allowed her to control a particular group of animals to help terraform the planet of Exodus. In her case, it was wolves.

• Communication: They come equipped with two-way communicators to other Wardens
• Instinct Influence: The neural connection is two-way, and the animals can sometimes influence their own instincts on to their wardens. The scientists who developed the tech believed that the animals would be too weak minded to have a significant effect on humans.

Scientist: Dire Wolf's background is in behavioral ecology and was part of the team that developed the warden helmets.

Marksmanship: Dire Wolf relies on firearms as primary offense.

• Stun spear: She also has a telescoping spear with an electric stun capability.