Meet the Character -- Lyka

Name: Lyka Rebecca Theron
Age: 30 Sex: Female
Family: Twin brother, Lowell; Father, Willis (location unknown)
Infection Level: Immune / OFAR 'tracker' Gene
Race: Caucasian Height: 5'6" Weight: 120 lbs. (about)
Eyes: Dark green eyes; rounded shape
Face: Groomed eyebrows, slightly arched; small pug nose; full lips, tilted slightly downward; delicate features, thin face, single dimple on right cheek
Hair: Very light brown; wavy hair, reminiscent of surfer hair, which falls to just below shoulders
Body: Fair skin, lightly tanned; average chest, slim build, light muscle structure; ears pierced; small pink and purple butterfly on inside right ankle

Lyka Rebecca Theron was born and raised in Alabama. Her parents are divorced. Her mother died four years ago from cancer, and the whereabouts of her father -- Willis Theron -- is currently unknown. Her twin brother -- Lowell Theron -- lives in Boston, Mass.

The heroine of this story is Lyka Theron. At the beginning, she is just your average Alabama girl; who loves to hang with the guys as well as with the girls, ignorant of much of the world around her. Her job is a wildlife manager and patholigist who works freelance, often taking cases for the city of Birmingham and surrounding cities, as well as the state. When she needs a little down time, she usually spends it at home curled up with a good movie and her mixed-breed basenji, Zeeva.

In her world, the neighborhood is calm, and no harm could possibly come to her there. But, as in real life, statistics show that most accidents and attacks take place close to home. The same goes for her and her brother, Lowell.

After the attacks on her and Lowell, Lyka begins to learn that the world is not black and white. Everything she knows about the world is a little bit skewed, including what she knows about herself. Now she must sort out the real truths around her, as well as realize who she can and cannot trust. Like most people, she does make the occassional mistake, misstep, or mistrust. But, unlike a lot of people, she is willing to go out of her way in the quest of truth and justice.

One of the items I am trying hard not to lose in Lyka is the ability to still see the good in people who seem to everyone else to have changed for the worse. I want to show that you can still have hope and a little innocence even though the world throws you a few curve balls. But, I also want to make sure that she won't be pushed around. At least, not too much.

Her names, like everyone else's, have meanings. Lyka, which is the most recognizable name, is a shortened form of Lykanios, a Greek name meaning wolf. Her last name is also Greek, Theron, meaning hunter or untamed. So her name literally means "wolf hunter." Technically, she is not a werewolf hunter, she is a wildlife biologist. But, let me just say that her name will take on more meaning as time goes by... hopefully.


Her middle name, Rebecca, is for her grandmother, who died shortly before the twins were born. It is a Hebrew name meaning peacemaker or trustworthy, something that I think fits in well with her character. Lyka feels more for those around her than for herself. She even puts the need of her dog, Zeeva, above her own after she is attacked by lycanthropes. Rebecca was definitely a great choice for her inner self name.