Ash is a large, gray frontier dog who belonged to Kendra, Jerrick Bur's beloved wife who died in childbirth over two years ago. Ash was Kendra's devoted companion, raised by her from a puppy, and their bond was extraordinarily strong. He was present during the happy years of Jerrick and Kendra's marriage in Rell, where they lived as farmers after Jerrick left his patroller career for love.

Ash is described as a solitary creature, a true frontier dog bred and trained for life in wild, remote areas. His temperament reflects the independence and self-reliance necessary for survival in harsh frontier conditions, yet he was capable of deep loyalty and affection with his chosen person. With Kendra, he found the perfect balance between his independent nature and his capacity for companionship.

During storms, particularly when thunder would crack across the sky, Ash would seek comfort and protection from Kendra, demonstrating a vulnerability that contrasted with his otherwise robust frontier demeanor. These moments revealed the depth of his trust in her and the security he found in her presence. Kendra was more than just his owner—she was his anchor, his comfort, and his entire world.

When Jerrick first entered Kendra's life and eventually married her, it created what Jerrick describes as "a reordering of the hierarchy" in the household. While most dogs adapt to such changes in family structure, Ash never fully accepted this shift. His loyalty remained exclusively with Kendra, the person who had raised him from puppyhood and whom he considered his true master. Jerrick was tolerated as part of Kendra's world, but Ash never transferred his deep devotion to the patroller.

Ash understood, in the way that animals sometimes do, that Kendra was irreplaceable. There could be no substitute for the woman who had been his entire family. This unwavering loyalty created a complex dynamic between Ash and Jerrick—while they coexisted peacefully, there was always an understanding that Ash's heart belonged entirely to Kendra.

When Kendra died during the traumatic childbirth that also claimed their daughter Anna, Ash lost the center of his world. The grief-stricken dog was left with only Jerrick, who was himself devastated by the loss. For two years following Kendra's death, Ash remained with Jerrick not out of choice or affection, but because, with Kendra's family and friends living across the mountains, Jerrick was the only familiar presence left in his life.

Their relationship became what Jerrick describes as "built on tolerance." Ash didn't like Jerrick, and Jerrick was painfully aware of this fact. The dog remained with him not out of loyalty or love, but out of necessity and perhaps a lingering connection to Kendra's memory. Jerrick, carrying his own crushing guilt over his wife's death, often reflected that Ash would never understand how much they agreed on the irreplaceable nature of Kendra.

Despite their mutual lack of affection, practical bonds developed between them. When Jerrick decided to leave Rell and return to the Simmaron Forest seeking answers about his family's tragic history, Ash insisted on following him. Jerrick hadn't packed provisions for two, but the dog's determination to accompany him was unwavering. This decision likely stemmed from Ash's frontier instincts—better to stay with the familiar, even if not beloved, than to be left alone in a world that no longer made sense without Kendra.

As a frontier dog, Ash possesses remarkable survival skills and independence. He picks his own path while traveling, only staying close when terrain or circumstances make it necessary. He has excellent instincts for danger and navigation, often ranging ahead or alongside Jerrick's route while maintaining general proximity. His behavior reflects the practical intelligence bred into frontier dogs—he knows when to be cautious, when to seek shelter, and when to rely on his companion for direction.

During their journey to the Simmaron, Ash's behavior reveals his complex emotional state. While he maintains his independent traveling style, there are moments when the supernatural corruption affecting the forest causes him to seek comfort from Jerrick. When they encounter the dying, tainted woodland, Ash stays closer than usual, looking to Jerrick for direction with an unusual docility that reflects his unease with the unnatural atmosphere.

Ash's interactions with others reveal different aspects of his personality. With Aliah Starbough, the half-dryad who was Jerrick's friend, Ash shows immediate comfort and affection, perhaps responding to her natural connection with forest creatures or her association with happier times in Jerrick's past. With the eslar sorcerer Murik, Ash demonstrates the friendly curiosity typical of frontier dogs when encountering new but non-threatening individuals.

His response to supernatural threats shows the courage inherent in his frontier breeding. When confronted with otherworldly dangers in the corrupted forest, Ash growls warnings and positions himself protectively, even though these threats are beyond his understanding. His instincts remain sharp despite his grief, and he continues to serve as an early warning system for danger.

Food remains a primary motivation for Ash, as it is for most frontier dogs who have learned that meals may be irregular and opportunities shouldn't be missed. He shows immediate interest when food appears and has learned to look to Jerrick with expectant eyes when mealtime approaches. This practical relationship to sustenance reflects both his frontier upbringing and the pragmatic bond he maintains with Jerrick.

Perhaps most poignantly, Ash carries within him the memory of better times. His presence serves as a living reminder of Kendra and the happiness that once existed. For Jerrick, Ash represents both comfort and pain—a connection to his lost wife and a constant reminder of what they've both lost. For Ash, Jerrick represents survival and familiar routine, but never the deep emotional security he once knew with Kendra.

Ash embodies the resilient, independent spirit of frontier animals while carrying the profound grief of a creature who has lost his chosen family. His story is one of loyalty that extends beyond death, survival in the face of loss, and the complex relationships that form between beings thrown together by tragedy and necessity. Though he may never love Jerrick as he loved Kendra, their shared loss has created a bond of mutual dependence that speaks to the quiet strength found in those who endure life's greatest sorrows together.

FIRST APPEARANCE

Ash first appears in The Hall of the Wood.