Sumac, or 'Mac as he was called by his family, is a Mackenzie River wolf who grew up in Canada's Northwestern Territories. Trained as a scout by his father from a young age, 'Mac's life was stable and happy as he grew to adulthood surrounded by a respectably sized, close-knit family. That all changed in the last sweltering summer.

While on a routine patrol of his parents' borders, Sumac noticed the acrid odor of smoke. Although he veritably flew back to the heart of his homeland, he found it to be too late: the entire area was surrounded by impenetrable fire. Terrorized by the pained screams of his dying pack, it was 'Mac's father's insistence that he save himself that caused the scout's body to pull him away from the carnage and toward survival.

He wandered through the wilds during the next two seasons with little purpose other than self-preservation, carrying the living memory of his family like a small burning ember in his heart. Then he met Easy, who took him under her wing and began nursing this wounded soul back to life. He follows her everywhere, learning as much about his new home as possible.

While on a personal scouting mission to see the coast for the first time, Sumac came across a beautiful, sweet-natured female named Raindrop. The connection he felt with her was instantaneous, and soon afterward, 'Mac felt the direction in his life shift firmly in her direction. He professed his feelings to her, and the two decided to bond their lives to each other.