Ursus's people reside in the mountains, from these high peaks they can watch the seas and the woods. Some favor one over the other so the tribe splits in two, two separate living villages connected by secret tunnels weaving through the mountain. Tribe traditions are held in high regard, one of which is to associate a spirit animal with each member - the ceremony is personal, a young boy or girl spent a number of weeks on their own, meditating and practicing various rituals of self discovery. They do not truly have a name until they complete this ceremony as their name reflects their animal.

Ursus's own ceremony took place during a harsh winter, most believe if it had been anyone else they might not have survived, but Ursus did. It was all thanks to her... Ursus found the ritual cave where he would spend the next few weeks, it was already stocked with items he would need to hunt and maintain himself. It lacked however the proper protection against the cold blizzard that suddenly struck that year, he was curled near his dwindling fire and prayed to the animal deities for guidance and help. It was shortly afterwards that the old bear entered the cave.

Frozen in place he could only watch as the large brown form suddenly blocked the chill of the winter, her own wise brown eyes gazed upon the human boy curled near his fire and she approached. She treated Ursus like her own cub.. curling herself against him to keep him safe and warm and there the pair slept. She would eventually die, age catching up with her and Ursus would carry the bear's body back to his village near the woods. Her pelt would be fashioned into a cloak that Ursus maintains carefully and uses for ceremonial purposes and while in his village as a symbol of respect for the care she'd shown him.

His next encounter with a bear would be quite different, while out hunting he would cross paths with a large black bear - he was fierce and his pelt was littered with marks of his won battles similar to how Ursus now bore scars from his own fights as an adult and proud warrior. The pair would fight for their survival and Ursus would come out the victor; like Mother-Bear he would fashion the bear's pelt into an article of clothing for himself, the brown bear became his battling cloak. Each bear shone through Ursus's own actions and personality, a balance between his strength as a warrior and his compassion as a healing shaman.

He was twenty-one when he discovered the lonesome bear cub, thin from lack of proper diet, tired from traveling - by the looks of the cub it's mother had died some weeks before leaving the cub alone. Ursus would raise it as his own brother and would gain in the bear a life-long companion, they are inseparable - they travel together and fight alongside each other. Even on missions of peace the bear accompanies Ursus, sometimes carrying some supplies strapped to his back. It wasn't uncommon to find the two seated somewhere, Ursus whispering to the bear, Odakota, who seemed to be listening intently as though understanding every word..