Sprite is a feral elemental fox, a black-silver fire-fox, with a fairly rare indigo flame.  Such foxes are assumed to be the source the Finnish legends of the Revontulet.

Sprite is not able to form-shift, nor talk.  They are quite clever and intelligent but not understood to be sapient.

Sprite is playful and affectionate in addition to being independent and adventuresome, and overall somewhat cat-like.  Sprite will alternate between hanging out in the crew quarters, curling up in the lap of willing victim, and following observers in and out during their observations; and disappearing for hours to a day or so while exploring the summit and beyond.  Sprite has been known to accompany staff on hikes out to Mount Clay.

Sprite was given their name in reference to the frequent dance of little blue flames at the tips of their ears, like little faery wisps.

Sprite was adopted by Rachel initially when they showed up on a cold winter morning on her deck, curled up by the door badly injured and emaciated.  Rachael often says that Sprite adopted her rather than her adopting them.

When Sprite was found they had been injured by a car (apparently) with a badly broken left-hind hip and foot, and a fractured right foot.  They were barely able to hobble, unable to hunt, and in what had to be excruciating pain.  What drew Sprite to Rachael's deck she never understood, but the determination it must have them taken to get up the stairs to the door was something she never forgot.

Rachael took Sprite to North Country Animal Hospital where their wounds and fractures were treated and set.  Sprite displayed a level of comfort around sapients in spite of being a feral that the vet staff and Rachael tentatively decided it was safe for Rachael to take Sprite home and to continue to tend for them herself.

Sprite's recovery was slow, but Rachael tended to them lovingly, taking off her upcoming weekly summit shift to stay by their side.

As Sprite grew stronger, Rachael took them with her to the summit (Mount Washington) so she could continue to care for them while also working.

What was initially intended to be a temporary arrangement evolved into Sprite taking up permanent residence at the summit.  When they were well enough to be released, Sprite determinedly would not leave Rachael.  Since Sprite had seemed to enjoy the summit crew, and she did not want to leave them alone on her weeks off, she polled her staff to see if they would like to trial Sprite being a full-time summit resident.  Their response was a unanimous and enthusiastic yes.

Sprite took quickly to the weekly crew changes and exploring their new home and surroundings.