Ayaki was the son of Mara of the Acoma and her first husband Buntokapi. He was conceived sometime "between the midsummer feast and the next full moon" and was expected to be born after the spring rains fell, during the second year of the Riftwar. When he was born, he reminded Mara her less than lovable husband, but after his honorable death, Mara decided to cultivate the best out of both of them.