Ananym is the daughter of
Belasco, a sorcerer who formerly ruled the dimension Otherplace (a.k.a. Limbo); however, she has no memories of her early life, nor her apparent demonic background. When Alpha Flight vanished from Earth the Canadian government recruited Ananym and named her Witchfire. She became part of their new Gamma Flight team along with
Nemesis,
Wild Child, Silver and Auric, ordered to replace Alpha Flight as Canada's national protectors. Upon Alpha Flight's eventual return the team was ordered to arrest them, but both teams allied against
Llan the Sorcerer instead; when the government disbanded Gamma Flight, Witchfire chose to remain with Alpha Flight for future training while the rest of her old team departed.