Captain Akka leads her wild goose flock as its wise and experienced matriarch. This old, gray goose navigates migration with constant vigilance and decisive action, earning deep respect through her sensible animal wisdom and reliable guidance through dangers. She extends beyond strategic leadership, serving as a patient and nurturing maternal figure to the flock's young geese, ensuring they learn essential survival skills before independence. Her kindness and generosity reach across species, offering care to other animals encountered during travels. Her relationship with Nils Holgersson transforms significantly. Initially reluctant to accept a human and domestic goose, she gradually becomes his mentor, offering wise counsel that helps him grasp animal perspectives and navigate his transformed existence. Their deepening friendship sees her guidance play a pivotal role in his moral development, culminating in her compassionate facilitation of his final visit home. Akka's past includes raising Gorgo, a large black eagle she found in an empty nest. She taught him survival skills, notably fishing instead of preying on geese, demonstrating her ability to foster interspecies understanding. This experience raising an eagle informs her broader approach to leadership and care. Her personality blends stern authority with profound empathy. She commands through confidence and decisiveness, tempered by a protective loyalty that prioritizes the flock's collective safety over individual desires. This balance defines her interactions, solidifying her role as the flock's respected and compassionate leader.