Direwolves have become a symbol of strength, loyalty, and the untamed nature of the North inGame of Thrones. These faithful companions to the Stark children immediately became fan-favorites. Even though sometimes direwolves played important parts for the plot, as the series progressed, they started showing up less frequently. While not every direwolf made it to the end, they all went through an individual journey and encountered their own obstacles, leaving fans wondering about the end of each of their journeys and their ultimate fate.
Also known as Canis dirus, direwolves are creatures that roam the lands of Westeros. They are distinguishable from their common wolf counterparts by their large size and heightened intelligence. This majestic species holds a history that spans centuries, marked by their near extinction south of the Wall. However, their unexpected return to Winterfell in theGame of Thronespilot episode foreshadowed the return of the White Walkers, a change in Westeros that impacted the entire series.
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A Symbol of House Stark
In the realm of Westeros, each House claims its own animal emblem, known as a sigil, representing their values, lineage, and aspirations. Among these Houses,House Stark, one of the main focusesof the show, stands as the guardian of the North. Direwolves are associated with the Stark family, their legacy, and symbolize many of their traits, such as their spirit, resilience, and connection to the wild and nature. As their House sigil, direwolves represent the Stark’s family’s strength, loyalty, and commitment to defending their land and their people.
Duringthe series' pilot episode, Ned Stark, head of the Stark household, stumbled upon a litter of direwolf pups. Each Stark child was given one of five pups, and Jon Snow then found a sixth pup from the litter and took care of it himself. The direwolves quickly bonded with their respective owners, even adopting a few of their distinctive personality traits and foreshadowing some of the paths that awaited them. The Stark’s relationship with their loyal companions served as a reminder of the connection between House Stark and the ancient magic of the North.
The Direwolves’ Bittersweet Journeys
As theGame of Thronesnarrative unfolded, the direwolves’ fates took various twists and turns that reflected the challenges faced by House Stark. While their presence remained a constant reminder of theStark family’s connection to their roots, the direwolves also endured hardship and tragedy. The direwolves’ journeys involved perils, separation from their owners, and ultimately, their destinies intertwined with those of their human counterparts.
Robb Stark, the eldest son and heir to Winterfell, had a deep connection with his direwolf, Grey Wind. Grey Wind’s fierce nature and intuition mirrored Robb’s rise as a military leader. The direwolf became an important presence in the Battle of Oxcross by sneaking into the enemy camp and leaving multiple casualties. Grey Wind’s fate was a tragic one, as he waspresent for the Red Wedding, and although Arya tried to set him free, he was ultimately decapitated and his head was sewn onto his owner’s body as a gruesome display of victory for House Frey.
Sansa Stark, the idealistic and initially naive daughter, was paired with direwolf Lady. Lady representedSansa’s aspirations of nobility and grace. Tragically, Lady’s fate took a devastating turn, and was the first direwolf to die in the series. When Arya’s direwolf, Nymeria, bit Joffrey, Cersei ordered for its execution. After failing to find Nymeria, at the request of Robert Baratheon, Lady was executed by Ned Stark in her place, which served as a reminder of the brutal realities ofGame of Thronesand marked the loss of Sansa’s innocence.
Beloved and fan-favorite Arya Stark, the spirited and determined daughter, formed a strong bond with her direwolf companion, Nymeria. As Arya embarked on a journey of survival and self-discovery, Nymeria acted as a reminder of her identity and the strength within her. Although they got physically separated when Arya sent her away after Cersei’s men started looking for her, their bond transcended the distance. In season 7, Nymeria was seen for the first time since then, and was now leading her own pack. When Arya ran into Nymeria in the Riverlands, she tried to get her to go home with her, but ultimately understood why the direwolf wanted to stay behind, and they went their separate ways.
Young and curious son Bran Stark had a unique and important bond with his direwolf, Summer. It was this connection that helped Bran discover his ability to enter the minds of animals. AlthoughBran’s character remains controversial, there is no doubt that Summer represented his journey beyond the physical limitations of his confinement. In season 6, Bran’s group was attacked in the cave of the Three-Eyed Raven. Summer fought off the Night King’s forces in an attempt to protect Bran and was ultimately killed, but thanks to this, Bran was able to escape.
The youngest Stark child, Rickon, was paired with direwolf Shaggydog. Shaggydog’s journey mirrored Rickon’s untamed nature and the chaos that would occur in Rickon’s life. When Bran and Rickon’s group left Winterfell, their direwolves stayed by their side. During season 6, Rickon and Shaggydog were betrayed by House Umber. Shaggydog was killed, and its body, along with Rickon, were delivered to Ramsay Bolton. Ramsay then turned the direwolf into a fur rug, acting as areminder of his crueltyand foreshadowing Rickon’s tragic fate.
Jon Snow formed an extraordinary bond with his direwolf, Ghost. With his white fur and piercing red eyes, Ghost mirrored Jon’s identity as an outsider within the Stark family. Ghost stayed besides Jon duringhis time with the Night’s Watchand followed him beyond the Wall. Ghost’s silent loyalty represented Jon’s own transformation from an outcast to a leader. At the end of the series, Ghost reunited with his owner and stood alongside him as he departed beyond the Wall.
