Chapter 109: Direwolf

That afternoon, Eddard took Robb, Jon, Theon, Domeric, Lady Barbrey, and Fellan to hunt in the Wolfswood, accompanied by the Master of Kennels Farlan and a pack of hounds.

The Wolfswood was bathed in sunlight, quiet and peaceful. Theon boasted that he would definitely hunt a deer, Domeric hoped to catch a wild boar, and Jon and Robb discussed how to bag more roe deer.

The hounds suddenly grew restless, letting out bursts of frantic barking; no matter how the Master of Kennels Farlan tried to stop them, he could not make the hounds quiet down.

"What is going on here?" Eddard frowned.

Before long, two small puppies emerged from the woods; one had fur as black as night, and the other had a black-and-white coat.

Robb announced happily, "Two little dogs have scared the hounds out of their wits. Farlan, are the hounds of Winterfell really this timid?"

The Master of Kennels Farlan stared at the two puppies, his eyes filled with fear.

"Those aren't dogs at all; they are direwolves."

Eddard, Robb, Jon, Lady Barbrey, Fellan, and the others were all shocked. Lady Barbrey quipped, "Haven't direwolves been extinct for a long time? Could it be that the sigil of House Stark has reappeared in the world?"

Theon said disdainfully, "Farlan, are you mistaken? There are no direwolves south of the Wall; these are just two puppies."

"Theon, I have been a Master of Kennels my whole life; do you think I can't tell a wolf from a dog?" Farlan said, somewhat angry. He turned to Eddard, "Lord Eddard, regardless, direwolves are wild beasts. An adult direwolf can easily kill a man. It has been a long time since a direwolf appeared in the Wolfswood. I suggest we kill them while they are still small."

Eddard looked at the two adorable direwolves before him. The pups watched them warily but did not turn to flee. Eddard couldn't help but wonder: could these two pups be among the famous Summer, Grey Wind, Shaggydog, Nymeria, Lady, or Ghost?

But the timing was all wrong. Eddard remembered that it wouldn't be until Bran was seven that Robb and Jon would find the direwolves in the snow; currently, Bran was only five. Eddard surmised that the direwolves before him were likely the parents of Ghost, Grey Wind, and the others.

With direwolves, Eddard could use them for scouting when he led troops to war in the future, and he could have them serve as guards. Later, they could breed, providing a pup for each of Eddard's children. Eddard believed these direwolves were a gift from the heavens.

Robb and Jon dismounted and walked toward the pups.

"Robb, Jon, you had best stay away from the pups," the Master of Kennels Farlan warned. "Who knows if their parents are nearby?"

Robb said calmly, "We have so many hunters, what is there to fear? Besides, we haven't seen an adult direwolf in the Wolfswood for many years. I reckon these pups' parents are all dead; they are so pitiful."

The pups were not shy; they wagged their tails at Robb and Jon, and the two boys took the opportunity to pick them up. Eddard dismounted and walked toward the pups, stroking their furry heads. The pups affectionately licked Eddard's palms.

Jon examined them, "Father, the black one is a male, and the black-and-white one is a female."

"The direwolf is the sigil of House Stark and the totem of Winterfell," Eddard told Robb and Jon. "I am going to take this pair of direwolves back to Winterfell and raise them in our hall."

Robb and Jon were overjoyed. Throughout the afternoon, Eddard and his sons and wards hunted a wild boar, two deer, and a pile of pheasants, but without a doubt, the greatest harvest of the day was the direwolves.

Eddard brought the pair of direwolves to the great hall, and Arya, Sansa, and Bran excitedly crowded around.

Arya hugged the two pups and kissed them repeatedly. She said to Eddard, "Father, can I raise these two pups?"

Sansa chimed in, "Father, I want one too."

Bran clapped his little hands, "I want both."

"You can't even take care of yourselves; you cannot have these pups," Eddard refused with a smile. Eddard's children were still young, and he would not let them raise the pups; he decided to raise them personally with Catelyn.

The Master of Kennels Farlan brought two wooden kennels for the pups to live in. With his children crowding around, Eddard placed the two pups into the wooden kennels and brought them back to his bedchamber.

Catelyn was holding the infant Rickon Stark. Seeing the direwolves, she felt a bit of fear.

"You actually brought wolves home?"

"They are direwolves," Eddard told Catelyn. "Catelyn, trust me, these direwolves will become members of our family and the guardian spirits of our children."

Robb held a direwolf and proudly showed it to Catelyn, "Mother, these direwolves are a gift from the heavens, sent by the New and Old Gods."

Little Rickon Stark saw the direwolves, smiled, and made an "Iya—" sound. Rickon Stark had just started learning to speak.

"Even if we are to keep the direwolves, just keep them in the kennels; surely you don't mean to keep them in the bedchamber?" Catelyn struggled with the thought. "Let Farlan keep them with the hounds of Winterfell."

"That won't do. These two pups have no mother, and Farlan says they are likely not even weaned yet," Eddard told Catelyn. "The kennels don't hold heat well, so we will keep them in our bedchamber!"

Eddard and Catelyn's bedchamber had hot springs running through the walls and a fireplace, making it warm and comfortable. Sansa and Arya brought chicken bones, and Bran brought goat's milk to feed the two pups. The pups seemed to like their new home.

Robb stroked the head of the male wolf, whose fur was like the night. "Father, what should we name these two direwolves?"

Eddard thought for a moment. "We shall call this black male Nightwalker. And this black-and-white female, we shall call her Sunshine." Eddard believed that the female, Sunshine, was likely the mother of Ghost, Grey Wind, Nymeria, Summer, Shaggydog, and Lady, and that Nightwalker was the father of the pups.

In the future, Nightwalker and Sunshine would give birth to direwolves. If they could produce more litters, Eddard hoped to create a legion of direwolves. By then, whether it was the Wildlings' army from Beyond the Wall, the Westerlands Army of the Lannisters from Casterly Rock, or the ironmen army of King Balon from the Iron Islands, all would tremble at the roar of the direwolves.

The appearance of the direwolves drew the attention of the Maesters of Winterfell.

Maester Fellan, who specialized in agriculture and minerals; Maester Duosite, who specialized in Magic and occult studies; Maester Norman, who specialized in medicine; and the Chief Maester of Winterfell, Luwin, all came to Eddard's bedchamber to see the direwolves.

The gaunt Maester Duosite laughed, "In our Winterfell, we have not only the Unicorn but also the direwolf; what a magical place this is!"

Thanks to the reader "Newbie Loving Little White" for the monthly ticket; thank you for your support!

(End of chapter)