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  ====Direwolves====
  A number of characters retain wolf-like pets called '''direwolves'''. In the book series, they are described as being as large as ponies. Thought to have gone extinct, they appear at the start of the series as a den of six orphaned pups found by Jon Snow. They are then distributed to the Stark family children.
  * '''Ghost''' (seasons 1–6, 8) is Jon Snow's direwolf. He is the albino runt of the litter of puppies, but nevertheless grows into a strong adult. He accompanies Jon to Castle Black. Following the Night's Watch mutiny, he is imprisoned by Karl and Rast. He is later freed by Bran Stark and mauls Rast to death before re-joining Jon and the loyal Night's Watch brothers. Though he is taken back to Castle Black, Alliser Thorne spitefully orders Jon to lock Ghost up. When the wildlings reach Castle Black, Jon orders Sam to free Ghost, and the direwolf subsequently helps the Night's Watch by mauling several wildlings to death. He survives the battle. After Jon departs for Hardhome, Ghost remains at Castle Black and scares off two Night's Watch bullies after they beat Sam and attempt to rape Gilly. After Jon is murdered Davos and the loyalists bring Ghost to help protect Jon's body. Once the mutineers, led by Alliser Thorne, are defeated and arrested thanks to the Wildlings, Ghost rests by Jon's body. Later, he is the first to witness Jon come back to life. Once Jon executes the mutineers and reunites with his sister Sansa, Ghost leaves Castle Black with Jon. Ghost doesn't participate in the battle against the Boltons. After the Starks win, Ghost returns to Winterfell with Jon.
  * '''Grey Wind''' (seasons 1–3) was Robb Stark's direwolf. He accompanies Robb on his campaign against the Lannisters and often fights alongside him in the War of the Five Kings. When Robb is betrayed by Walder Frey and Roose Bolton, Grey Wind is shot dead with crossbows. He and Robb are later decapitated, and Grey Wind's head is sewn onto Robb's corpse.
  * '''Lady''' (season 1) was Sansa Stark's direwolf. After an incident on the Kingsroad when Nymeria bites Joffrey, Cersei first demands that Nymeria be killed and, when Nymeria cannot be found, demands that ''a'' direwolf be killed. Despite his objections, Ned Stark obeys the king's order but kills Lady personally, though he sends her body north instead of allowing Cersei to have her skin.
  * '''Nymeria''' (seasons 1, 7) is Arya Stark's direwolf. On the way to King's Landing, Joffrey attacks Arya after she attempts to defend her friend, the butcher's son, from him. Nymeria bites Joffrey in the arm, and she and Arya run away. Knowing that Joffrey will lie to the court about what actually transpired, Arya forces Nymeria to flee to prevent her from being killed. A very long time afterward, Arya reunites with her while in the Riverlands on her way back home to Winterfell and learns that Nymeria has joined a pack of wild wolves. Arya attempts to urge Nymeria to return with her, but Nymeria refuses, likely due to how long she has been away from home, and remains with her new pack.
  * '''Shaggydog''' (seasons 1–3, 6) was Rickon Stark's direwolf. Following the sacking of Winterfell, Shaggydog and Summer join Rickon, Bran, and their group on their journey to the Wall to find Jon Snow. Shaggydog accompanies Rickon and Osha to the Great Umber when the journey beyond the wall is deemed too dangerous for Rickon. However, after Greatjon dies, his son Smalljon decides to ally with the Boltons and goes to Ramsay, to whom he gives Osha and Rickon as hostages, while presenting Shaggydog's severed head as proof of Rickon's identity.
  * '''Summer''' (seasons 1–4, 6) was Bran Stark's direwolf. When an assassin attempts to kill the comatose Bran, Summer tears out his throat with its teeth, saving both Bran and Bran's mother Catelyn. Summer and Shaggydog survive the sacking of Winterfell and join Bran, Rickon, and their group on their journey to the Wall to find Jon Snow. When they stumble across Craster's Keep, Bran mentally takes over Summer's body to scout the area, but Summer falls into a trap and is imprisoned. He is later freed and continues the journey north with Bran. During the battle with the skeletons outside the Three-Eyed Raven's cave, Summer mauls several and escapes with Bran into the caves. After the White Walkers and the Wights attack the tree, the group is forced to escape. Only Meera and Bran make it out alive as Hodor, Summer, the Children of the Forest, and the Three-Eyed Raven are all slain by the undead while giving Bran time to escape.