AS SEEN ON TV: THE DIRE WOLVES

Because the April 1st edition of the "As Seen On TV" gallery was given over to a double April Fool's Day joke, we're running the 'Game Of Thrones' theme for one more day.......

THE DIRE WOLVES

OF HOUSE STARK

CREATED BY:

George R.R. Martin

PORTRAYED BY:

Dogs through the juvenile stage, now CGI

THE INDIVIDUAL DIRE WOLVES:

• Grey Wind, adopted by Robb Stark. Currently with the main Stark army in the South, used by King Robb as a ferocious war dog. 
• Lady, adopted by Sansa Stark. Lady is killed at the order of Robert Baratheon, at the urging of Joffrey Baratheon and Cersei Lannister. 
• Nymeria, adopted by Arya Stark. Fearing for Nymeria's life, Arya chased her away. She is now loose somewhere in the Riverlands, the first direwolf seen that far south (other than Grey Wind) in many centuries. 
• Summer, adopted by Bran Stark. Currently with Bran at Winterfell. At the start of season two Bran sees through the eyes of Summer in a vision. 
• Shaggydog, adopted by Rickon Stark. Currently with Rickon at Winterfell. 
• Ghost, adopted by Jon Snow, (with red eyes as a pup) was taken to the Wall with Jon.

AS SEEN IN:

'Game Of Thrones'

TV LOCATION:

In general, dire wolves have not been seen below the Wall for at least 200 years. Since then, each of the Stark dire wolves are with their human companions.

From the "Game Of Thrones Wiki":

A direwolf is an unusually large and intelligent species of wolf. A grey direwolf on a white field is the family symbol and crest of House Stark.

Direwolves are held to be near-mythical in most of the south of Westeros, although there are rumors of them living in the Wolfswood near Winterfell. There have been confirmed sightings north of the Wall by the Night's Watch who guard it. The wildlings who live beyond the Wall claim that direwolves can be found in greater numbers in the Haunted Forest to the north of the Wall. When the series begins (during the reign of King Robert Baratheon) no direwolf has been sighted south of the Wall, even in the Stark lands of the North, in over 200 years.

The children of House Stark find six direwolf cubs at the very beginning of the series and adopt them.

BCnU!