Chapter 5 - Nightmares Walking

Summary

Perrin Aybara is awakened by a Trolloc attack and, alongside Lan Mandragoran and Moiraine Sedai, defends the camp against the Shadowspawn, during which Leya is killed by a Myrddraal. Perrin transforms into the wolf persona 'Young Bull' and kills the Halfman, then joins the wolves in hunting the remaining Trollocs before reverting to his human form. In the aftermath, Perrin laments Leya's death while Masema interprets the wolves' aid as a sign for the Dragon Reborn, prompting Uno's rebuke. Moiraine, exhausted from healing everyone including Rand al'Thor and Perrin, collapses and is carried to bed by Lan. Rand, struggling with the taint of Saidin and his past trauma from Falme, resolves to fight despite his fear, while Min observes the group's fragile state.

Characters

• Perrin / Young Bull (the blacksmith) — Perrin wakes to the Trolloc attack and rushes to save Leya, only to witness her death at the hands of a Myrddraal. Transformed into the wolf Young Bull, he kills the Halfman and hunts the remaining Shadowspawn before regaining his human form to tend to the fallen wolves, after which Moiraine heals his wounds.
• Leya — Leya emerges from her hut during the attack and is killed instantly by a Myrddraal's sword while trying to intervene, her body later found by Perrin.
• Lan (the Warder) — Lan leads the initial defense against the Trollocs, engaging in deadly combat with both Shadowspawn and a Myrddraal, and later carries the exhausted Moiraine to her hut.
• Moiraine (the Aes Sedai) — Moiraine fights the Trollocs using flame and a switch, then uses an angreal to heal Perrin, Rand, and injured wolves before collapsing from exhaustion.
• Min — Min fights with a cudgel and dagger, witnesses the aftermath, and checks on both Perrin and Rand, expressing concern for their states.
• Rand (the Dragon Reborn, sheepherder) — Rand struggles to channel Saidin during the battle, setting trees on fire instead of stopping the attack, and later suffers from a reopened wound at Falme which Moiraine heals, leading him to resolve to fight despite his fears.
• Masema — Masema declares the wolves' intervention a divine sign for the Dragon Reborn's cause, arguing that they should go forth to battle immediately.
• Loial — Loial fights the Trollocs with his quarterstaff, creating a protected area for himself, and leans wearily on his staff after the battle.
• Morning Mist — Morning Mist is a wolf who survives the battle and howls to the moon to mourn the dead members of the pack alongside Perrin in his wolf persona.