Chapter 27 - Shelter From the Storm

Summary

Perrin Aybara and Egwene al'Vere prepare to depart with the Tuatha'an as they prepare to change direction to the east, growing increasingly anxious about the potential threat to the camp while Elyas Machera insists on waiting despite Perrin's pleas to leave. Perrin experiences intense nightmares involving Ba'alzamon and burning wolves, which he communicates telepathically to the pack, signaling that the time has come to depart. The group bids a formal farewell to the Tuatha'an, including a ceremonial exchange with Raen, and sets out, with Elyas joining them to guide the way after sensing trouble.

Characters

• Perrin — Perrin frets over the slow pace of the Tuatha'an and argues with Elyas about leaving, fearing for the travelers' safety. He experiences a terrifying dream where Ba'alzamon burns a wolf, communicates this to the pack via telepathy, and eventually departs the camp with Egwene and Elyas after a formal farewell.
• Egwene — Egwene enjoys her time with the Tuatha'an, dancing and learning from the women, and accepts beads from Aram. She insists on staying with the group rather than remaining with the Tinkers, and departs with Perrin and Elyas, exchanging pleasantries with the departing hosts.
• Elyas (the strange bearded man) — Elyas refuses to hurry the Tuatha'an, insisting on waiting for 'something' to guide them. He declines to explain his reasons to Perrin, guides the departure after sensing danger, and joins the youths on their journey, communicating with his wolves about the impending threat.
• Bela — Bela is led out of the camp by a Tinker to be ridden by Egwene during their departure from the Tuatha'an.
• Dapple — Dapple expresses impatience with the slow travel and communicates with the other wolves about the dream of fire and death before ranging ahead to scout the path for the departing group.
• Hopper — Hopper, a scarred and grizzled wolf, waits for Dapple's command and communicates telepathically with the pack regarding the threat sensed in the dream before joining the group's departure.
• Wind — Wind, who despises hunting field mice, expresses impatience and communicates the dream's warning to Dapple before ranging out ahead to scout the way for the travelers.
• Burn — Burn is identified as a male wolf whose thoughts of leaving human troubles are suppressed by Dapple, and who communicates the dream's warning of heartfang and death to the pack.
• Raen (the Seeker) — Raen senses trouble by looking at the sky and smelling the air, deciding to change the Tuatha'an's direction. He cancels plans for a farewell feast due to the need for an early start, exchanges ceremonial words of peace with Elyas, and sees them to the edge of the trees.
• Ila (Raen's wife) — Ila provides Perrin with a large green cloak, looks sadly at his axe, and argues with her husband Raen and grandson Aram regarding Elyas's departure. She shows stiff politeness to Elyas.
• Aram — Aram gives Egwene a string of blue beads and a sprig of red leaves. He pleads with her to stay with the Tuatha'an, but she refuses, and he departs the farewell in a sullen manner.
• Mistress Luhhan — Appearing in Perrin's dream, Mistress Luhhan cooks in her kitchen, ignores the entrance of Ba'alzamon and the burning wolf, and checks the oven for bread.
• Ba'alzamon — Appearing in Perrin's dream, Ba'alzamon enters the kitchen, ignores the axe, and burns a wolf to ash with fire from his eyes. He claims Perrin as his own and throws a raven that pierces Perrin's eye in the nightmare.