ChapterTrack

Chapter 23 - Wolfbrother

Summary

Perrin and Egwene continue their journey to Caemlyn, struggling with hunger and the difficulty of leading each other as they alternate riding the mare Bela. They stumble upon a campfire tended by Elyas Machera, a recluse living in the forest with his pack of wolves, and accept his offer of food. After Egwene attempts to deceive Elyas with a fabricated backstory, the wolves reveal the lie through their psychic connection to Elyas. Perrin confesses their true predicament regarding the Trollocs and the Dark One, prompting Elyas to explain his history with the Aes Sedai and his own ability to communicate with the pack. Although Egwene insists they must proceed to Caemlyn and then Tar Valon, Elyas reveals that Dapple, the pack leader, has accepted Perrin's unique connection to the wolves and decides to accompany the pair south, while the wolf Burn departs in anger to hunt the pursuing enemies.

Characters

  • Perrin / Perrin Aybara — Perrin shares the burden of leading Egwene and riding Bela, sets snares that fail, and successfully hunts a rabbit with his sling. He cautiously investigates Elyas's camp, accepts food, and eventually confesses their true story to Elyas after the wolves expose Egwene's lie, later choosing to continue his journey to Caemlyn despite Elyas's offer to join the pack.
  • Egwene — Egwene insists on riding Bela and attempts to channel the One Power to make a fire, failing but refusing to stop trying. She accompanies Perrin to Elyas's camp, offers a detailed fabricated story from Saldaea which the wolves instantly detect as lies, and firmly asserts her determination to go to Caemlyn and Tar Valon.
  • Bela — Bela carries both Perrin and Egwene on their journey, appearing small and shaggy. She reacts with fear to the arrival of the wolves, rearing and screaming until the tension passes, and stands trembling but aware of the danger.
  • Elyas / Elyas Machera — Elyas is a lean, sun-browned man dressed in animal skins who lives in the forest with his wolves. He feeds Perrin and Egwene, reveals he can communicate with them psychically, and explains his history with the Aes Sedai. He assesses the pair's situation, accepts Perrin's gift of connection to the wolves, and decides to guide them south toward Caemlyn.
  • Dapple (the pack leader) — Dapple is a wolf with fur fading through shades of gray and a lighter gray patch on her face. She leads the pack and communicates with Elyas, eventually allowing Elyas to convey that Perrin should join them, and she remains part of the group that travels south with Perrin and Egwene.
  • Burn — Burn is a large wolf with a scar on his shoulder. He is hostile toward Perrin and Egwene, viewing them as easy prey and Trolloc-adjacent threats. He challenges Dapple's decision to help the humans and departs with other young males to hunt the Trollocs.
  • Hopper — Hopper is a wolf in Elyas's pack who looks at Perrin and seems to grin, appearing to acknowledge Perrin's potential ability to communicate with the wolves.
  • Wind — Wind is one of the wolves in Elyas's pack, identified by name among the group that surrounds the campfire.