Summer is Bran Stark’s direwolf and the litter mate to Ghost, Grey Wind, Nymeria, Lady, and Shaggydog. He accompanies Bran on his mission to find the three-eyed crow alongside Jojen Reed, Meera Reed, and Hodor. Thought to be wiser than his littermates, Summer becomes a crucial part of Jojen’s crew as he helps to hunt for food. He eventually saves Jon Snow, who joins the Free Folk.
Summer Details
- Name: Summer.
- Owner: Bran Stark.
- Year of Birth: 298 AC.
- Aliases: The Grey Brother Who Smelled of Summer, Prince of the Woods, Prince of the Green, Prince of the Wolfswood.
- Fur Color: Silver-grey.
- Eye Color: Golden.
Relevance in A Song of Ice and Fire
A Game of Thrones
While returning from Gared’s execution, Robb Stark and his half-brother Jon Snow find a litter of six direwolf pups near their dead mother. Their father, Lord Eddard Stark, orders the pups to get killed, but Bran, the youngest of the group, begs his father to let them keep the animals. After persuasion from Jon, Ned agrees, and all the pups get taken to Winterfell. Bran finds difficulty in naming his new direwolf pup as he rummages through many ideas.
While climbing the walls of Winterfell, Bran sees Queen Cersei Lannister and her brother Jaime Lannister sleeping together. Jaime pulls him into the building and throws him off, hoping he dies. However, Bran enters a coma-like state, and while he is unconscious, his pet pitches outside his tent and howls. Summer returns and continues howling even after getting chased away.
When Eddard Stark leaves for King’s Landing with his daughters Arya Stark and Sansa Stark, an intruder enters Bran’s room and tries to kill him. However, Summer sneaks in on him while he faces Catelyn Stark and tears his throat apart. Bran eventually wakes up and names his direwolf Summer.
When Tyrion Lannister returns from Castle Black, he stays at Winterfell. Summer and his siblings, Shaggydog and Grey Wind, corner him and almost attack him, but they get called off by their masters. Realizing Bran will never walk again, Tyrion designs a special carriage for him so he can ride a horse. During Bran’s first outing on his special carriage, Summer and the others leave him searching for deer. A small party of wildlings emerge from hiding and try robbing him, but Robb and Summer come to the rescue. He kills a wildling called Hali but receives a knife wound. All the attackers die except Osha, who gets taken prisoner.
A Clash of Kings
Not realizing he is a warg, Bran gets many dreams where he sees through Summer’s eyes. After Catelyn Stark makes a deal with Lord Walder Frey, she takes Little Walder and Big Walder as her wards. However, Shaggy bites Little Walder Frey, and Ser Rodrick Cassel chains him and Summer to the godswood of Winterfell.
During the Harvest feast, Bran meets the Reeds and becomes friends. While together, Jojen questions Bran about his dreams and gets confrontational. When Summer realizes his master is distressed, he chases Meera and Jojen up a tree. Meanwhile, Theon Greyjoy betrays Robb Stark and takes his men to capture Winterfell.
During the sack of the castle, Bran’s direwolf tries climbing a sentinel but falls. He and his brother eventually escape and enter the forest. The Boltons arrest Theon and the Ironmen and burn Winterfell. Summer and Shaggydog reunite with their masters near the First Keep.
A Storm of Swords
Bran travels to meet the three-eyed crow with Meera, Jojen, and Hodor. He opens his third eye, becomes a full-fledged warg, and enters Summer’s mind as they travel through the northern mountains and wolfswood. On the journey, Summer confronts a pack of wolves over a carcass, and when he begins eating from the fresh kill, Jojen forces Bran out of his direwolf’s body with the interference of Hodor.
On reaching Queenscrow, Bran sees his brother, Jon Snow, with Styr and attacks the wildlings, killing at least three people. During the attack, Jon successfully escapes, but Summer sustains an injury to his hind leg. After the Red Wedding, Bran dreams of the death of Grey Wind, Robb Stark’s direwolf, through his pet. He then crosses the Wall through the Black Gate of the Night Fort with Sam’s help.
A Dance with Dragons
Summer limps on his wounded leg as he journeys with Bran, and his owner feels his pain when he enters his body. The group meets Coldhands and journeys till they reach a deserted wildling village. When Summer leaves to hunt, he sees some of Varamyr’s wolves, Sly, One Eye, and Stalker, eating the remains of the dead Night’s Watch deserters. He realizes that One Eye is not scared of him. However, after defeating the wolf, he assumes leadership of the pack.
Summer and his master reach the hill of the cave of the last greenseer, but some wights attack them. Bran enters Hodor’s mind and fights the beast until Leaf helps them. His direwolf continues hunting outside the cave of the three-eyed crow. He and his wolf pack see a wight snow bear and tear it into pieces, devouring it.
Relevance in Adaptation
In HBO’s Game of Thrones, Summer fervently protected Bran. Before reaching the cave of the three-eyed raven, he and his companions got captured at Craster’s Keep. However, Jon and members of the Night’s Watch unknowingly saved them. Upon getting rescued, Bran and his friends left and journeyed deeper beyond the Wall, where they met and fought White Walkers. Eventually, they reached the cave of the three-eyed raven, and in a battle that ensued, Summer, Hodor, and Jojen died. Bran became the new three-eyed raven.
Summer: The Loyal Pet
The direwolves of the Starks were their most loyal companions. Summer was no exception, as he protected Bran at every cost. Though he was an animal, the story showed how human he was as he felt the death of his brothers and sisters. He was one of the most faithful servants in A Song of Ice and Fire and was an excellent friend to his master.
FAQs
Does Bran’s direwolf die in the books?
No. As of ‘A Dance with Dragons,’ Summer is alive and well. He helped Bran fight off some wights when they reached the cave of the three-eyed crow and remained with him.
Is Summer the strongest of the Stark direwolf?
No. Summer is not the strongest Stark direwolf. That title likely goes to Ghost or Nymeria. However, Bran concluded that his pet was the smartest of his littermates.
Did Bran’s direwolf meet Jon Snow at the Wall?
Yes. After Jon joined the FreeFolk, Mance Rayder tasked him and others with scaling the Wall. On getting to Queenscrow, Styr orders Jon to kill a man. When he refuses, the wildlings begin suspecting him, but before they take any action, Summer comes rushing in, killing three men; this gives Jon enough time to escape.
Will Bran’s direwolf die in the coming books?
It is hard to say if Summer will die in the upcoming books. It is unlikely he will, as Varamyr had many wolves he controlled at once. Bran could use him to possess more animals when he grows more powerful.
