Nighteyes

The next fictional animal is a wolf -- and he's the second from the Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb. Mum, who seems determined to get in up to the elbows in this blog, chose the extracts for this one, since she loves Nighteyes so much.

"I came to the animal vendor's stall, and stood face to face with myself. He was gaunt, with bleak dark eyes. He glared at me balefully, and the waves of hatred pulsing out from him washed over me in greeting. Our hearts beat to the same rhythm. I felt my upper lip twitch, as if to snarl up and bare my pitiful human teeth. I straightened my featured, battened my emotion back under control. But the caged wolf cub with the dirty grey coat stared up at me, and lifted his black lips to reveal all his teeth. I hate you. All of you. Come, come closer. I'll kill you. I'll rip out your throat after I hamstring you. I'll feast on your entrails. I hate you."

Despite this first meeting, Nighteyes is Fitz's last and most important bond companion. Fitz rescues him from being sold, and gets him up to health, intending to just let him go... but they end up bonding closer and tighter than any of Fitz's other companions. Nighteyes is with Fitz for a long, long time -- throughout the three Farseer books.

"Cold nose against my cheek. I opened my eyes. He sat there, regarding me. Cub.

Nighteyes, he corrected me. My mother named me Nighteyes. I was the last of my litter to get my eyes open. He snuffed, then sneezed suddenly."