I recently finished `Lord of Chaos`, book 4 in the Wheel of Time, and I just felt the need to share how very touched I was by Perrin and his loyalty to Rand, his loyalty to the wolves, and their loyalty back to him. I think the scene at the end was an incredible display of solidarity and what it means to take on the impossible.
This scene felt like a call to action, to find my own wolf brothers, my own community, and build up our mutual trust. To be a part of something that has such solidarity that I know I can count on those near me and they know they can count on me.
How do you all feel about this scene? About what I pulled from it?
I know Perrin's not always a favorite, but how do you feel about him here? Did others take something different away from this?
So the context, for those that might want a refresh; Perrin discovers that Rand has likely been taken by the White Tower's "ambassadors" and fears that his friend is doomed as well as all the plans they've been working on to prevent the end of the world. He gets the Aiel's spear sisters and wise ones on the same page and organized to hunt the Aes Sedai Sisters, to free Rand, despite all the common sense to not directly oppose the powerful Aes Sedai. This group is loyal to Rand and has lost honer due to their charge being taken out from under their noses. They know that their chance of success is very small, but they have to try. Perrin starts using his connection to the wolves to help track and find where the Sisters are and to try and understand how challenging the fight will be.
These wolves are largely not on a personal level with Perrin, and certainly not with Rand. There's an introduction phase when Perrin starts communing with the nearby packs as he tries to convince them to help. Eventually Perrin gets a distant voucher on the wolf communication network and the horde of nearby pack join Perrin in the search. Some of the wolves find the "two-legs" that Perrin is hunting and warn him against attacking because they are "many many many..." as the human numbers are beyond count, at least for wolves. The obvious wisdom here is to avoid this huge gathering of humans, attacking it will likely only result in incredible loss and defeat; but the wolves know the importance of The Dragon.
Perrin knows this attack will be foolish and he'll likely die, likely lead them all to death, but he knows must oppose this travesty of justice when he see's it, and must at least try to save his friend. The wolves know his determination to be pure and complete, and every wolf that can make it to the area joins the fight after a simple, resounding "We come."
The fight is epic and, while Perrin's party and the wolves do have losses, their presence and tenacity combined with a lucky twist of fate help to defeat a seemingly insurmountable foe. The whole battle is full of notable moments that bring forth various emotions; but this initial act of solidarity among the wolves/wolf-brother really hit me hard. "We come", to support your cause, even if it means death for us all. "We come" because this is important to you, and so it's important to us. "We come" because we know you to be true and if you're fighting injustice, so are we. "We come."
Politics these days have gotten insane, and it feels like it's only going to get worse before it can potentially get better. I think this level of solidarity, this commitment to your wolf-brothers, those you love and your community; and recognizing injustice done upon them, standing in solidarity,
fighting for their cause, even if you don't fully understand it, even if it puts your comfort in jeopardy, is one of the only ways we can claw a path to some kind of sustainable stability.
These wolves are largely not on a personal level with Perrin, and certainly not with Rand. There's an introduction phase when Perrin starts communing with the nearby packs as he tries to convince them to help. Eventually Perrin gets a distant voucher on the wolf communication network and the horde of nearby pack join Perrin in the search. Some of the wolves find the "two-legs" that Perrin is hunting and warn him against attacking because they are "many many many..." as the human numbers are beyond count, at least for wolves. The obvious wisdom here is to avoid this huge gathering of humans, attacking it will likely only result in incredible loss and defeat; but the wolves know the importance of The Dragon.
Perrin knows this attack will be foolish and he'll likely die, likely lead them all to death, but he knows must oppose this travesty of justice when he see's it, and must at least try to save his friend. The wolves know his determination to be pure and complete, and every wolf that can make it to the area joins the fight after a simple, resounding "We come."
The fight is epic and, while Perrin's party and the wolves do have losses, their presence and tenacity combined with a lucky twist of fate help to defeat a seemingly insurmountable foe. The whole battle is full of notable moments that bring forth various emotions; but this initial act of solidarity among the wolves/wolf-brother really hit me hard. "We come", to support your cause, even if it means death for us all. "We come" because this is important to you, and so it's important to us. "We come" because we know you to be true and if you're fighting injustice, so are we. "We come."
Politics these days have gotten insane, and it feels like it's only going to get worse before it can potentially get better. I think this level of solidarity, this commitment to your wolf-brothers, those you love and your community; and recognizing injustice done upon them, standing in solidarity,
fighting for their cause, even if you don't fully understand it, even if it puts your comfort in jeopardy, is one of the only ways we can claw a path to some kind of sustainable stability.
How do you all feel about this scene? About what I pulled from it?
I know Perrin's not always a favorite, but how do you feel about him here? Did others take something different away from this?
