Direwolves

A direwolf is a wolf made larger in every way. A grown one can stand as tall as a pony. Its legs are longer for its body than a common wolf’s, and its head and jaws are bigger. Grey is the common coat, and black; once in a long while one is born white, with red eyes.

They hunt in packs like their smaller cousins, and they are cleverer than any hound. A grown direwolf can maim a man in a moment. The Starks have carried one on their banner longer than anyone can remember, grey on white, running.

None has been seen south of the Wall in two hundred years. Beyond it, men say, they still run. In Winterfell there are stone direwolves enough: one curls at the feet of every lord in the crypts.