Shadowcat

Shadowcats are a species of large, predatory feline native to the lands beyond the Wall, feared for their ferocity and untamable nature. In the lore of the free folk and the skinchangers, they occupy a distinct and dangerous place among the beasts that a warg might attempt to claim. Unlike dogs or wolves, which can be bonded with and controlled, shadowcats are described as vain, cruel, and always ready to turn on their master. This makes them a perilous choice for any skinchanger, a warning passed down through generations of those who share the gift of entering an animal's skin.

Nature and Reputation

The hunter Haggon, a mentor to the powerful skinchanger Varamyr Sixskins, held strong views on which beasts were fit for a warg to wear. He taught that cats, including shadowcats, were best left alone. "Cats were vain and cruel, always ready to turn on you," he warned, a lesson that Varamyr remembered even as he lay dying. This reputation for treachery and independence sets shadowcats apart from more tractable animals like dogs, which are described as being almost human in their willingness to accept a collar, or even wolves, which can be befriended and broken. A shadowcat, by contrast, is a creature of pure, selfish instinct, a predator that serves no master but its own hunger and whim.

Association with Skinchangers

Despite the dangers, shadowcats were not entirely avoided by all skinchangers. Varamyr, as a boy known as Lump, was fascinated by the variety of beasts he encountered at a gathering of wargs. Among them was a woman named Briar, who had bonded with a shadowcat. The sight of her and her beast filled the young Lump with a powerful desire: "the moment he saw them, Lump wanted a shadowcat of his own." This desire speaks to the allure of the shadowcat—a symbol of power, stealth, and wild beauty that a skinchanger might covet, even knowing the risks. The shadowcat's presence at this gathering confirms that while Haggon's warnings were heeded by many, the temptation to master such a formidable creature was strong for some.

Narrative Significance

In the narrative, the shadowcat serves as a potent symbol of the dangers of unchecked power and the inherent treachery of certain bonds. Varamyr's own experience with his shadowcat mirrors the creature's fabled nature. When his eagle was killed, the psychic shock caused him to lose control of all his beasts. His shadowcat, true to its reputation, "raced into the woods," abandoning him. His snow bear, another dangerous beast, turned on him in rage. This loss of control underscores the lesson that some creatures, like the shadowcat, can never be truly mastered; they are only ever temporarily dominated, and the moment the skinchanger's will falters, they will revert to their wild, predatory nature. The shadowcat thus becomes a cautionary emblem of the hubris involved in trying to claim a beast that is fundamentally untamable.