| “ | As the three other cardinal winds, we're best suited to suss out who might be the most fit to rule the North. Assuming one of them proves suitable at all. Best to let us determine that as well. | „ |
| ~ The East Wind to Snow White and Bigby Wolf in Fables #110 — "Allies: Chapter Three of Inherit the Wind" |
The West Wind is a powerful Fable from the Homelands, and one of the four cardinal winds. He first appears in Fables #109 — "Cardinal Virtues: Chapter Two of Inherit the Wind."
History
The West Wind
The East Wind is an ancient[5] deity,[2] and one of the four cardinal winds.[3] He goes by the names Eurus, Fei Lian, and Dragon of the East.[1]
The East Wind, South Wind and West Wind refer to each other as "cousins,"[1][3] but they also claim to be the granduncles and grandaunt of Bigby Wolf's cubs.[1] This could either mean that the West Wind, East Wind, South Wind and North Wind (Bigby's father) are siblings; or that they are actual cousins, which would actually make them the cubs' great-granduncles and -aunt.
Adversary's conquest
Back in the Homelands, during what would be the mundane world's 19th century, the Adversary had conquered every kingdom there was to conquer. The majority of the Fables who planned to flee had already done so. There was only one remaining gateway to the mundane world, hidden behind the keep at world's end. The keep was situated beyond the houses of the four winds, so as the Fables sought refuge there, they had to pass by these houses along the way.[6]
Inherit the wind
After the North Wind passes away, his subordinate winds declare that a new North Wind has to be chosen from one of the cubs of his son, Bigby Wolf.[7] During the tryouts at the North Wind's castle, the three remaining cardinal winds make a surprise appearance. The East Wind says, as he has apparently said before, that this will be a year of profound opportunity.[3]
Much to Snow White and Bigby's shock, the three declare that they wish to take possession of their children. The West Wind explains that it is only fit that the offspring of one of the Great Houses be fostered in the courts of other kings, with the East Wind adding that as they are the three other cardinal winds, they are best suited to decide who is most fit to rule the North, or whether any of them is suited at all. However, Bigby will not allow this, and orders the three to keep their hands off the cubs and states that they'd better behave themselves as proper guests in his father's house. As tensions rise, the senior attendant of the North Wind, Mistral, attempts to defuse the situation. The East Wind rudely questions his presence and snidely comments on the apparent infestation of skittering, creeping things in the castle. Mistral, having apparently mentioned it before, reminds them of who he is and who he used to work for. He graciously invites the trio to a lavish dinner that has been specially prepared in their honor.[1]
The three cardinal winds gather together to discuss in private. The East Wind raises the issue of Bigby's threats and his reminder of their place in his father's home. He points out that they are obliged to conduct themselves under the North Wind's roof. However, the West Wind has a different opinion on the matter. He suggests that they kill the entire Wolf family and construct a new North Wind from pure materials. The South Wind wonders if his opinion is colored by past resentment, as the West had a falling out with the North Wind. The West Wind reminds her that the North Wind insulted the venerable House of the West, and even named deformed winds, Zephyrs, after him. The East Wind thinks this was but a small slight, but the West Wind counters that this is not for him to decide, since he was not his target. The East Wind concedes that this is true. The South Wind proposes a more practical solution: They should conduct themselves as proper guests until Bigby has another outburst. When that happens, they will be "fully justified" in stepping in with force. The other winds agree to the plan, with a few modifications from the East Wind, who suggests that they not only kill the entire wolf clan, but the North Wind's attendant winds as well, to start with a clean slate. The West Wind and the South Wind both agree.[1]
Later, it becomes clear to the winds that the testing might place the children in mortal danger, and the East Wind remarks that if the cubs are killing themselves in the process of testing, the fewer the winds will have to take out when they are compelled to step in. The West Wind reminds the other two that there will still be blood on their hands, as in they will have to finish off the survivors. The East Wind responds that they will see.[8]
The new North Wind
One of the cubs, Winter, is eventually chosen as the new North Wind. The three Winds watch in silence, with the West Wind referring to the new development as a setback, but the East Wind shushes him, telling him to mind the occasion.[8] However, Winter becomes very afraid when she starts having premonitions of her older self as a cold and selfish North Wind that hurts people. The East Wind is pleased with this recent development and comments on how wonderful it is that the new North Wind is timid.[9]
The new North Wind tests her newfound powers by teleporting herself and her family back to Wolf Manor in the mundane world. The East Wind and Mistral join them without being asked, as unwanted guests. The East Wind comments on how small their world appears, and Mistral enthusiastically adds that it is indeed a terribly tiny world. Bigby makes the decision to pause Winter's training during the Christmas holiday, with plans to resume after the new year. Both Mistral and the East Wind object, feeling that her training should continue without delay. The East Wind suggests that they can continue training at this location, instead of having to go back to the North Wind's keep. However, Winter's parents remind them that they were not invited and therefore cannot stay in the manor. Bigby wishes the pair a merry Christmas and reminds them to meet back at the castle in two weeks.[10]
After two of Bigby's cubs, Therese and Darien, disappear without a trace, he calls upon all three cardinal winds to come to the mundane world and aid in their search. The East Wind appears irritated by this, questioning what Bigby's latest request is. Bigby instructs them to scour all the worlds they govern and any others within their reach. In exchange for their success, he promises to find a suitable reward for them.[2] The three reluctantly comply, although the West Wind complains that they have been reduced to currying favors with mortals. However, the East Wind counters that Bigby is far from mortal, and sometimes good work has its own value. At first, the three search the worlds together, until the South Wind suggests that they split up to cover more worlds faster.[11]
Eventually, the three individuals make an attempt to convince the recently appointed North Wind to seek advice and input from all of them before making important decisions, leveraging their combined experience and wisdom. But now, Winter has fully embraced her power and refuses to be treated with condescension or coddling. She orders them to depart at once and return to their respective realms, or else feel her wrath. The trio hastily retreats, pursued by the strong gusts of the North Wind.[5]
In the end, Winter enlists the help of the three winds as soldiers in an army for her mother Snow White. Snow White is currently facing a possible civil war with her sister Rose Red. Winter emphasizes the importance of showing no signs of impending war, and she commands them to follow her orders on this matter or face the repercussions.[12] Later, Winter summons her newly formed army to gather outside Wolf Manor and proudly presents them to her mother, who is left in awe. Thankfully, a war is avoided as Snow and her sister reach an agreement to disband their armies and peacefully go separate ways.[13]
Physical appearance
The East Wind takes the form of an obese East Asian man. He does appear to have some physical traits similar to his great-nephew Ambrose Wolf.[3]
Appearances
Fables
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The Unwritten Fables
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Original source
The East Wind is based on Eurus from Greek mythology, and Feilian from Chinese mythology. As implied in Fables: The Last Castle, and confirmed in Fables #99 — "Dark City," he is also based on the East Wind from the Norwegian fairy tale of "East of the Sun and West of the Moon."
References
See also
| Jack of Fables | |
|---|---|
| Characters | Jack Horner • Kevin Thorn • Gary • Mr. Revise • Robin Page • Priscilla Page • Hillary Page • Jack Frost • Babe • Snow Queen • Wicked John • Alice |
| Locations | Fabletown • Golden Boughs Retirement Village |
| Wolf family | |
|---|---|
| "Patmat" | Snow White • Bigby Wolf |
| The cubs | Winter • Blossom • Therese • Darien • Conner • Ambrose • Ghost |
| Allies | Beauty • Beast • Cinderella • Briar Rose • Boy Blue • King Cole • Prince Charming • Sam • Herne • Herne, son of Herne |
| Enemies | Mister Dark • Leigh Duglas • Prince Brandish • Peter Pan |
| Locations | Wolf Valley • The Hesse |
| Other relatives | North Wind • Winter • Lauda • Lauda's husband • Queen of the Silver Realm • Rose Red • West Wind • East Wind • South Wind • Etan Wolf • Lake • Tannika Wynn • Sam's great-grandson • Hel |