| “ | The North Wind is dead. Let all of his taint upon the worlds die with him. Then we can contruct a new North Wind from pure materials. | „ |
| ~ The West Wind plotting with the East Wind and South Wind 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 West Wind is an ancient[5] deity,[3] and one of the four cardinal winds.[2] He goes by the names Zephyrus and Yaponcha.[1]
The West Wind, the East Wind, and the South Wind refer to each other as "cousins,"[1][2] 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 West Wind declares that it is time to set things straight, and the South Wind agrees.[2]
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. However, Bigby will not allow this, and orders the three to keep their hands off the cubs. The West Wind responds by calling Bigby a "mongrel creature," at which Bigby makes it clear that he is the son of the North Wind, the one who defeated his father in single combat (which is technically correct), and states that they'd better behave themselves as proper guests in his father's house. When tensions threaten to boil over, the North Wind's senior attendant Wind, Mistral, steps between the two, saying that there is no need for violence. The West Wind asks him how he dares appear before them in such a disreputable guise. Mistral politely shapeshifts into a more elegant form, explaining that his former master liked his servants lowly and humble, but their comfort is their highest priority. He then invites the three to the fine dinner they've prepared in their honor.[1]
The three cardinal winds talk in private, with the West Wind believing that the wolf's threat is mostly bluff and bluster. He states that he has often dealt with his kind in the Lands of the West, saying that wolves can be as "cunning as Coyote himself" when pressed. The East Wind points out that they are obliged to conduct themselves under the North Wind's roof, but the West Wind disagrees. He says that the North Wind was an unmannered barbarian, and they should have no obligation to observe civilized courtesies in his home when he ignored all civility throughout his life. 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 Wind has a personal enmity with the North and 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 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 killed the entire wolf clan, but the North Wind's attendant winds as well. 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.[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.[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 West Wind appears to be pleased by this new development, smiling as the East Wind and South Wind voice their delight.[9]
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 West Wind is annoyed at this, saying that they're gods, and should not have to be at Bigby's beck and call. 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.[3] The three reluctantly comply, although the West Wind refers to the missing cubs as "two insignificant lost children." The South Wind believes that it is to their advantage to hold the wolf's gratitude, but the West Wind scoffs at this, saying that they have been reduced to currying favors with mortals. However, the East Wind counters that Bigby is far from mortal. At first, the three search the worlds together, until the South Wind suggests that they split up to cover more worlds faster. The West Wind wholeheartedly agrees, as this solutions means that they can end this "farce" all the quicker.[10]
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. The West Wind also reminds Winter that she is young, while the three of them have lived for long ages. 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.[11] 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.[12]
Yaponcha in the alternative universe
Alternate universe
An alternative version of the West Wind, only referred to as Yaponcha, appears in The Unwritten Fables, which takes place in an alternate universe where Mister Dark was never defeated. In this universe, his hair retains its chalky white hue, but the tone of his skin is flesh-colored[13] rather than the typical taupe shade of the original West Wind.[2] Here, Yaponcha is one of the Great Powers who appears before Mr. Dark in his castle, in a futile attempt to persuade him not to claim their territories for his own, with Yaponcha representing the winds. While Mister Dark spares the other Great Powers, Hope is not as fortunate. He commands her to stay behind, while allowing the rest of them to leave. As he exits, Yaponcha offers kind words to Hope: "Go well, sister. You're in my thoughts."[13]
Physical appearance
The West Wind takes the form of a Native American, although his pale taupe skin color and chalk white hair makes it clear that he is not human.[2]
Appearances
Fables
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The Unwritten Fables
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Original source
The West Wind is based on Zephyrus, the West Wind from Greek mythology, and Yaponcha, the Hopi wind god from Native American mythology.[14] As implied in Fables: The Last Castle, and confirmed in Fables #99 — "Dark City," he is also based on the West Wind from the Norwegian fairy tale of "East of the Sun and West of the Moon."
Trivia
Paying homage to his Native American roots, in Fables #110 — "Allies: Chapter Three of Inherit the Wind," the West Wind references their mythology by likening wolves (specifically, Bigby) to the legendary Coyote.
References
See also
| 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 |