Banja

"I was awful to those two wolves when they arrived at the Ring, especially Edme because, well.... she was like me! Missing one eye. I took all my bitterness out on her. I am so ashamed... so ashamed I would never dare ask anything from her."

— Banja to Gwynneth after she finds Banja with her pup Maudie in Spirit Wolf

Banja
Banja is a red she-wolf.
General Info	Species: Dire Wolf Gender: Female
Family	Maudie (daughter) Unnamed male wolf (former mate)
Description	Fur: Red Eyes: Green Deformity: One eye
Clan/Pack	Clan: Unknown Pack: Unknown
Appearences	Shadow Wolf, Watch Wolf, Frost Wolf, Spirit Wolf
Current and Previous Status	Current: Deceased, in the Cave of Souls Past: Malcadh, Gnaw Wolf, Watch Wolf, traveler; traveling to The Distant Blue
Fate	Deceased
Abilities	N/A
Deformities	One eye

Banja is a red female Dire wolf, and a member of the Sacred Watch. Banja despised Edme because of the she-wolf's one eye, and henceforth, took all her hatred out on her. However, all her bitterness dissolved once she became a mother. It is unknown what clan she is from, but it is assumed (not confirmed) the MacDuncan Clan. Banja also thinks that because of how horrible she was to Edme, she doesn't deserve her second eye or her pup, Maudie.

Description

Banja is a tawny, reddish female dire wolf, with one missing eye, declaring her a malcadh  at birth. However, when the earthquake struck, the Great Mending occurred, and the she-wolf's second eye was returned. Banja's eyes are green, and she has a black or brown nose.

Family

Maudie- Birth Daughter

History

Shadow Wolf

At the gaddergnaw, Mhairie and Dearlea confuse Banja with another red Watch wolf with a bad eye. It is unknown who the other wolf is, but the sisters tell Faolan that the red wolves were littermates who were both malcadhs.

Watch Wolf

Banja first appears when Faolan and Edme arrive at the Ring and are welcomed by the Fengo. When Finbar tells Edme she will not be turned away because her clan is to be judged, Banja suggests that Edme continue as a gnaw wolf because she was a malcadh made. Finbar scolds Banja, complaining about her attitude. When Edme practices scanning jumps, she does very well until Banja deliberately distracts her, causing her to fall on her rump. Winks doesn't notice at first, but then warns Banja not to laugh so loud. Banja apologizes for telling a joke too loudly, but Winks says not only is it a limerick, but the wind is blowing her words toward Edme. Edme mentions that Banja taught her once in Winks's absence, but due to her failure to jump on a keybone properly, Banja caused her to get dalach'd and banned from jumping for three nights. Edme tells Faolan that Banja called both of them "moldwarpy curs". When the Fengo plans for Faolan and Edme to save Toby from the Pit, Banja expresses worry that Edme will decide to rejoin the MacHeaths, her former clan. Edme accuses Banja of calling her a traitor. When Banja asks if Edme will abandon Faolan in the Pit, Faolan attacks her, and the Fengo has to pull Faolan off of Banja, and forces them to do paw right. Faolan lifts his splayed paw, yet Banja begins to tremble and says she can't. The Fengo tells her to touch or be dalach'd. The red wolf swallows, touches it, then turns and stumbles away.

Frost Wolf

When Faolan and Edme return from scouting, they head to their den near the volcano of Stormfast. Banja comes in, telling them to go on watch, as many of the cairns were left "untopped" with most wolves scouting.

Colleen was passing and caught the edge of Banja's rant. She tells Banja that Faolan and Edme had been on scout for four days and they need to rest. Colleen tells her that the Fengo would like to see them in the gadderheal. Banja asks why they would be at the raghnaid, considering that young Watch wolves attending raghnaids is an offense to the Order.

Spirit Wolf

Banja is now a sweet mother of her golden pup, that she was not supposed to have, Maudie. Banja no longer holds grudges or is mean to Edme, and if Edme ever wishes her off to the Dim World, she wouldn't care or protest. "I really just want to be a mum."

Gwynneth brings both Maudie and Banja to join the other survivors while Edme is trapped in the crevasse. Banja instantly agrees to their plan to rescue Edme. Due to her strong legs formed by long years at the Watch, Banja is placed at the back of the chain, with Mhairie in front of her.

Banja shrieks for Maudie in the fog bank outside the spirit woods. A yip greets her in response, with Banja gathering her daughter to her. The red wolf comforts Edme, who is terrified for Myrr.

When the group comes upon The Crystal Plain, Banja nervously asks if this is a glacier, pulling Maudie close.

Star Wolf

Banja and Maud continue to travel with the wolves. When Abban is abducted by Heep, Banja and Caila set out alone to rescue him. When Abban yips, Banja tries to stop Caila from going to him because it made no sense for him to yip for milk, having been weaned. Caila, however, runs out and the wolves attack Heep's rout. Caila rips off Heep's tail and Heep, in his fury, kills the first wolf he lays eyes on; Banja, who ran over to help Caila. Edme runs to Banja, who's vital artery was cut. Edme tries to keep Banja from speaking, telling her they would care for Maudie. Banja manages to say "I... trust... you." before she dies.

At the end of the book, Banja's lochin is seen climbing up the star ladder, being led by Bells the moth.    

Personality

Banja with her pup, Maudie.

Banja was once a nasty, bitter she-wolf. Rude, arrogant, mean and snotty, she is "As prickly as burr," as Finbar had said. Banja is thought to hate Edme, merely because she was technically not born a malcadh, considering that her first appearance is of her questioning Edme.

However, in Spirit Wolf, when catastrophe strikes, Banja gives birth to a "perfect" pup, Maudie. She begins to change, as she wasn't able to know what it felt like to love someone. She apologizes to Edme for all the mean things she did, and says she doesn't deserve her new second eye and pup for her sins. She explains why she bullied Edme: she had one eye too, and took all her bitterness on her.

Death

Banja is killed by Heep after Caila rips off his tail. Heep, angered, lashes out at the wolf next to him and slashes Banja's neck. Edme rushed to her and told her that she would keep her promise to protect Maudie. Banja's last words were "I trust you."

Quotes

Banja: "Pardon me, honorable Fengo."

Finbar: "Yes Banja. You have something to say?"

^{Watch Wolf, 76}

"I do not think it is at all adviseable that we permit Edme to go on this mission. She is, after all, a MacHeath. Suppose she decides to join them."

―Banja

Colleen: "Banja, don't be ridiculous. For Lupus' sakes, these two have been on scout for four days. They need to rest, but even before they rest, the Fengo would like to see them in the gadderheal."

Banja: "What? They are being called to the gadderheal? But the raghnaid is about to meet. I was on my way there."

^{Frost Wolf, 19}

Edme: "Don't speak Banja. I remember my promise, our promise. Gwynneth and I vowed to take care of Maudie. We will. We will. I'll... I'll raise her as if she were my own- I promise you... I... I'll never let her forget you. Never ever!"

Banja: "I... trust... you."

^{Star Wolf, 205}

Trivia

• It was mistakenly mentioned that she had a brown pelt in Frost Wolf.
• It is still unknown who her mate was.
• Banja hated Edme because they were both missing an eye.
• Her name could derive from the Irish "bain de", (pronounced "ban ge") meaning to take away. This could work, as when Faolan and Edme came to the Ring, Banja "took away" their happiness.