Into the Arctic

For thousands of years arctic cultures have used dogs for transportation. Packs of huskies hauled sleds and herded reindeer for Inuit, Sámi and Eskimo cultures, but the practice continued into the age of polar exploration. A common feature of the Siberian husky, like this one at Ruka in Finland, are the piercing blue eyes. It’s a mutation of the ALX4 gene, which results in reduced pigment production in the eyes and causes them to appear blue. Perhaps George RR Martin’s direwolves have the same?