One of the my favorite Favor quests in GOW: Ragnarok is βAnimal Instinctsβ where Kratos is tasked with destroying several Raider Camps that have been needlessly hunting wolves. Freya urges Kratos to extend empathy and care to the animals, especially his own wolves. However he continually chastises Speki And Svanna for exhibiting outward signs of fear (whining, hesitation).
But thereβs more to this. Beneath Kratosβ disdain, he sees himself in the wolves. Both trained with singular purposes, never afforded love, softness, nurturingβ only the expectation of survival at any cost. Thatβs why itβs so powerful when he allows himself the space to be vulnerable, gentle, and loving at the closure of the quests. By extending both physical and emotional comfort to Speki and Svanna, he is also extending that to himself.
They are not just beasts of burden, war, and violence. They are not just animals.
And neither is he.
