House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6 ignited fan theories with the cryptic arrival of a wild dragon in the Vale. This unidentified fire-breathing creature has sparked intense speculation about its origins. Many fans believe this dragon in House of the Dragon could be Sheepstealer, a legendary creature for the books. But the question remains: how accurate are these speculations?
Here are all the details regarding the wild dragon seemingly stationed at the Vale.
Who is the wild dragon in the Vale in House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6?
The airborne beast in question is speculated to be the Sheepstealer. Nevertheless, the showrunners have yet to confirm the identity of this anonymous dragon.
In the latest episode, Rhaena and Joffrey are spotted taking a stroll when they stumble upon the charred carcass of some sheep. This hinted at the presence of a wild dragon in the Vale, with Rhaena also questioning Jeyne Arryn about the sight. If the source material of House of the Dragon is anything to go by, this fearsome creature is expected to be Sheepstealer.
This theory is further fueled by showrunner Ryan Condal’s recent comments. As per Dexerto, Condal previously stated that five new dragons would appear in Season 2. Of the five, Stormcloud and Moondancer have already debuted in the show.
According to George R.R. Martin’s Fire and Blood, Sheepstealer is a wild dragon who came into being during the era of Jaehaerys I Targaryen. Having remained unclaimed for most of its lifetime, the flying creature mostly targeted sheep for nutrition. However, the identity of the mysterious dragon in the Vale remains unknown at the time of writing.
Who could ride Sheepstealer in House of the Dragon?
In the books, Sheepstealer lays waste to several of his suitors before getting tamed by a bastard girl named Nettles.
As mentioned in Fire and Blood, Nettles used to appease Sheepstealer by regularly bringing him sheep. Eventually, the girl, presumably of Valyrian descent, succeeds in bonding with the wild dragon.
Nevertheless, Sheepstealer’s rider in the books has yet to be mentioned in House of the Dragon. So far, show creator Condal has avoided confirming or denying whether Nettles exists in the show. Thus, the wild dragon can have a retconned partner in the series.
The identity of the dragon and his subsequent rider currently remains a mystery. However, with two episodes still to premiere in season 2, fans could get an absolute answer sooner rather than later.
