Osha, the female wildling who has a deep connection to Bran Stark, has been watching him in Wolfswood north of Winterfell for some time. She is worried about Bran’s safety, and is afraid of the White Walkers. Because of this, she has fled south of the Wall with two other wildlings. It is not clear why Osha helped Bran. The answer is revealed in the Season 3 episode seven.
Bran, Osha and Rickon are the remaining Stark children. Rickon and Osha have been absent from the show for two seasons. When Bran returns, Osha looks after him and the others follow. Why did Rickon and Bran leave Winterfell? Because they were afraid of Theon Greyjoy’s evil plot. However, Bran and Rickon are forced to leave Winterfell with the help of Osha.
Osha’s first act when she kidnaps Bran is to pardon him. She wanted to take Bran to Mance Rayder and use him as leverage to gain access to the castle. She knew it was wrong, but she still gave up her life, even if it meant letting other characters harm Bran. Jojen and the rest of the gang help Bran escape, but the Children of the Forest make her die. Bran is thrown into an enchanted cave by the Three-Eyed Raven, where he declares that he will never be able to walk again.
The death of Osha is another factor for Osha’s appearance in the novels and TV series. Her death in Season 3 is an invention of the television series. In the novels, Osha is a relatively minor character. Her name and purpose are not mentioned in the books. It is a mystery that she was a major character until the TV series brought her back. So, what was Osha’s role in the TV series?
Osha might have had the same reasons Rickon, a Wildling, did. Osha might have wanted to see unicorns, and Osha’s place in the Skagos. The Skagos, like the Starks, are similar to Wildlings, but they are located on an island away from the main continent. Skagos are unlikely not to pay ransom for rivals, but they have rebelled against the Starks in the past.
Osha’s name also carries powerful animal and natural associations. She is an ally for lost children, just like the she-wolf that suckled the babies Romulus and Remus then protected them. Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book depicts a mother wolf who stares down Shere Khan the vicious Tiger. The lost children of myth are often destined to great things.
Osha also orchestrated Rickon’s escape from Winterfell. He and his companions were able to pull it off. The last episode of the season included scenes of Bran and Rickon’s journey toward the Three-Eyed Raven. They eventually reach the Three-Eyed Raven, where they meet the Three-Eyed Raven. Osha was a great guide for Rickon and Bran, and was greatly appreciated by the fans.