Jon
The fresh snow crunched under the two boys boots as they headed towards the gates of Winterfell. It served as a bitter reminder to Jon that he was named for this bleak, bitter substance and mainly that he was a bastard and would never be equal with his brother Rob,who walked beside him. His solemn pondering were interrupted as their younger sister Arya, jumped out from the shadows, "Where you guys headed?" she asks in curious tone riddled with mischief.
"Just out the to see the woods after a fresh snow," Rob quickly replied.
Just as the two boys turn to go, Arya jumped up in front of them," Can I go?"
"Don't you have needle work to be doing, little sister," Jon smirks.
"Don't you two have lessons to be at?"
"We figure that since Theon gets to go galavanting off to Karhold with father we should have are own adventure," Rob explained.
"Well, if I don't get to join in I'll go tell mother about your little adventure."
"Ugh, she's got us again, Snow."
"I guess she'll just have to join us then," Jon said with a rare smile momentarily lighting-up his face.
When they reach the gate Jory questions them spuriously," Where do you think you're going?"
unprepared Jon and Rob look at each other questioningly but Arya recovered quickest, "they are escorting me to the Godswood."
Jon got the impression Jory doesn't believe them, but allows them to pass anyway.
As soon as they were out of earshot Arya burst into laughter," without me where would you two be."
"Twice as close to our destination; you might have a gift for lying but you are rather slow," Rob smirked
"Oh ya, race you two idiots to that tree."
So they were off with Arya in the lead until Rob came up from behind and pushed her down. Then Jon saw his chance he race past Arya that had now grabbed Rob's leg; he felt the adrenaline pulsing through him as reached the tree. He laughed as he looked down upon his brother and sister wrestling in the fresh snow. "Who's the idiot now," he called out.
"Rob cheated!"
"You did too," Rob insisted pulling Arya and himself off the ground.
"So, where are we going," Arya said brushing herself off.
"To a secret place Snow and I found a few weeks ago."
"Now, you mustn't tell anyone, little sister."
"On my honor as a Stark of Winterfell," she said so solemnly that Jon couldn't help but grin.
"Now that that's settled we should get going; it looks like it might snow," said Rob distrustfully eyeing the sky.
"Old Nan said she felt it in her bones that an bad storm was coming."
"Old Nan also says the are Grumpkins and Snarks in the woods, Arya."
Jon thought the woods were very peaceful after a snow and wondered if this feeling was what his Uncle loved so much about ranging. He thought how nice it would be to join his uncle in the Nights' watch and leave his bastards title behind. Times like these were the only times that Jon truly felt like part of the family, Lady Stark made sure of that. Soon Jon herd another noise mingle with that of their footsteps. He knew Arya herd it to when she exclaimed, "We're going to the waterfall."
"Correct, little sister," Jon said as began to climb the rock along-side it.
"This place is no secret," she called up.
"Have you ever been behind the water fall," Rob shouted as he reached the top and walked into the waterfall.
Just as Rob disappeared Jon reached the top and just behind him came Arya. " After you, little sister," called over the rushing water.
"Though that water?"
Jon nodded.
"It'll freezing," she gasped.
"What happened to your adventurous spirit?"
And at that she reddened and was off. Jon waited a couple seconds to make sure she was through and then he walked into the cold water. Just as soon as he was in h out the other side, at first it was pitch black but slowly his eyes adjusted to reveal his brother lighting a torch and his sister wringing out her skirt.
"Took you long-enough, Snow," Rob called out.
"Pipsqueak here took a little persuading."
"No, I didn't," Arya protested. "What are we doing here, anyway," she continued in an indignant tone.
"Snow and I want to explore some of the tunnels in this cave," Rob replied passing Jon a torch and heading for the left-most tunnel.
The dark cave walls seem to blend together so that Jon honestly couldn't say if they've been walking for hours or mere minuets. In the distance he begins to to see a dim light; as they walk the light grows a little-bit brighter with step. Jon begins to wonder if he's imagining it until he hears Rob call-out, "guys it looks like there's an exit."
"How long do you think we've been in here Stark," Jon asked in reply.
"It felt like ages, we should head back to Winterfell quickly or else someone might notice we're gone."
As soon Jon reached the exit he realized something was wrong, the light seemed too dim for the afternoon and sure-enough when Jon stepped out he was in a full-blown blizzard.
"How are going to get back in this, Stark," he called out as stood next to Rob.
"We could climb that hill and see if can find Winterfell?"
As Jon was considering that he herd Arya gasp as she stepped-out behind him. As Jon looked at her, he realized that she was only wearing a dress and that she must be freezing; sure-enough she was shivering.
"You're freezing, Arya, here take my furs," he said as he pulled off his furs and wrapped them around her.
"But you'll freeze," she said pushing them away.
"I'll be fine," he said trying to look less cold than he felt.
"We'll get back as soon as possible," Rob promised her and at last she accepted the furs.
"Your plan sounded as good as any, Rob," Jon said as he started climbing the snow-covered hill.
The longer they climbed the number his fingers got until he could barely feel them at all. The air seemed to be trying to suffocate him, burning his eyes, nose and lips. Once again his thoughts shifted to his uncle and the Wall, he wondered if it was often like this north of the Wall and if his Uncle was out in this same storm, right now. His thoughts were interrupted when he finally reached the top all he could see was grey the snow was not only trying to suffocate him the the world as-well it seemed.
"Well, we can't see it so I guess we'll just have to keep walking in one direction until we hit something we know," he shouted over the howell of the wind.
"Are you sure, Snow," Rob shouted back.
"No, but it beats sitting here and freezing to death."
"We wouldn't freeze to death if just waited for it to die-down," Rob yelled.
"What if it gets dark first," Jon shot back defensively.
"Would you two shut-up," Arya yelled over them as they both turned to look at her. "Now, if you two would taken look around instead of arguing like two old crones, you would of noticed that where we are."
"Where are we then," Rob shouted.
"See that stream down there," she asked.
"Ya, your point is…"
"Well, my bet is that's wolf stream and this is wolf mountain," she said and Jon instantly knew she was right.
Wolf stream was were they would go on warm days to swim or just float along with the current. Wolf Mountain met up with Wolf Stream a ways behind the Gods Wood meaning it was going to be a long cold walk back to Winterfell but at-least they knew where they were.
"Are you sure, Arya," Rob asked.
"I'm positive," she yelled against the howl of the wind.
Starting to shiver Jon yelled, "we have a long walk ahead of us; let's get going."
Jon could feel his entire body sting from the cold snow beating against him; in a effort to distract himself he instead thought of the warmth of Winterfell and what he would give to be inside warming himself by the fire. The going was slow with the snow already up over his ankle and nearly up to Arya's knee.
"Snow, how are you not frozen yet," Jon heard Rob call.
"It's not as cold as you'd think," Jon replied while trying to keep his teeth from chattering. Jon knew that Rob didn't believe him but he couldn't openly show weakness.
"You can have my outer jacket," Rob continued.
Jon was tempted but just then he saw the grey walls of Winterfell through the snow,"No, I'm fine."
"Just take it; your lips are turning blue,'' Rob insisted.
"For the second time, No," and just as Rob was about reply Jon continued," look, there's Winterfell, anyway."
"Have it your way then, Snow," Rob said indigently.
The only thing that kept Jon walking the last leg of their journey was the smoke coming from Winterfell.