Chapter 1

If you could only see the beast you've made of me
I held it in but now it seems you've set it running free
Screaming in the dark, I howl when we're apart
drag my teeth across your chest to taste your beating heart

-Florence and the Machine - Howl

Sansa Stark was alone in the woods. Escaping her father's wrath yet again. Her older sisters had never had it as bad as Sansa had. For she had killed their mother. She came sneaking in the night unawares. She brought with her a bright searing pain, the likes of which her mother had never felt with either of her sisters, and blood. So much blood. Only a tiny little infant, still a month shy of her speculated arrival. The rest of her family had never forgiven her.

The forest had become her sanctuary for more than half of her life. Where no man could reach her. She knew these woods so well, could hear someone coming yards away, plenty of time to hide or find safety. Whatever counted for safety these days anyway. If it came to the worst, she always had her bow and dagger. The entire realm being at war, there was nowhere safe of course. Her father's lands were being bled dry by the King. The stores were already low, and winter was coming.

The demand for food was rising by the day. So many were starving, dying. The market prices were outright robbery. The tension was palpable. Sansa snuck turnips, potatoes and stale bread to families most in need whenever she could. But it was not enough, would never be enough. The game in the forest had all been hunted. The hunters were gone weeks, returning only when they had finally managed to scrape up enough to trade for something worthwhile.

Sansa was walking through the dark, heavy forest, she could hear a softly flowing stream to the left of her. A blast of chill autumn air swirled her dirty skirts, and pulled at her copper red hair. She turned her flushed face into it and closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. She did not mind one bit being out here, alone, in the wild. No one can touch me here. I am invincible. Her father could not beat her. Her sisters would not mock or torment her. She did not have to stare into the eyes of hungry children she could not help. She hated the King. What good is war?! Of course HE won't suffer cruelly, sitting on his jeweled throne, gold crown atop his head. Growing fat as a hog while the country fades away or burns to ash. So much death, so much destruction.

Sansa wished she could fly away. Find somewhere warm and safe for winter. Just like a little bird. Away from all the cold and death. But she was not a little bird. She was just a young lady. Pah. She scoffs. She wanted nothing to do with being a lady. Flitting off to the King's royal balls like her sisters, held no appeal for her. I'd rather be a hunter or… Even a knight! Fighting in tournaments. Glory. That sounded far more exciting than dancing, or being leered at by boys and old men. Making sure to always be polite and endure their foolish stories and japes.

No, she was happiest right here. Not to say she did not dream of songs and fairytales at times, she was still a young woman. When she was younger she used to imagine she was a princess trapped in a tower by a wicked witch, until a strong and handsome prince rescued her from her prison. Whisking her away across the sea, bound for adventure and romance. I am no princess though, nor a bird. She would have to keep her feet firmly planted on the pine needles right where they belonged. No good ever came from having your head in the clouds.

Sansa was about to round for her home, as it was late enough now everyone should be fast asleep. She turned, and barely had time to register a flash of dark fur to the right of her before some thing let out the most blood curdling howl she had ever heard.

It's close. So so close, how could I possibly not have heard it sneaking up on me? Her skin broke out in gooseflesh and her scalp tingled. All the air left her lungs and she tasted metal. She had never been more frightened in all her life. She didn't even think to grab her bow. Sansa was frozen to the spot, she followed the thing with her eyes.

Growling deep in it's throat, the beast was circling her, just barely beyond the reach of her vision, only a gleam of glistening fur in the moonlight.

Suddenly, she could smell it. Blood, and something like wet dog, only thicker, musky. She could not help the shake that began in her knees, or the sudden blackness creeping into the edges of her vision. The world was starting to spin, but before the darkness swallowed her, she saw it's face as it came sniffing menacingly towards her. The only thing this creature could have been called was a wolf, but it was like no wolf she had ever seen. Black as midnight, and huge, as big as a horse. One half of it's face had been seared and scarred, the fur all singed away, nothing but red and black cratered skin. Even a small piece of bone peeking out through its jaw. It made the beast all the more horrifying.

Then, for a time, the only thing Sansa knew was blackness.

She awoke an unknown amount of time later. She was still in the forest, and it was still dark, but the ground was not beneath her anymore and the world was swaying slightly. Something was holding her in place and it took her a moment to realize she was being carried by someone. Someone very large, and very strong. She could not see the man's face from where her eyes peeked out from beneath the hair that covered her eyes.

She was suddenly aware that the smell of the beast was still surrounding her and she gasped and tried to sit up in the man's arms.

"Ser! The creature is still out there! Please!" She begged, but was not sure what for. Her voice was strained and higher than usual, her panic rising quickly. Her heart hammering in her chest. The man let out a deep, rumbling, raspy laugh and held her in his arms a little tighter. "No beast will hurt you while I am near girl."

This took her by surprise. Why is he not afraid? She wondered. Suddenly things were starting to tick off in her mind. Worrisome things. First, this man was naked, at least from the waist up. Very strange. On the heel of that thought. What is a half naked man doing in the woods at this hour? She vaguely discerned just how cold it was, but this man felt very warm, and a blush suddenly crept up her neck at their proximity.

She could not see his face properly and for some reason was weary of looking him straight in the face anyhow, they were uncomfortably close enough. From what she could tell in the dark, from stolen sideways glances, he had dark hair, black perhaps. A thick beard, and from his accent he isn't from this area, it sounded as if he hails further west.

Somehow she plucked up the courage to speak. "Ser, I thank you ever so much for rescuing me, I was so frightened! I don't know how you managed to scare off whatever that thing was, but you have saved my life and I will forever be in your debt! May I ask your name, please?" He did not answer for such a long time that she began to worry.

She dared a peek up at him. He was frowning.

"My name…" he paused. "My name is, Clegane. Sandor Clegane."

*Have made a few revisions as of 9/9/2014