Chapter 10:
The sound of hooves pounding against earth was muffled by the thickness of snow. The long, spindly legs of horses obscured by a white cloud of flakes being kicked up in their wake. Sam struggled with the thin paper crudely strapped to the saddle as it twisted and turned in the gale created by their speed. Trying to reign in a horse and read a withered, ancient map at the same time was proving to be more than difficult; and the rotund boy pretended to be deaf to the snickers that drifted from the others who rode next to them.
In line with Jon's instructions, Sam had recruited the whole group of young Watchmen, whom he still felt hesitant to call "friends", to assist in unblocking the wall. Though he had made the decision to leave the rest in the dark for the moment. Trying to explain everything about Jon being alive, and the wolves, and magic and… by the Gods, he hardly believed it himself. It would simply take up more time with their questions and doubts. So as far as Grenn, Pyp, and the others were concerned, this was a solo adventure taken under the nose of their superiors so Sam could slate his curiosity about the now abandoned watchtowers.
"Need some help, Sam?" Grenn gibed humorously as a particularly strong gust tugged the map from Sam's grip and smacked it straight into his face.
After a few moments of blind grumbling and unfolding long yellowed paper, Sam grunted back in frustration;
"No, Grenn, I don't need your sorry excuse for help. Doubt your small brain could make sense of the writings anyhow."
Grenn blinked back in mild shock, before letting out a huff of laughter.
"Sir Piggy sure gets prickly when his maps won't cooperate!"
The rest of the group echoed his amusement. Sam could only roll his eyes at their childish gapes. Somewhat exasperated, but still glad they seemed so willing to welcome him into the fold; even now that Jon, the boy who had almost threatened them into standing by him, was gone.
Toad sighed from his position at the back.
"How far out are these damned chunks of stone? I could be sleeping right now on an actual bed and not a fucking saddle."
"It's not much further." Sam reassured, peering closer towards the map. "I think…"
Toad sulked down onto the saddle with an overly dramatic groan.
Pyp gave him a cuff upside his head.
"Oh shut your whining before you lose whatever balls you have left. If you can't handle this you might as well desert the Watch now!" He admonished with a teasing smile.
"Oi, clam it crow face. I don't need you on my ass too."
"Sorry, mate, don't swing that way."
This sounded another chorus of laughter and sent Toad into a tizzy, all red-faced and struggling for a comeback.
"Ah, fuck you lot." Toad clipped out angrily.
Sam couldn't help but smile. The atmosphere had warmed immensely despite the cold, and the adventure seemed far brighter with light hearted companions. There was a sound of surprise from the front, and Sam's horse suddenly lurched to a stop.
"Hey, what's-" Then Sam saw it. A dark silhouette loomed in the evening mist; a dark and imposing tower that brought to mind the villainous lairs of evil knights and sorcerers bent on destroying trepid adventurers.
The patrol of young Watchmen stood stock still for a few moments, drinking in the imposing sight. Their horses whickered and pranced nervously at their rider's sudden uncertainty. Eddison was the first to break the silence.
"That's a daunting tower…"
Pyp hummed in agreement. "And I thought Castle Black was a fortress."
"Wonder why they'd abandon this one? Seems it'd be pretty good at spooking off anyone who even looked at the thing." Rast questioned as he scratched at his beard.
Sam said nothing, simply kicking his horse back into motion and took up the lead towards the stone structure. The others cast a few surprised looks before following the unusually brave former noble. Meanwhile, Sam was panicking silently to himself; reassuring over and over that stone was simply stone and trying not to shiver in his saddle.
Far across the other side of the Wall, two furry blurs raced through the dense forest; weaving and twisting around branches, trees, and rocks in their haste to reach their destination. Jon's tongue hung from his open mouth, and the half-breed took deep, shaky breaths to help power aching muscles through the final stretch. Ghost straggled just behind him, panting and wheezing just has harshly.
As they entered a break in the trees, Jon skidded to a stop, kicking up a cloud of snow and sending it sprinkling over the cliff face before them. To the untrained eye, the drop was nearly invisible from this angle. The only visible sign was a small strip of exposed grey rock between where the snow from the near and far banks blended together into one continuous white plain.
The two wolves stood on shaky legs for a time as they gasped for breath. Jon wanted nothing more than to continue sprinting down the hidden slope; time was of the essence and each second wasted was a second he feared his father's head was on the line. Queen Cersei was not one to take insult lightly and now that she was undoubtedly whispering in Joffrey's ear, Eddard Stark would not be keeping his life for long. But he would never be understood in such a state, so he conceded to his body for now.
The sound of rustling undergrowth reached his ear, and before Jon could in any way react, wolves burst from the brush, snarling with gleaming fangs and hackles raised. At the head was an intimidatingly large wolf with sleek black fur shining like a well-groomed raven. At the sight of the two exhausted companions, his expression changed from fury to surprise.
"Jon?" River asked shocked.
The still panting Stark only offered a wolfish grin as affirmation. At once, the hostility was gone and the Beta guard swarmed their tired pack mate, sniffing and inquiring about his condition in clear concern. River padded through the tight circle and stood before the boy.
"By the stars, Jon, what happened to you? You were gone for a whole day with no sign left uncovered by fresh snow. You look as though you spent all night running from a pack of bears!"
Jon licked around his lips and reached for words through ragged breaths.
"Well… it certainly has been a stressful night."
"Yes, I can see. Come, let's get you down to our healer. I'm sure she has a few left over jun leaves for your tired legs."
Motioning to one of his betas, the wolves stepped closer in an attempt to stand Jon back up, offering him a shoulder to lean on as they made their way down. But Jon resisted movement, and pushed away from their insisting noses.
"No…" he huffed. "No, no, wait. I have… urgent news."
"Snow, surely your health is more important-"
"No! This… it's life or death."
River reluctantly sat back on his haunches before the boy.
"Well, since you're so insistent, speak."
"It's… my father. Lord Stark."
Rivers ears pricked.
"He's been taken prisoner by… at King's Landing. A traitor. They'll kill him for sure."
The Beta Guard had gone rigged. A few taking steps back and turning towards their leader with looks of anxiety. River was unusually quiet. And stood once more before taking a few paces along the edge. After a few moments of silence, the alpha roared in frustration and kicked at a nearby tree, gouging through it with a powerful strike.
"I knew it! I knew this was… I knew I should have sent guards beyond the walls. Damn silence, damn secrecy! I-…"
River collapsed back onto his hindquarters with a soul shaking sigh.
"Such a fool…" he seemed to be whispering to himself. "Such a fool! I saw the signs, I…"
"Um… River?" Jon queried. "What are you saying?"
River turned back, suddenly aware of his rambling.
"Nothing of your concern, Snow. But it seems now is the time for action. We must call the pack together once more. We'll need every last soul if we're to go on the war path against the kingdom itself. But an offence on the Starks in an offence on us. And we will protect our Northern brothers with every last breath."
The betas huffed in agreement, already itching to be called into action.
"We'll need a plan. That blasted Wall is proving to be more of an inconvenience than we had believed when first built…"
"Actually, Alpha," Jon interrupted. "I already have a plan for that."
River offered a smile.
"Somehow, I had a feeling you would, Snow."
Below in the camp, half-breeds milled around, tense and silent. The small avalanche of snow cast over the side of the cliff had sent the whole pack on edge. It had been centuries since any wandering intruders had happened upon their home, and now all waited anxiously from news of their Alpha and his guards, who had rushed out to assess the danger.
Mothers had hurried their pups indoors and fathers kept guard in doorways and by windows. The youthful backbone of the pack stood anxiously around the compound, unsure of their actions or place, but eager to sink tooth and claw into any such threat.
Until, much to their surprise, River dashed through the slope's opening, leaving a few gob smacked pack members behind as he leapt with eager grace onto a large rock that struck out stubbornly in the midst of camp.
"All wolves sworn to the North and snow, gather to hear your Alpha speak!"
At once, the spell that hung across the clearing was broken as wolves rushed from their dens and places of rest to gather as one beneath the rock. Once all ears were trained and attentive, River spoke again.
"It seems the time to fulfill our end of the blood pact has come. The rulers to the South have thought themselves above decency and respect for those beneath them. And now, the Starks have been caught in the sights of their crossbows. Our Lord, Eddard Stark lies imprisoned under the banner of a traitor, and the executioner's axe swings closer. In response, our heir Rob Stark and his banner men march south to the tunes of war. But their fight is far outmatched. And, as Stark sworn protectors, we'll be damned to stand by!"
A surge of assurance swept through the wolves, who stood far straighter and imposing, willing and eager.
"Today, I call all Wolves of the Pack. Those that range even far within the mountains and south of the Wall. We march on King's Landing as one! For the North!"
"For the North!"
The cry echoed with the fury of a thousand voices, and howls filled the air as the wolf-men rallied themselves for war. At once, the camp was a rush of activity, tramping feet and paws alike as pack members scurried to scrape together their belongings; weapons, armor, sleeping furs, extra rations, all was packed and arranged on the backs of eager soldiers. The women gathered up their children and covered them in their sturdiest clothes for the long trek ahead.
Jon looked on at the flurry of motion. So this was the fervor of a pack on the war path. Everyone was participating in preparations, and Jon could feel the determination and excitement moving through the air like its own living creature.
With one last observing glance at the scene below, River took a running start towards the cliff face, and climbed up the sheer drop; hands and feet scrapping at foot holds and pulling himself up towards the top. Once there, the Alpha dropped his head back and released a howl that pulled shivers down Jon's spine.
His legs shook with its echoing force, and the sound stretched out in an encompassing wave that echoed off the very mountains in the distance.
"That's the call." A voice spoke beside Jon; and he jumped from where he was standing in rapture at the sight.
"The pack isn't just made up of those here. There are countless other groups spread out through the north and even past the wall. Each with their own beta leaders and camps; but they all respond to the Alpha. When he sends out the call, every wolf; young or old, big or small, must rise to action and unite as one." Jon should not have been surprised to see Lilly there; large pack slung over her shoulders and covered in traveling pelts.
"I didn't realize this stretched so far…"
The red head offered a smile.
"We've existed for thousands of years. What did you expect?"
River jumped back down the cliff and landed unmarked with a heavy thud amidst the snow. The pack now eagerly crowded around their Alpha, and he gave a nod to Jon.
"Pack! Move out!"
And with a resounding cry, the pack rushed out the entrance in a continuous stream. Both shifted, human, and every shape in between, they moved as one force up the slope and spread out into the forest; River running at the forefront with his betas, accompanied by Jon and Ghost.
"Alpha, I thought you had called the others to join us; shouldn't we wait for them?"
River kept his gaze locked forward as he answered.
"The others know what the call means. It is only used in the gravest of circumstances when all hands are needed. We cannot afford to wait. They'll fall in once they catch up to the rest of us."
Now he turned to look at the boy.
"Alright Jon, it's your turn."
"What?"
"This is your plan; you're the only one who knows where we're going. Run on; take the lead!" he encouraged with a smirk.
And Jon returned his smile before pelting up past River, taking point at the head of the pack. Ghost ran just a step behind like the loyal shadow he was, and Jon felt an odd bubble of glee. Behind him stretched the forces of the wild, with more on the move to add their ranks. Men, women, elders, and children, all ranged out in an unstoppable force; and Jon could feel it. The power and strength of the pack. His comrades, his friends, his… family. And with a laugh he was unable to stop, Jon tilted his head back and howled; loud and long. The sound spread back in the wind, settling across those following his heels. Lilly picked up the cry, accompanied by Thorn, Branch, and the others; then continued by River, his betas, the elder generation, and the squeaky cries of the young.
Rob… Arya… Brank, Ricken, Sansa… Father. Hold on just a little longer.