It was decided that the group would continue traveling in the morning. Where they were going and what they could do when they got there, no one knew. It wasn't much of a plan, but it would have to do in the meantime. As Myrcella curled up to sleep she realized something. If Joffrey was dead, then Tommen would be king now. The sudden thought made her want to cry again. Joffrey was horrible and cruel and she honestly could not bring herself to mourn for her older brother. Tommen was a sweet and kind boy. But he was also soft and would be easy to manipulate, taking the throne, and becoming a King. Myrcella feared how her brother would be used by those around him. That was her last thoughts before sleep consumed her. Her dreams were filled with the image of Tommen strung up like one of those dancing puppets, figures swathed in darkness making him dance, controlling his every single move. Then Myrcella herself was being controlled by strings, forced to dance alongside her brother. Myrcella woke gasping. It was still dark, everyone else was still asleep. Myrcella couldn't go back to sleep so she sat next to the dying fire and began to doodle in the ash. Looking over at Robb she thought that he may be awake but she couldn't tell. Part of her had been concerned that he would disappear into the night, abandoning them. Yet he was still here. She was worried for him, Myrcella began to draw a wolf, the things Maggy had told them, the things Robb had done the first time he woke, of which he apparently had no memory of. Myrcella became so lost in her thoughts she failed to notice the passage of time. The sun was finally rising and everyone began to wake up. Realizing this, Myrcella used her boot to erase her mindless doodles, most of which were wolves. Something sparkled in the campfire's ashes making Myrcella pause. Frowning she knelt closer and reached into the burned out remains, there was still some warmth but then her fingers brushed something hard and cool to the touch. Myrcella pulled the object from the embers and her eyes widened. It was her necklace, the one that she had given to Maggy as initial payment.

"Myrcella?" Dacey walked over to her. Wordlessly Myrcella held up the necklace. Dacey stared at the necklace. "How the hells-"

"I've no bloody idea. It was in the fire." Dacey cursed under her breath. Part of Myrcella wanted to leave the necklace. Another part of her wanted to keep it. The latter won out and Myrcella put the necklace back on, the familiar weight around her neck was strangely welcoming and disturbing at the same time.

Everyone seemed more than ready to abandon the strange clearing. Camp was broken quickly and efficiently, soon they were ready to continue on their journey. Myrcella couldn't help but take one last look at the strange place, the standing stones seemed to be the only reminder that the place had been occupied. They shimmered strangely in the morning light, Myrcella shuddered and pulled her bag closer before following Dacey and Robb into the trees once again. They had just entered the forest when Petey yelped. Myrcella turned back to find the boy staring back in the direction of the clearing. Except, it was gone. Just like the witch's shack the clearing, standing stones and all had simply disappeared, becoming replaced with the same thick woods that surrounded them.

"Fucking magic." Jay whispered, walking back to where the clearing should have been. He looked back at the others and raised his arms and shrugged incredulously. "Fucking. Magic."

After the strange disappearance of Maggy's clearing the group moved quickly. The Vale was mountainous, at times the terrain was hard to navigate, eventually they found one of the many narrow mountain roads that wound through the entire region. It was decided that it would be easier to travel on roads once again. There were few travelers on the roads and those that they did come across tended to move quickly past their little company, Myrcella wasn't really surprised, after all they were quite the ragged looking bunch. At night they would leave the roads and make camp far enough from the path that no one would likely come across them, along with setting a rotating watch to ensure that they would not be caught off guard by any unexpected visitors. They had been traveling for a little over a week and a half, if Myrcella's estimations were correct the full moon was another week away. They needed to figure out where they were going by then because when the full moon came Robb would transform for the first time and who knows what could happen. Robb himself had become somewhat cold and withdrawn from everyone. He spoke little, Myrcella could just tell he was struggling, he looked so tired, there were times when he would tense up and clench his fist so tight that his nails would dig into his palm to the point where blood would be drawn. He would suddenly stop walking, squeeze his eyes shut and clench his jaw. Myrcella worried that one night he would just walk away and disappear, yet he was always still there when she woke. Sometimes when Myrcella would take her turn at the watch Robb would still be up sitting by the fire. Myrcella was certain that on those nights Robb never slept at all, he wouldn't offer to cover her or any of the others shifts, he would just sit there silently, staring at the flames.

"I had first watch last night. Robb sat up with me, he was still awake when I had Toby take over." Myrcella whispered as she walked next to Dacey.

"Aye, he was still by the fire when I took last watch." Dacey replied, pulling her hood up over her poorly shaved head. It had started to drizzle in earnest. "I don't think he's slept at all these past few nights."

"I'm worried. He's not sleeping, not talking. I think he must hate us all, for having the witch save him. I'm afraid one day we'll all wake up and just find him disappeared. I care about Robb so much; I don't want him to be suffering and I don't want him to feel so alone." Myrcella ranted. Dacey grabbed Myrcella's arm and pulled her back.

"Hush. Not so loud or he'll hear you."

Myrcella sighed.

"Sorry it's just-

"We know. You care about him. Trust me, we all know."

Up ahead, Robb Stark's heart grew even heavier in his chest. He risked a glance back to where Myrcella and Dacey walked. He had heard every word of their hushed conversation.

Since he had woken in the strange witch's home. There has been something in his head. It wasn't a voice exactly, more like feelings and emotions. It wasn't him however, it was separate, something baser, wilder than anything else. It was almost like the connection he'd had with Grey Wind. However, with his connection to Grey Wind he'd had some semblance of control, he could block out the direwolf or sometimes switch the connection and see through Grey Wind's eyes. But this new thing inside of him, he had no control over it. It was an internal battle, himself against the wildness. It was exhausting and jarring, it wasn't just the strange presence in his head, physically he had changed too. He was stronger and faster, his sense of smell was stronger too, his eyesight was sharper, so was his hearing, and well, his teeth. Robb had lost count of how many times he'd bit his own tongue or cut his own lip on his new fang-like canines. Every time his blood filled his mouth, he would gag not because it tasted foul or reminded him of the times he'd warg into Grew Wind in his sleep while the wolf hunted. No, because it tasted good. The wildness would stir calling out for him to run, hunt. Kill.
With his new, heightened senses Robb found himself able to see perfectly at night, while the others slept, he became overwhelmed with the sights and sounds that the rest were simply unable to hear. He tried to block it out but the thing didn't seem to like that. Then when he did manage to nod off he was haunted by nightmares. The betrayal at the Twins. Talisa being killed before his eyes, his mother, his men. People who counted on him, who expected him to lead them. They were all dead thanks to his stupid, foolish arrogance. Sometimes in especially cruel dreams, they would rise from the dead, curse at him and call him a monster. Sometimes the thing in his head would wake him and sometimes it would remain still, letting him drown in his failure. Robb Stark hated the wild thing, he hated himself. Thinking back to Myrcella's, discussion with Dacey. He didn't think he could ever hate Myrcella or any of the others for trying to save his life though. Did he think they were a bunch of fools for trusting a strange woman who lived in the middle of a magic disappearing stone circle? Yes. Was he withdrawing from those around him while trying to accept his new reality because he had no idea how to deal with all the pain and suffering he and his companions had endured? Yes.

Robb was brought out of his inner musings by a gasp from behind him, he turned, moving faster than possible, caught Myrcella as she lost her footing. The group had been travelling down a steep mountain path that led into a large, sprawling valley filled with thick woods. It had started raining and the path was quickly becoming inundated with mud, turning into a slippery slope. Myrcella was clutching his tunic while he had one arm wrapped around her shoulder and the other holding her waist. She was staring up at him with those big green eyes. He's never noticed before, but her eyes were filled with warm brown flecks scattered through all that green. It suddenly reminded him of the forests back in the North. Robb suddenly became aware that everyone had stopped and was staring at them. He swallowed, for once the wild thing was content to remain still.

"Careful." He rasped. Gently lifting Myrcella back upright. "Slippery." Even when she was standing again he kept his hands on her waist and shoulder. Color started to creep into Myrcella's cheeks and down her neck. Robb cleared his throat and finally removed his hand from her waist. He could have sworn that something like sadness flashed across her eyes. He took a step back and allowed Dacey and Myrcella to pass him. Yet after that he couldn't help but keep close to his former hostage.

It continued to rain harder and harder as the day wore on. At some point the path they had been using all but disappeared. Darkness had fallen and the temperature seemed to be dropping by the minute. Next to him, Myrcella was shivering, her cloak was completely soaked through from the rain, the same could be said for the entire company. They needed to find shelter soon. Robb strangely found himself not minding the cold or the wet at all. They were walking along the base of a cliff face at the bottom of the mountains when suddenly it was there looming out of the night. A cave opening. Robb was fairly certain the others couldn't see it yet.

"There's a cave up ahead." He stated. Dacey frowned and stared into the darkness, wiping the rain from her eyes.

"I don't see anything."

"But I do. It's only about five hundred yards away." Robb shot back at the Lady of Bear Island.

"Caves in the mountains are seldom empty Your Grace." Griffin interjected, "But if it means gettin out of this damn rain then I say we go for it."

"I agree…" Myrcella said through chattering teeth. Robb nodded at her, then took the lead, Griffin and Myrcella following behind. After a moment's hesitation the others followed too. Soon enough the others could make out the cave as well.

"How could you see that all the way back there in this weather?" Dacey asked incredulously.

"My eyes are stronger. I can see in the dark." Was all Robb said.

"Well, I don't suppose you can take a look in and make sure we don't have any unexpected company." Robb stepped up to the entrance and peered into the darkness. The cave was deep and it appeared that several shafts branched even deeper into the bowls of the mountains. The air coming from the cave smelled stale, the only sounds coming from within was the occasional drip of water or clatter of a fallen rock.

"There's nothing there. We'll be safe." He said at last before stepping into the shelter of the cave and out of the torrential rain. Everyone was quick to follow, glad to have someplace dry to rest. Griffin reached inside of his coat and pulled out a small dry bundle of kindling and set about starting a small fire. A small tree grew out of a crack on the edge of the cave. Jay and Toby stripped some of the smaller branches and soon the fire Griffin had started burned merrily in the cave, casting light and warmth on the weary travelers. Myrcella sank down, pulling off her drenched cloak and laying it out to dry. She was still shivering, Robb noticed as he quietly sank down next to her. He didn't notice the look Dacey and the Greatjon shared with each other. It hadn't escaped their attention that Robb had kept quite close to Myrcella after she slipped earlier. Everyone else stripped their soaked outer layers and bedded down for the night around the toasty fire. Greatjon thumped his chest indicating that he would take the first watch. Next to him Myrcella shivered again pulling her knees to her chest. She was still too cold. Robb's jerkin was mostly dry so he quickly undid the laces, pulling it over his head and holding it out to Myrcella.

"Here." Myrcella hesitantly reached out, then stilled her hand.

"Won't you be cold?" She asked. Robb have her a little half smirk and shook his head.

"No, I seem to run hotter these days. Please take it, you need it more than me." Myrcella smiled softly and pulled the garment on. It dwarfed her smaller frame and she pulled it close, snuggling deep into the garment's comforting warmth.

"Thank you, Robb." Robb nodded then turned back to the fire. Petey and Jay were already fast asleep. So was Griffin, Toby and Dacey were talking quietly about what tomorrow would bring, he still heard what they were saying perfectly clear but decided to pretend to ignore them. The Greatjon sat on Dacey's other side, closest to the cave entrance keeping watch. After a while Robb felt a weight on his shoulder, the scent of lavender and rosemary filling his nostrils. Glancing to the side he saw Myrcella had fallen asleep against him. The wild thing stirred within him and he felt the strongest urge to protect, directed at Myrcella. Slowly he reached up and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, Myrcella sighed in her sleep and relaxed further against him. Robb leaned back against the wall of the cave, feeling a calmness he had not felt since he had awoken and before he knew it, he had drifted off into a restful and blessedly dreamless sleep.

Myrcella groaned as she woke, her neck was knotted and tight from sleeping in such an uncomfortable position. Opening her eyes, she was greeted by Dacey smirking at her from across the fire.

"Sleep well?" She asked. Myrcella's brow furrowed, then she lifted her head and saw what she had been using as a pillow; Robb Stark's shoulder. Myrcella's eyes widened and her cheeks began to warm. Robb was apparently still asleep, his arm wrapped casually around her shoulders. He looked so peaceful, Myrcella almost instantly forgot her embarrassment at the intimacy of her position, it didn't help that Robb's embraces was warm and cozy in the cool morning. Myrcella tried to move without waking Robb, unfortunately she jostled his side with her elbow, he awoke almost instantly. Myrcella felt her cheeks flush once again as Robb looked over at her sleepily. The two stared at each other for a moment before Robb cleared his throat and pulled his arm from around her. Dacey chose that moment to speak, easily distracting Robb and Myrcella from each other.

"It's mid-morning. We all decided this would be a good resting place for a couple of days. Jay's still sleeping, because he had last watch." Dacey stated, motioning to the snoring lump next to her. "Griffin and Greatjon went hunting, and Petey and Toby went to explore the rest of the caves."

"It stopped raining." Robb stated, looking towards the entrance of the cave.

"Aye, just before dawn." Dacey replied. "Good work finding this place last night."

"It was nothing, just wanted to help." Dacey opened her mouth no doubt to shoot back at Robb with some sort of witty retort but was cut off by voices coming from the darkness. Petey and Toby appeared from the bowls of the cave, each carrying a torch. Myrcella looked over at Robb.

"Did you hear them coming?" Robb shrugged lightly.

"You lot wouldn't believe what we found!" Toby yelled before kicking his sleeping brother awake. "Come quick."

Myrcella followed Toby and Petey along with Dacey, Robb, and Jay deep into the cave. Through narrow twisted stone passages, the only light coming from the torches they carried. Finally, Toby and Petey stopped.

"This is where we found them." Toby whispered reverently. "Take a look." Myrcella raised her torch. Carved into the cave wall were figures. The entire wall was covered in the carvings, some depicted stick-like figures, others were crude animals, then there were geometric shapes. It was beautiful, moving further in the cave Myrcella discovered it wasn't just carvings, but paintings as well, Myrcella was at a loss for words. The pictographs and petroglyphs melded into one weaving themselves into a complex story that only the original artists could comprehend.

"These could have been made by the Children of the Forest, or the First Men." Dacey gasped.

"More like both." Robb said holding his torch up to a carving of two distinct groups human-like in shape. One group was significantly smaller than the other. "This all must have been created hundreds of years, maybe even thousands of years before the Andals."

Myrcella stepped closer to examine some of the paintings, it looked like lions, running after their prey, horses, strange cattle with large horns. Another wall had wolves, mammoths, shadow cats, and large lopsided bears. Next to them was a large group of handprints, the artists signatures. Myrcella thought to herself. Petey, reached out to touch one of the prints. Myrcella grabbed his arm.

"No." She whispered. "We shouldn't touch these." It felt like a sacred place, one that they should leave as they found it.

"Myrcella's right." Robb said. "We need to leave this place be."

"Aye." Jay replied. "Feels like I'm in a Godswood. The Old Gods are here." As they were leaving the cavern Myrcella couldn't help but look up. Her breath caught in her throat. On the ceiling were dragons, painted in the same fluid style of the other animals on the walls. their swirling fiery breath danced in the torch light, directed at a single carved figure surrounded by what look liked some sort of bird. It held a spear defiantly above its head, directed at the coming flames. Myrcella shivered and ran to catch up with the others.

By the time they reached the main cave it must have been around noon. Griffin and Greatjon were still not back from hunting. When the pair finally returned it was with several nice fat rabbits and the news that they had found a freshwater spring and pool that fed one of the many mountain streams. After skinning the rabbits and setting them over the fire, Myrcella, Dacey, and Petey set out to refill the groups water skins from the spring. It was easy to find; the pool was fairly large, naturally formed at the bottom of a shear cliff face, fed by the bubbling spring that spewed forth from the rocks halfway up the face.

"That pool looks quite appetizing." Dacey stated handing a filled water skin to Myrcella, who handed it to Petey.

"Wouldn't it be freezing?" Myrcella asked. Dacey snorted.

"Southerners. What's a little cold water compared to the feeling of being clean for the first time in moon turns." Myrcella was suddenly aware of the greasy knots in her hair and the dust that stuck to her skin like a glove.

"You're right."

"Back home, Ma made us bath at least once a moon turn. It was always a fun day. I'd go with my older sister Sigrid and we'd take turns runnin to the well to fill up our tub. Ma would heat the water over the fire then the little ones would go first cause the water would be warmest." The usually cheerful and goofy Petey stated rather glumly. "Wonder who helps Sigrid an Ma get the water now I'm gone." Myrcella suddenly realized how young Petey was. Barely thirteen namedays.

"You'll see them again, one day. They'll maybe even let you bath first, being a war hero and all." Myrcella said, trying to comfort the boy who suddenly remined her so much of Tommen.

"I don't feel like a hero."

"You never do, Petey, you never do." Dacey stated stepping away from the spring. "We best get back. We can come back later." Myrcella followed Dacey and Petey silently. Back in the Red Keep, Myrcella would simply ask for fresh water or a bath. The servants would jump to attention, before now she had never gathered water from a spring or anything like what Petey described. A bath was never a chore or a game to her, it just was.

It had been several days since finding the cave, and no one seemed to be in a hurry to continue traveling. Myrcella and Dacey had even had time to sneak back to the pool and bathe. It had been absolutely freezing, but Myrcella had cherished the feeling of the weeks of dirt and grime sloughing off her body, she had even managed to work most of the tangles out of her hair.

Now Myrcella was sitting outside of the cave. Looking out at the surrounding valley and forest. It was beautiful, scatterings of color showed the season's slow change into winter and Myrcella found herself desperately wanting to paint the stunning view. Unfortunately, with no paper or paints Myrcella was stuck with simply trying to memorize the scene.

"Can I join you?" She hadn't heard Robb come up. He was finally starting to open up to the others again. After the first rainy night Myrcella once again found herself gravitating to Robb. Or maybe it was the other way around, whatever it was Myrcella tried not to read into it too much.

"Please do." Robb sat down next to her at a respectful distance. Myrcella was suddenly brought back to that afternoon in Riverrun's Godswood. Gods, that felt like an eternity ago.

"It's so beautiful isn't it?" Myrcella asked, still staring out at the forest and valley.

"Aye. It is." Robb replied, Myrcella failed to notice that Robb wasn't looking at the view but at her. "I… I think we could stay here." Myrcella finally turned to Robb.

"What?"

"We can't run forever. Here we have shelter, access to fresh water, the cave entrance is hidden enough to avoid detection, and the villages in the valley are fairly isolated. No one would think that a former king and his men would hide here."

"Am I?" Myrcella asked curiously.

"Are you what?"

"One of your men." Myrcella replied. Robb was silent before chuckling softly.

"Aye. I suppose you are; you've done much for us. Helped us escape the Twins, you helped me with my wounds. Even though I was a stubborn shit about it. You are definitely one of us Ella." Myrcella grinned and subconsciously rubbed her wrist. "You've even got war wounds." Myrcella pulled up her sleeve revealing the mostly healed burns from where Griffin cauterized her knife wound from Maggy the Frog.

"I suppose it is a war wound." Myrcella looked back at Robb, his face had fallen when she had pulled up her sleeve. Even I though he had tried to joke about it, the entire experience with the witch deeply disturbed him.

"Tomorrow night is the Full Moon." Robb stated, the air suddenly felt colder. "I want you all to stay in the cave. I'll go into the forest alone and, well, see what happens." Robb moved closer to Myrcella. "But I swear, I will return in the morning. I swear on the Old Gods and the New." Myrcella felt the air rush out of her lungs as Robb's intense gaze bore into her. She swallowed; her throat suddenly very dry.

"Good." She rasped. Before standing and brushing the dirt off her pants. Robb stood too.

"But what do you think about staying here?" He asked, brushing the intense moment between the two under the proverbial rug.

"I think it's a good plan. But for one thing." Myrcella stated.

"What?" Robb asked.

"The only reason that no one is hunting us anymore is because everyone thinks you're most likely dead, Robb. If my family even for one second believed you to be alive they would hunt us down to the ends of the earth." Myrcella stated stoically. "Even if we stay here, no one can ever know who you are Robb."

"The same would go for you." Myrcella smiled sadly.

"I know." She said before walking back into the caves.

The next day was one filled with unspoken tension. Everyone was on edge as nightfall crept closer. Robb especially, he was jumpy and anxious, unable to keep still for any period of time. He had gone with Myrcella to fetch water from the mountain spring and couldn't even manage to hold the water skin his hands shook so badly. Dusk finally settled and the first stars began to dot the sky. Everyone stood at the mouth of the cave with Robb. For the first time all day he was completely still. He stood barefoot in his breaches and tunic silently staring into the woods, no one had any idea what would happen tonight. Robb sighed and closed his haunting eyes before turning to the rest of the group. Opening his eyes, Myrcella met his steady gaze with her own.

"What ever happens tonight. Stay in the cave." He rasped. Greatjon stepped forward and placed a heavy hand on Robb's shoulder, squeezing it gently before placing his other hand over his own heart and nodding at Robb with a sad smile. Greatjon turned and ambled back into the cave, Griffin, Toby, Jay, and Petey following him. Robb looked back over at Myrcella, then began to walk towards the tree line.

"Robb." Myrcella called out, he stopped and turned back. "We'll see you in the morning." Robb stared at her for a moment then wordlessly turned and continued further into the tree line. Myrcella stood watching until Robb had completely vanished. Dacey finally grabbed Myrcella's arm and gently pulled her into the cave.

The others were sat around the campfire, Myrcella noticed immediately that everyone had their weapons out within arm's reach. Myrcella reached down for her little knife then stopped. She drew her hand back and sank down against the cave wall, staring out at the entrance into the darkening night. Griffin managed to shoot a pheasant down earlier in the day. The bird was roasting over the fire yet Myrcella had no appetite. Neither did anyone else it seemed, they all just sat silently waiting for whatever was going to happen next.

When the first scream echoed through the woods everyone shot to their feet. Myrcella felt her blood turn to ice in her veins as the screaming continued, it was almost inhuman, a sound of suffering and pain and it was Robb. Myrcella hadn't even realized that she had started to move. Only when Dacey wrapped her arms around her waist did Myrcella realize that she was halfway out of the cave.

"Robb ordered us to stay here!" Dacey yelled dragging Myrcella back.

"He's hurting!" Myrcella sobbed, she hadn't even realized that she was crying too. She kept fighting against Dacey when suddenly the screaming stopped. Dacey and Myrcella froze, the world was silent. Then a lone wolf's howl rang through the night. Myrcella felt the hair on the back of her neck and arms stand on end, her legs gave out and Myrcella fell to the floor dragging Dacey with her. The two-woman stared into the black night; the color drained from Dacey's face as the howling continued. Myrcella gripped Dacey's arm, behind them the men doused the fire with water. The cave became pitch black, Myrcella hugged Dacey tighter, too afraid to move. No one moved a muscle that night, everyone in their little company kept a cold silent vigil as night passed. And all fearing what the morning would bring.

This chapter isn't really my favorite, I just couldn't get the flow the way I wanted it to go. We finally got Robb's POV, the story is mostly going to be from Myrcella's perspective but Robb's is gonna pop up now and then too. I think my favorite part of the chapter was writing about the cave paintings. That scene in season seven with Jon and Dany was one of my favorites, common sense would say that there are more sites similar to the one Jon found on Dragonstone. I based the paintings in my cave off of the Chauvet cave paintings located in France. They are some of the earliest known pictographs ever discovered at around 30,000 years old and they are absolutely stunning. I also took inspiration from the petroglyphs that surround the four corners area here in the Western United States.

Also, PSA from an archeologist never ever ever touch petroglyphs or pictographs! It is not only damaging to historical artifacts but it's also incredibly disrespectful to the peoples and cultures who created them in the first place. Just take pictures. (But with no flash)

So... Enjoy the chapter. I've got no idea when the next one will be out.