"Sansa, please." Theon's voice, while quiet, was desperate and full of fear.

'I'm trying…' Sansa thought miserably. She was unable to speak, but was vaguely aware of his tug on her arm that pulled her along with more than a little force. She could still hear the baying of hounds in the distance, a cacophony of deep bellows that rang throughout the forest with frightening clarity. They had been running for nearly a day and a half with very little rest and since they hadn't exactly planned their escape, there was no food. Sense told her that they couldn't keep going like this much longer, but thanks to the adrenaline coursing through her system she was able to stay upright and moving for the time being.

As far as she could tell they were still somewhere south of Winterfell, trying to stay within the forested areas as much as they possibly could. Straying out into the rolling snow covered hills would give them no cover and practically guaranteed their capture, which was something neither of them were willing to risk.

'Gods…' She prayed, narrowly avoiding a fallen branch that snagged at her skirts. 'Let the hounds tear me apart before you send me back to him.' Sansa felt that Theon would agree with her sentiment if they could stop to discuss the matter, but as that was out of the question she had to take it on faith that they would both willingly greet death before returning to Ramsay Bolton. Though the chances of them being afforded that luxury was frighteningly low.

Baying, closer and more ferocious, reached her ears and it drew Sansa out of her head and back into her body with a shock. Their pursuers, who were less bogged down by injury and exposure, were gaining on them rapidly. She tried to push herself to move faster, to run if she could, but her legs protested ruthlessly.

All of a sudden Theon stopped, nearly making her fall as he jerked her to a stop with him. He turned, and the look of resigned defeat on his face frightened her to her core."You have to go on Sansa."

She shook her head firmly, but even as she did so she could feel the urge to move building as the hounds drew closer. "I can't leave you, we need to keep moving."

"You must. They'll catch us if we stay together, but if we split up you might have a chance on your own. I can at least buy you sometime. After what I've done, I owe you that much. Start moving north, try to get to Castle Black. " He looked around, his eyes landing on a clear spot between two trees. "I'll stay here for a while longer and then try and draw them that way, you cross that way." He said, pointing to a small stream. The uncertainty Sansa felt must have shown on her face because he grabbed her shoulders, shaking her a little for emphasis."You keep going until you find someone, anyone. If not…" He reached into his layers of fur and produced a very small but sharp blade before pressing it into her hand. "Don't let them take you alive."

Sansa swallowed heavily and took the knife, thankful and horrified beyond measure. He was giving up the only weapon he had so that she wouldn't have to face what they both knew was a fate worse than death. Fully aware of the magnitude of the gesture, she steeled herself and nodded, wrapping her hand around the hilt. Without further delay Theon turned her around and gave her a little shove. "Go. Now."

She allowed herself one last moment of hesitation to look back over her shoulder before she shot off across the stream, the cold water splashing up her legs and filling her shoes. The already ready half frozen heavy skirts made movement difficult and Sansa stumbled on the other side, barely catching herself before she hit the ground. With effort she righted herself and kept going.

In an attempt to make the most of the opportunity given to her, Sansa ran until she collapsed, falling onto her knees into a pile of dead leaves and snow. She couldn't tell how far she had come but from the way her muscles burned she guessed it was some distance. The raucous sounds of pursuit had ceased and the forest around her was quiet, save for her own labored breathing, loud and uneven as her body tried to replenish the air she had deprived it of for so long.

She knelt there for a few moments, taking stock of herself and the surrounding area. She needed a place to rest where she would be out of sight and her heart lightened when she found it. A few feet away stood a tree with a large portion of its roots exposed, dug out by some previous animal inhabitant but currently unoccupied and more than tempting. She hastily crawled beneath it and huddled as deeply into the crevice as she could manage, her back pressed against roots and crumbling bits of earth. It was by no means warm, but it was sheltered from the harsher bites of the wind and she was thankful for it. Feeling industrious and desperately needing to find as much warmth as possible, she piled small bits of leaves and dead branches around her until she was completely covered. As comfortable as she could be in her little nest, Sansa closed her eyes, giving way to exhaustion.

Sansa woke with a start sometime later, her head jerking off the ground as panic flooded her waking body. The baying was back, distant but unmistakably there and she was up and out of her impromptu bed, running like a madwoman before she knew what had happened. She tried to process as she moved, confusion and alarm fading bit by bit as her mind came fully awake. How long had she been asleep? She had parted ways with Theon just after dawn, but it was at least noon now and she cursed herself brutally as she realized what she had done.

The small lead Theon had likely given his life for had been entirely lost while she slept beneath the fallen tree, and there was little hope of regaining it.

Guilt and fear took hold of her and tears started to streak her face, sending silver droplets flying off as she tore through the trees. Branches reached out from all around like so many hands, all of them trying to slow her progress.

She saw a break ahead, maybe a road but- likely a clearing, though it mattered little. Whatever it was she was headed directly for it with increasing haste. There was no guarantee that safety waited beyond the trees but she had to keep moving, had to keep fighting.

Within seconds Sansa burst through the sparse foliage, finding it to indeed be a clearing.

Not only a clearing, but an occupied one.

Before Sansa stood a small group of men, mounted and armed, all staring at her with equal looks of shock and confusion. They were of varying ages but seemed to be of one company by their dress. Her eyes searched desperately for a banner, a sigil, anything that would identify them to her and blinked stupidly at what she was presented with. There were no flayed men present, nor any Northern banners at all. Black banners adorned with a crimson three headed dragon glared down at her, both imposing and somewhat mystical in its improbability.

Thanks to her captivity and Ramsay's efforts she'd heard very few details about the returned Targaryen prince or his sudden and surprising victories, but Sansa had the very odd sense that she was staring directly at him. She could see the Targaryen sigil emblazoned on his leather breastplate beneath his black cloak and his hair... She'd never seen hair so light before. It hung just past his shoulders and in contrast to his dark cloak looked nearly white. Violet eyes of an equally striking color looked down at her, taking in what Sansa was sure was the most bedraggled sight that could be conceived of. She was filthy, blood stained, and likely unrecognizable to someone who had known her, let alone strangers.

Sansa dropped to her knees, the energy leaving her body just as quickly as it had come minutes ago. "Please, I-" Her voice was barely audible, dry and rasping. Would they believe her if she told them her name? Better yet, would they care?

"I am Sansa Stark... Daughter of Ned... and Catelyn Stark… Please, help me."