The Panther, Malakhi thought angrily. I already despise it. I already have a nickname...I don't need one saying that I'm some kind of cat.

He saw that the people of Westeros had favored in naming Arya, The Cat of Canals. He shook his head at the names, thinking, Two cats...one as big as a panther and the other as small as a black cat...a team of misfits, how fitting.

I suppose over the last two weeks, they must still be frightened of us. We did cause a lot of trouble together. The kid and I make a good team, I'll admit to that. We cut down men left to right, killed whoever got in our way. We saved some people who saw us as their saviors, but they shouldn't look up to us just cause we saved them from a couple of bad people who were doing terrible things to them.

No, we're not the good guys, those roles are for people like Maya and Jon Snow.

Not for people like Arya and I...people with a kill list and a lust for vengeance and their blood. We got it bad, they took everything from us so it's our turn to pay the debt so to speak.

Malakhi vaguely remembers where they wanted to go first, home or Cersei. Cersei and The Mountain were luckily in the same place for them to strike. Arya didn't know yet what she wanted to do as they sat around the camp fire. Arya was furious when they learned that Cersei had become queen and the Mountain was given inhuman strength, they realized that they were more powerful than before. This caused their mission to become a bit more complicated.

Arya watched Malakhi sharpen his blade and questioned, "Why do you despise the Panther name so much?"

He sighed heavily. "Because I already claimed myself a nickname...had it my entire life."

"What was it?"

"The Scorpion. I was always known as the smallest one of my family. Only fitting for a man they thought would never grow. I can't leave it behind, it's apart of me."

"Maybe it's time for a change," Arya suggested. "The past is gone so why cry about it. You can't go back and change it, but you can change the future. New place, new rules so therefore new name."

"You should take your own advice then."

"You don't think that I tried? I traveled across the Narrow Sea just to become someone else, to become no one...but then I realized that I couldn't do it. I couldn't forget especially not of who I am."

"So that is why you came back home?"

She nodded. "That and to finish off my list then I will return to my family."

"This mission will take time," he reminded her.

"I'm patient when it comes to vengeance. You can leave if you want to. I don't need a white knight to protect me. I'm no damsel, I can do it myself."

He nodded in agreement and stated, "You're right. You need a partner in crime though. Someone to have your back."

"I thought your goal was to protect Leonardo and Maya."

"Maya gave me the task to make sure that her family doesn't die. I'm doing exactly that right in this moment by teaming up with you. I'm still keeping my promise," he responded.

Arya seemed reluctant for a moment as she stared at him with a furrowed brow. She didn't want his help-she didn't want anyone's because she wanted to prove to everyone who doubted her that she can do this on her own without help and soon they would all know her name. They wouldn't forget. She realized that she may need his help with men ten times her size, there was no way she would be able to take down The Mountain now that he's inhuman.

"Fine."

Malakhi smiled and took out his hand to shake hers. Arya shook his hand tightly, their partnership would soon be stronger than ever and feared by all.

"On one condition," Arya told him. "I get to kill Cersei, the Queen. You can't get in my way for whatever reason. I don't care if Maya loves The Kingslayer, I'll kill him anyways for what he did to Bran. He started everything and set all of our fates that day. His life must end and I will be the one to do it."

"So what were their answers," Daenerys asked.

"They agreed," Varys answered. "But, Your Grace, Maya Stark said that House Stark will not help unless you can guarantee the safety of her family. Not the Starks, but Jaime and their son."

"Even if, Your Grace, you were to guarantee this," Tyrion started to say. "I know Maya, she doesn't trust us. She'll need proof because her family is slowly dying out. She'll do anything to protect them."

"Anything?" Daenerys questioned curiously. "That's interesting to know."

"Yes, it is," Tyrion drawled out curiously. "She's changed."

Varys nodded. "Very much so. I hear she's ruthless and cunning now. My little birds whisper in my ear about the people she has behind her. A Panther named Malakhi Maegyr, also known as The Scorpion stands by her side fiercely. Sansa Stark, the Lady Wolf, Jon Snow, the White Wolf are also by her side, she has the entire North behind her as well. They took back Winterfell with the help of House Arryn. Then I hear nothing from them."

"What do you mean by nothing?" Tyrion questioned.

"It seems someone has intercepted my birds so now they cannot whisper in my ear anymore."

"I wonder who," Tyrion responded sarcastically. "My brother or his wife? Or well why not both actually?"

"Both it is then...it seems they don't want anyone to know what they're doing."

Daenerys scoffed. "And she can't trust me? How does she expect me to agree when all she does is increase the doubt I have in her?

Tyrion nodded in agreement. "Yes, Maya's always been good at that. I wonder though what she is planning, assuming she's planning something of course."

"What makes you think that?"

" I heard that Jaime arrived in the North for her and their son, but she wasn't there. She hasn't been seen since she left the meeting, yes? So where did she go? It only takes a month or so to get to Winterfell if she is stopping all the time like Robert did when we went there. I don't think she is though so where is she going now, that's the real question here."

"You're becoming paranoid," Varys informed him with a small smile. "She's hiding from my little birds it appears."

"What is she up to," Tyrion repeated over and over again, but more to himself.

TBC…

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