Next one! Enjoy!

Ghost didn't know how long he had run but he didn't care. The sun has set, and it is already getting dark, soon it'll be too dark to find her. If she were to walk around, finding her scent would be simple. Except that she flew.

The wolf could only rely on where he has last seen the white dragon heading to before disappearing into the forest trees. By the time he reached the deeper part of the forest, he halted.

Where could she have gone to? If the white dragon is indeed his mate, she would have known that she could easily be spotted or found since the pack knows these lands very well. And that is his concern now.

Dany is clever, she knows how to hide. But at the same time, hiding means hiding from him too. He doesn't know where she would've gone for shelter. Could it be the Wall like Uncle Benjen instructed them to head to?

It seems to be the most logical place to go. If she were in the forest, the other shifters can easily find her. She must be so frightened by now, feeling alone, and confused. He doesn't think that she can shift, she told him many times. This must be Melisandre's doing.

Wait. Melisandre….

Lately, the dragon dreams had been appearing before them, whether in dreams or in reality. Dany said that she had been having them more often now, and when Jon was brought back, he saw the dragons that Dany must've been talking about as well. A black and a white dragon.

This may mean… that that snake is responsible for her transformation. She knew it all along that they are dragons, that's why she made her see Dragon dreams! There're no other explanations! If he can find the python, he may be able to find her.

Determined, Ghost began sniffing the grounds, trying to find the scent of the snake. He must concentrate hard since the scent of snakes are harder to trace than normal mammalians, especially from a snake no one has ever been able to trace. But if he has to look for the entire North for her in order to get to Dany, then so be it.

He tried to trace her scent from trees to trees, logs to logs, and the ground, leaving no stone unturned. While he is sniffing the area, he also noticed something about himself.

His sense of smell has sharpened.

For some reason, the scent of everything became wilder in his nose. He could still smell Dany's scent where he last left her, it's as if she was here with him! Odd.

Not only did he find her scent, but the smell of humid scales and wet fur. The scent of Melisandre and Nymeria! What were they doing here?

That became his lead to find them, he padded deeper into the forest to investigate. Dany's scent was gone after a while, he couldn't trace her lemon pine smell anymore. Only the scent of Nymeria and Melisandre are left, except that they went separate ways. Why? They were together not too long ago, and it doesn't look like the python would kill his sister.

"You really found us," a voice coming from a hill beside him called out.

Ghost looked up to see someone on the hill. There, on top of the small hill on his left is his sister Nymeria, looking calmly at him. Her tail wagging and tongue lolling out.

Nym! What are you doing here? Ghost barked.

"Quiet down, Or they'll hear you!" she yipped, then she leaped down the hill to face him, "It's amazing how you were able to come this far to find us."

Arya, go back home! We were looking for you! And what are you doing here? It's too dangerous here, not when a dragon is here. He is speaking directly to the human inside Nymeria.

"What? You think Dany would attack you?"

Ghost cocked his head, What are you saying?

"Dany was the dragon who attacked the lions," she huffed, "She shifted the moment Father was attacked."

How do you know?

"I thought you knew about this?" she diverted the question.

Ghost shook his head, She only told me about the dreams she had. But I didn't think that it'd connect to her transformation.

"And here I thought you were smarter than you look," Nymeria sat down and licked her nose, giving him an unsatisfying huff.

Oh, shut it you, he grumbled, So how do you know all this?

She looked around her surroundings first, then she padded closer to him, "I know where Dany is", she whispered to his ear.

What?

"Shhhh, there are ears everywhere," she growled a little, "Come on, let's wash our scents first. Then I'll bring you to her."

How are you able to know all this?

"I'll explain later, but right now we have to hurry."

And just as she said that they can hear howls from a distance. A signal that the pack found something. They must be following him!

"Not good, we have to leave now," then she bounded another way.

Ghost followed, and both brother and sister ran further into the forest.

Once they found a small stream for them to splash into, leaving their scent behind, Nymeria led the way. It was a far journey, they had to cross the streams and go deeper into the forest. Ghost is amazed at how his sister is able to handle the travel, but he had expected this kind of behavior from her. Always the energetic of the female wolves, just like his mother.

Eventually, Nymeria brought him to a massive Weirwood tree. It looked like apes could live there, except that its branches don't look welcoming. Although the leaves are brightly colored shades of light red, the branches twists and turned every way and its barks are dark as night. This particular Weirwood tree is very different from the ones in Winterfell, it's darker rather than bright light.

But Nymeria walked closer to it and he had no choice but to follow. He trusts his sister.

It turns out, under the middle of the tree, where it's covered by bushes, is a small cave-like entrance, hiding away from the world. Nymeria pushed it a bit and slipped in easily, Ghost had to carefully push his way in so that he won't get stuck.

The small entrance leads them to what seems like an underground passage. It's dark and a long way, but not too dark. The root gaps gave them enough light to see. The tunnel is too squeezy for Ghost that he had to shift into his human form. The cubs stayed silent as his sister navigates her way, Jon wondered what his sister had been doing until she found a place like this.

After a while, he saw a light at the end of the tunnel. When they reached it, it turns out to be a cave. A comfy cave.

The cave is from the tree itself as if it shifts its way to create a home for someone. There are small handles attached on each side to illuminate the cave. A few root gaps are opened to let the air in, but not big enough for anyone above to think that there is an underground cave. It even has a table and chairs in the middle. Who lives in this place?

"Welcome to my temporary home, Jon Snow," a female voice called. A figure stands in the middle, the light isn't enough to show who she is, but he can see that this person wore a dress and has long hair. The voice though is very familiar.

She must've realized his confusion, for she chuckled, "My apologies, young prince. I just freshly moved here, so I'm not used to guests yet." She swiftly flicked her hand and the fire began to amplify their brightness.

Revealing to be Melisandre.

Jon's eyes widened, "Why are you here?"

The red priestess smiled, "Why to assist the Dragon cub, of course, my prince," she simply said, "After all, it was her first transformation."

He started looking around, but there is no sign of his mate.

"She's in another room, my prince. Resting. For someone to shift for the first time at her age, it's not quite simple," she walked towards the left side of the cave, heading to another room.

Jon and Arya followed, he felt nervous. Either from the presence of the snake shifter or they are in a place where no mammals are supposed to be in, he's not sure.

She leads them to a cave room that has a curtain covering its entrance. Melisandre pulled it to the side.

And there is his mate, sitting on the bed with a glass in her hand. When she turned to see him, her face turned to pure joy, "Jon."

He didn't hesitate to walk in and takes his place beside her. The white wolf took the glass from her hand and place it on the table beside the bed and immediately pulled her to his embrace. He kissed the side of her head lovingly, thanking all the gods that she's here with safe and sound. Her forest and flower scent that he grew familiar with whiffed through his nostrils, "Dany," he gently called her, happy that she is here, "You're here."

He felt her nodding frantically, "You're here too," her voice cracked from the happiness. By instinct, he squeezed her closer to him, ensuring her that he's real.

"She's exhausted after her transformation," Melisandre said from behind, "Her body isn't accustomed yet from shifting, but otherwise, she'll be fine."

He pulled away to take a proper look at her. It dawned to him that she is the white dragon that attacked the lions just mere moments ago, that this cub in his arms was his mate that protected Winterfell. Then he turned to the snake shifter while still hugging his mate, "How did you make her do it?"

"I didn't, she did it herself," she simply said and turned her red eyes to Dany with a smile, "All I did was break the seal that holds her transformation, and the rest was all her effort," she explained, "I thought that it may take her another few seasons to get her transformation fully complete, however, I didn't expect the two of you to mate already."

Jon was taken aback at her words. How did she know? At the corner of his eye, he can see Arya's mouth hung open. Oh, gods, he thought. This is not the way he wanted her to know.

Melisandre smirked, "I do not need to sense your power exhilarating quickly when we last met, there is a bite mark on her shoulder after all."

He looked back at his mate, who is blushing madly. Jon always finds her adorable when she does that unconsciously. He traces his hand on the mark he gave her the night before, not feeling any shame for giving her that.

The mark of their unity, their love. Jon's free hand snaked to the spot where she gave him the mark between his neck and shoulder, he can still feel her teeth marking him, it still feels so fresh, even if it was just yesterday.

He turned to the Red Priestess, "Thank you."

She nodded, "You all best get some rest, I will keep watching outside. There is a stew prepared should any of you are hungry. I advise you all to stay here and rest for the time being."

Arya walks to her, "I should get going," she told her, "My parents must be worried sick of me if I stay any longer, and they'll think that Jon and Dany took me."

Melisandre calmly looks at her, "This tree is the sacred Godswood Tree, a timeless tree. Therefore, time does not flow as it should here."

"What do you mean?" Dany asked.

"It means that, once you all walk out of this place, it'll still be moments since you all left Winterfell, nothing much changed," she said.

"Is that how you are able to age as old as Westeros?" Jon asked.

She gave him a sly smirk, "There is more than what meets the eyes, Jon Snow. We all take necessary risks to do what the Lord wants us to do," And at she left them all, leaving Jon a little confused at her remark. That snake-shifter may still be questionable, but her intention is not hostile towards them.

Arya then walks up to them and sat on the bed, "Are you alright, Dany?"

She nodded in his arms, "A little bit sore in the muscles, but I am fine. Thank you, Arya, and you?"

"All good," she happily told her with a huge smile on her face, "You were amazing as a dragon! I didn't know you had that in you."

Jon released Dany from their embrace so that she can face her. The Dragon cub looked down at her open palms, "I didn't even know that I could even change, this is my first time ever doing it."

He watches his sister reacting to this, which he finds it suspicious. How did she know all this? Why is she even here? The White Wolf leans forward, "Arya, how did you know all this? How did you find us?"

Arya's gaze became serious and her face fell. She crossed her legs and shifted her sitting her position, "I was having a morning walk when I met Melisandre at the forest."

"Why were you in the forest?" Dany asked her.

"I had a lot of thinking after you both told me that you are going to leave Winterfell. I….. I wanted you both to stay, so I…." she stuttered and shifted the fabric of her tunic uncomfortably, "Then, when I was about to go home, she found me. And then, she told me that there is a way to save you both."

"What?" Jon furrowed his brows, why did that snake involve his little sister into his mess? "Why did you follow her? You don't know what she's capable of!"

"But she didn't, didn't she? Instead, she knew something that we don't, and that saved you!" she shouted, astounding Jon even when he knows that she had the capabilities to do this. Arya is the only one who is willing to fight back if she believes that they are wrong, and she doesn't care how big or small her opponent is. And when she does this, it'll be difficult to change her mind unless if there is a proof, even for Jon.

She then slouches and he can see tears forming in her eyes, "Jon, I…. I heard…. She said that…something terrible happened to you the day you were captured by the monkey-people. That's why…..she too said that you had to leave Westeros….." Arya then looks up to him, her eyes are leaking already, "Is that true?"

Seeing the distraught cub, Dany quickly moves to her and embraces her sister, "Arya, it's fine."

"No," she shook her head in protest and pulled away from her, "Don't lie to me, I'm not a child. You can't tell me everything is fine when you both had to run like this. I was the one who found help to save you both from the monkey-people, and then, the lions are suddenly here. Tell me what happened! I deserve to know too!"

Jon pursed his lips and looks down with sorrow. He never wanted anyone to know what had happened to him or the necessary steps that Dany had to go through to bring him back.

His grey eyes met Dany's, giving her a silent question whether he must reveal the truth to her. She gave him a nod and resumed to hug Arya.

He sighed, "Arya, there will be a lot of explanation, but you can't tell anyone about this. Not Robb, not Bran nor Sansa. You must keep this a secret even when we leave. Understood?"

Arya looks at him and back at Dany, her face looks confused as her brows furrowed. But she pulled away from Dany and sat up straight, ready to listen whatever Jon is about to tell her, he can tell that she's trying to be brave for him, "Alright, I'm ready."

He nodded, here goes. Jon took a deep breath and he began his tale.

Dany watches her mate telling his sister everything. Everytime she finds a hint of distress from the cub, she would pull her closer to her, ensuring that she gets enough comfort as possible, just the way Jon always does when she is like her.

She listens to everything he says, giving him the encouragement he needs whenever he felt uncomfortable sharing it. Even for Dany, she felt the stab of pain in her heart when he relived the moment where he was killed. However, Jon stirred it the story a bit, it's just too much for a young cub like her to take it all in.

"The monkey people…. I was dying when Melisandre saved me."

"What?" Arya gasped, "So, that snake saved all of you?"

"Aye, and she was the one who healed me," he said, before his face turned a little dimmer, "There is more to this, Arya. And it isn't just because I defended Dany from the lions."

The young pup perked up, "What do you mean, Jon?"

And so, the inevitable story must be told, making her nervous. How will she react that Jon and Dany might be related? Will she feel disgusted and run away from her?

Jon meets her eyes again, his grey orbs look so nervous just as she is. But Dany gave him an encouraging smile, silently telling him to keep going. Her mate nodded and took a deep breath. "I am not a Stark, Arya,"

"What do you mean you are not a Stark? Of course, you are," Arya looks at him with an obvious tone to him, "You are the son of our Alpha Stark."

"No, I am the son of his sister, Lyanna Stark," he finally said.

"What do you mean?"

"Arya, I am the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Father kept it a secret so that Robert won't know anything about me."

"But….. that's impossible," Arya said in disbelief, "Aunt Lyanna never married anyone! Rather, she was kidnapped by Rhaegar….. wait…. does that mean…that you are….." she stuttered, unable to continue.

"No, Arya," Dany spoke to her with a gentle voice as a mother wolf would for her pups, "my brother never kidnapped your aunt. Rather they fell in love and got married in secret."

"But….how did you know all this? How do you know that it's not a lie?"

"You father himself told Jon the day when he and your uncle had a talk together. And then, not long later, Jon told me," she answered her.

The she-wolf pursed her lips, "That's….."

Dany watches Arya, who is clearly trying to process this information. Even for her, it was quite a lot of information to take in, let alone a cub like Arya. She hates that her presence already changes everything for the Starks, but even so, she wouldn't dream of a day not knowing them.

The she-wolf pursed her lips again, "So… does that mean that….you are a dragon? Just like Dany?" she looks to Dany as she asks.

She nodded and turns to Jon, "Yes, Arya. Jon is a dragon," she finally said, "Your blood and my blood flows in him."

She blinked, "So….if you are the son of our aunt…does that mean that Dany is your aunt?"

Jon shifted uncomfortably, "Aye, does this bother you?"

She took a moment to understand this whole revelation, Dany couldn't tell what she is thinking. Her face is just unreadable, which is rare for her. The cub then shook her head, "No…. I don't think so…I mean, I read a lot about the Targaryens, and they do marry each other to stay pure. Am I right, Dany?"

Dany let out a quiet breath, relieved that the cub didn't take it ill about their relation. All this time, her brother always said that the Usurpers hates the Targaryens, and yet, here she is. Not only did she lived with them, but she fell in love with one and had a strong bond with another. Life is strange yet beautiful when the perspective is different.

Without hesitation, Dany enveloped the young cub into her arms, "Thank you so much, Arya." She kissed the top of her head and strokes her back.

To which she embraces her back, "You are my family, Dany. Always have, always will."

Violet eyes couldn't help but form tears in her eyes at her words. Never in her life did she received so much love. First from her mate, then his siblings. But the fact creeps in her head that she's about to leave them all breaks her heart. If circumstances are different, she wants to stay with the pack forever, even when half of them are doubtful towards her. As long as her new family is there with her, that's all that matters.

But….it's because of the lions that she needs to ensure that they are safe. She doesn't want the North to crumble just because the lions will be looking for her. One day, when all things are clearer, she will return.

The young cub shifted in her arms for a while, then she pulled away. At first, Dany thought that she might have something to add on again, but her mischief grin says something else. Her grey eyes trail across her neck and shoulders before meeting her eyes, "So…... you both are mates now?"

She couldn't help but laugh and she heard Jon joined her. This is the Arya she always knew, the one who breaks any uncomfortable tension to a happy one.

"Alright, that's enough of you," Jon exclaimed.

"Hey, but I at least deserve to know this too," she protested with a sly smile on her face, "Your bite marks are clearly there."

Dany's hand trailed to space between her neck and shoulder in reflex, feeling the teeth marks there. The sign of their love and unity. She felt her face turn warm and giggled, "Yes, Arya. We are."

The young cub let out a squeal of excitement before launching herself to her.

"Careful now, pup," Jon said, "Dany just recovered."

But Dany held her tighter, not intending to let the joyful pup out of her arms, "It's fine, Jon."

Neither less, Arya pulled away and faces her with a huge smile plastered on her face, "Please get married now! I have to see you two get married before you leave….." at the unconscious mention of leaving, the pup's face fell and turned into a frown.

Jon scooted towards them, "Aye, we will," he said, and turns to Dany, "Are you alright with that?"

Dany is taken aback. They had never discussed this before the Running, and to have this all of a sudden is still a shock to her as well. Because they are officially sealing their union as a whole.

"Oh, I forgot something," Arya exclaimed happily and rummages through her pockets, "Oh, where is it, it was with me….." she mumbled. Then her face lit up as she fished something out of her pocket. The contents in her hand made Dany's eyes widened.

It's their wedding rings!

Jon quickly swipes it out of her palms, "Where and when did you get these?" Jon exclaimed in horror, his dark brows furrows. Even Dany felt surprised because it was a secret between them.

"Melisandre said that there are two rings that give certain powers in your drawers," She explained, "So when you both were gone that late morning, I snuck into your chambers and got them."

Jon chuckled at her innocent remark. Sometimes he had to remember that Arya is still a pup even when she forces her way to be around people older than her. "Arya, these are wedding rings," then he pulled Dany closer to him, "Ours."

Her grey eyes shone as bright as the stars, "Really?"

Jon nodded proudly, "Aye, we are to wear them when we wed."

"Then do it now!" Arya demanded before fighting back a yawn. She must've worked a lot to make sure they are here, and he can see Dany is fighting to keep her eyes open. But Arya still has that fire in her, "I want to see you say your vows to each other."

"Ah ah, wedding rings for wedding purposes only," at that, he placed the rings on the table, he looks towards the girls in front of him, "it's a little late for that, and Dany needs to recover from her shifting. Why don't we go to bed first, then we will speak about it when we wake up?"

She nods sleepily, "Alright."

Dany began to gently pull the young pup to the middle of the bed, "The bed is enough for the three of us," she whispered to him.

"Aye," he began to lay down at his side. Now, his little sister is nestled between him and Dany. If anything, they look like a real family, Dany draped her arm around the pup, stroking her side so that she can drift off to sleep.

Jon watches her contently, the way she cares so much for his sister makes his heart swell. He knows that Arya is supposed to be his cousin, but no matter what, he is still his sister.

And to think he has a mate like Dany makes him even prouder. He never expects that he will fall in love with the Dragon cub he saved more than a year ago, and as the seasons pass, she changed his world completely. Gone were the days he thought that he will never be able to find a mate and bear children with that person. Now, with her as his mate, it's replaced with hope.

"What are you thinking, love?" Dany whispers to him, breaking his train of thoughts.

Jon's eyes drifted down to the sleeping Arya, the side of her stomach rising up and down calmly, indicating that she had drifted to slumber.

Good, he thought. Then his eyes drifted to his beautiful mate, who is watching him lovingly. He took her hand that is gently stroking Arya and squeezes it, "I love you, Dany."

He can see her face glows a little bit red, her dimples showing, "I love you, too Jon."

I wanted to expand it again, but I think it's best to save it for another chapter

I like Melisandre as Kaa, very mysterious and anti-hero. She's practically a mentor to the cubs, indirectly.

And Arya, always the ever so supportive ^^

Hope you enjoyed it!