Chapter 3: The Stranger

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Ragnarshadow: Werewolf can't have child or only Arlinn?

Innistrad Lycanthrope cannot have a child. It's something to do with the curse. The only way werewolves can increase their numbers is to call out the victim into the woods, have the wild essence of the wolf spirit enter the body, transforming them into werewolves.

Also, ragnarshadow: Bolas like the father I can imagine. Westeros in war and Bolas teaching Jon "these idiots fighting for iron chair, they do not understand about power. Do not become like this Jon."

I believe that any true dragon capable of conversation will tell you the same, not just Bolas.

Konda020946: pffft cold day on Innistrad, Nice. I think I remember Arlinn learning control on a different plane where she was also able to transform. Might want to check that out.

Cold day on Innistrad, or just a normal night on Amonkhet. (Desert get really cold at night 😊)

Yes, Arlinn learning control on a different plane after her first planeswalk. She planeswalked while being a werewolf and when on a different plane, there is no influence from the Innistrad's moon. She had made peace with her wolf spirit, accepting that they were both her.

No, she cannot transform outside Innistrad. The curse is linked to Innistrad's silver moon. She can still planeswalks away, but she will be stuck in whatever the form she is currently in.

Guest: *Wall of unrelated texts*

Cool! Good to know. But dear sir, are you lost?

Previously

"Due to my bound to the wolf spirit, I cannot have a child of my own. We may not be related by blood, but you are now of my pack. I am willing to be your mother … if you would have me, little Snow."

"Mother!" Jon cries He rushes in and hugs her waists. His action stops her from thinking anything further. She pats him on the head and strokes his hair.

It had been two months after Jon Snow finally has a mother. She had taught him how to hunt, how to fight, and how to be a werewolf. These are practical lessons that are more important than anything I Jon want to not only survive but to thrive as a planeswalker.

The first rule of being a planeswalker is not to tell everyone about being a planeswalker.

For the past two months, Jon had never been happier in his life. He finally has a mother that loves him. Sure, her method of teaching was harsh, but she was also fair. She always went out of her way to make sure that all terrible punishment that she inflicted on him was for his own good and never once not remind him that how important Jon was to her. Before he had come here, his lord father just made him practice with wood swords. Two months had passed, and he had perfect the basic stance of using a spear, thanks to his mother guidance.

He also enjoyed the story about his mother life. Apparently, before she encounters her wolf spirit, she had been training in a church. First, he was amused to think that his mother was a septa until he learned that the church here controls almost everything. His mother was trained to be an archmage, a divine warrior of the church. It means that his mother has been trained to fight the horrors of Innistrad since she was young, and after she had received the blessing of the wolf spirit, she had been always fighting ever since.

Jon is proud that his mother is everything the Starks aspired to be. Even they keep calling him a bastard, a Snow, for the rest of his life, he will be more Starks than all of those from his generation combine.

"Remember, Jon. Many don't see the wolf spirit as a blessing as we do, they will try to hurt us if they even suspect our true nature." Spoke Arlinn, as she and her son watch a Gavony village that border Ulvenwald. "To thrive, not only we need to master the life inside the forest, but we must also be able to blend in with the populations. It will be harder to control the hunger in the presence of easy prey, but if you outed yourself too early, they will be hunting you until either you die, or they do."

That is the duality of their curses. The only difference between predator and prey is their situations. Such are the woes of Innistrad's curse. Those that could master this game that they play would be a perfect lair and thrives in this accursed plane.

"So. Tell me, my dear Jon. What is the best way to blend in with strangers that always suspect of outsiders?" Ask his mother. It is a question that makes Jon racks his brain finding an answer. He thinks and thinks and thinks but seems to not find the perfect answer.

Arlinn is patient, of course, like any good mother should. She wants to tell him what she believed right away but decides to wait for his answer. The best action to make him learn is to have him thinks for himself, not just follow everything she says. Her life still surprises her at every chance it can, even when she had ascended as a planeswalker for more than two decades. There are always many things to learn.

"We lie?" Answered Jon. He wants to make his mother proud, but he is unsure. There are many arguments to be had for lying as the first option. How well can you lie? How much effort do you need to put to those lie? What if they are skeptic about your story? What will you do afterward?

"Elaborate." Arlinn continues. She almost couldn't hide her smile. Her pup is finally thinking for himself.

"Yes, mother." Jon nods. "If we tell them the truth, they will definitely kill us, or tell someone that will come to kill us. So, we lie. We make sure that they believe what we want them to believe." Answered Jon. His voice is filled with nervousness when he explains why he will choose to lie as the first choice.

"Is that comfortable I sense, Jon?" Asked Arlinn. She seems disappointed but Jon doesn't understand why.

Arlinn intended to beat the nativity out of her son as soon as possible. If he still keeps his old ideals he was raised with, he would not last a single day alone here. Lying is a necessary skill that he needs to master as soon as possible. Planeswalkers like them are no longer all-powerful, yet many covet their ability. It would be just a matter of time before one come looking for him to experiment on or tried to steal his spark by force. Worse yet, if others planeswalker such as The-horned-one-who-shall-not-be-name might do the-thing-that-should-not-be-mentioned for the-war-that-would-spell-disaster-for-them-all.

"Your head is going in the right direction Jon. You still think lying is bad?" She asked. She stares at him with predator-like eyes as if she is staring into his soul.

"Lord Stark told me that it is not honorable to do so. Thieves and traitors lie, good men don't, he told me." Answered her son. Arlinn suddenly felt the urge to bash the boy's father head for putting that's stupid idea into his head.

"So, you think it better to die telling the truth than lie to save the lives of you and those you loved?" She retorted. "I'm not telling you to lie about everything all the time, Jon. I want you to do so when its matter of life and death. You don't want your loved one to get hurt, do you?"

She clearly sees that Jon startles as she mentioned that his loved ones could get hurt. He is really a good pup. In a few years, he will grow to be a fine wolf.

"Be that as it may. So. You choose to lie. Do you know what the best kind of lie is?" Arlinn asked again, she doesn't want to tell Jon what's right or wrong. She wants him to think, hard, and grow that brain of his. The best weapon any wolf has is its brain, after all.

"No, mother. I don't even know there are many types of lie." He solemnly answered.

"Good. The way I see it. The best way to lie is telling the truth." Said Arlinn. She takes delight in Jon's confused face. Oh, I waited so long for this. His face is adorable.

"Now. To tell the truth, you must know all the truth. What does the other side believe? What are the things that they doubt? Who do they see as enemies? Who do they see as allies? What can you twist to make them believe you? Do you understand, my little wolf?"

Jon nods in agreement again. She pats his back as she believes he understands what she said. It remains to be seen though, but that what the test she prepared is for. Her grin is so wide, even though she didn't realize it.

"Good. Now, my little pup. I will show you how it's done. So, watch and learn. By the end of the month, you will be tested." She held his hand as they walk toward the village via the dirt road. "I will show you how to make them believe your lie. The village blacksmith has a daughter your age and she is quite pretty. Your ultimate test will be getting her to kiss you willingly before we leave for Stensia."

The last sentence makes Jon blushes so red some might think his face is bleeding. The boy looks at his mother only to see her looking back at him with a grin. "We are wolves, Jon. And wolves must hunt. Usually for meat, but some alternative is acceptable. The management of your hunger is good enough. So, let's see how the charming face of yours do wonder." She laughs as she makes him blushes even more crimson. "Remember, Jon. Only kissing, no touching. You are a little too young for that."

As a cherry on top, she lets out a bellowing laugh.

Jon's mouth remains shut due to sheer embarrassment. He doesn't argue. He doesn't even retort. They walked silently toward the village.

Damn it, Jon. Say something. He internally screamed.

"What if I fail?" He thoughtlessly asked.

Maybe not that!

His mother stops in her track when she hears it. She looks at him strangely and pokes his forehead. "Oh, Jon. You are handsome and gentle. You won't fail."

"But if …" Once again Jon thoughtlessly replied.

"YOU. WILL. NOT."

Meanwhile in Winterfell.

Two months. It had been two months after Jon disappear right in from of his eyes. Eddard "Ned" Stark was tired. Very. Tired. He wasn't sleeping well. How could he? Jon didn't die, he just disappeared. One moment he was sick with fever, his wife even prayed for him, then he just … gone. Where? he doesn't know. Why? he also doesn't know. Nothing makes sense.

It also didn't help that Catelyn screamed "WITCHCRAFT" for ten days straight when they talked about it alone. She also makes sure that everyone knew Jon was dead, eagerly so in fact. She forced his hand to tell lies. He knew Jon is still alive. How can a sick boy disappear like that unless its ….

MAGIC.

Ned broods in his solar, as he always does in his free time for the past two months. He asked maester Luwin to bring all the book about magic from Winterfell library to his solar after the fake burial rite. At least his wife didn't interrupt him for putting "Jon's body" inside his family crypt. Tales, legends, records, rumors, he read it all. Yet, nothing he read could describe how Jon had disappeared. He hopes there is something hidden in that pile of texts that could help him. Something. Anything. Else, he wouldn't know how he could face his dear dead sister. She screamed at him in his dreams ever since.

There is a knock on the door. Ned doesn't even have to guess who that was.

"Come in." He answered.

The door creaks open and in walks Catelyn Stark, the Lady of Winterfell, his wife. Their relationship had been strained since Jon disappeared. How couldn't it be, she hated the boy since the first moment she laid her eyes on him. Cursed her faith of the seven, condemning a bastard to nothing more than a demon spawn. She always took any chance to mentally torturing Jon, little comments here, harsh stare there, she even reprimands her own children, no, "their children", when they interact with Jon. He wanted to yell the truth at her face to make her stop, but his honor forbids it.

It's the price he had to pay for keeping his promise.

"Ned." She called his name. "It has been two months. You need to move on."

"No." His answer is short. How could he? His sister left her only son in his care and he lost him. No. He will never stop until Jon is found, either alive or dead. He prayed to the gods of old that it would be the former. "No. Milady. I will not." He didn't bother to look at his wife's face when he said it. He grows tired of her constant reminder that Jon is a bastard. Worse yet, her unfair treatment of his nephew and the true heir of the iron throne.

"WHY?" She yelled. "Why do you so fixate with that bastard! You brought him back from the war. You brought him to Winterfell. You refused to send him away, even when I already gave you four children. Now, that bastard is gone and yet you still thinking about him. What about us, milord? What about Rob, Sansa, Arya, and Bran? You are ignoring them, your own lawful child for a son of a whore."

"ENOUGH!" Ned screams in rage. "Not another word, milady. I will not tolerate you to further dishonor Jon's mother. Jon is as a Stark as any of your children. I will not stand for any other different treatment for him. You may be the Lady of Winterfell, Cat. But I'm its lord and the Warden of the North. My word is law and you will abide by it, willing or not."

Catelyn stumbled back at the word. They had been married for almost a decade and not even once had he raised his voice against her, except now. Her eyes start to water as she looks straight into his. Her face tells it all. She couldn't believe what she just heard. Eddard Stark, her lord husband, has done the unthinkable. He elevates the bastard to have the same status as her children. This is wrong. Everything is wrong. All the sept teaching had dictated it so.

"And what about MY HONOR, milord? You sire a bastard right after our marriage. Have you not thought about me at all? I gave you four children, FOUR CHILDREN, and yet all you can think of is that bastard and its mother." She berated before stomps out of Ned's solar. She slams the door as hard as she can, the non-ladylike be damned, she wants everyone to know. And oh, everyone will know. She has a raven to send to Riverrun.

It had been almost a month after they first came to this village. The blacksmith daughter, Henrietta, was a lovely girl. Jon had to admit he enjoyed her company. He was amazed at how fast the people here bought his mother's story of being in a nearby village that had been wipe out by werewolves. She had run him over about their cover story before: She was a member of the Church of Avacyn's archmagi, who commit a mistake by having him during the mission and was forced to quit, they were sent to hunt all the monstrosities and expected to die doing it as a punishment and atonement for her sins, the village that they intended to stay in was attacked and destroy before they arrive, so they intend to stay here for a while before moving on to Stensia to deal with its vampire problem.

Just as his mother taught him, most of the story is the truth, but not the full truth. Yes, she was an archmagi. Yes, she was forced to quit, technically anyway. Yes, they are on a hunting mission. Yes, the nearby village was wiped out by werewolves. And yes, they intend to stay here temporarily before moving on to Stensia. The rest? Well, it's a story that people want to believe in.

Jon, on the other hand, had quite a challenge trying to woo a girl. The cover story that he had to act out was easy enough, but to gain the trust of the village blacksmith is something of another level entirely. It took him much effort to show that he was just a nice boy who wants to play with other children his own age, while his wolf spirit screamed at him to rip her throat out. Apart from that, he enjoys having a friend, something that he didn't have a chance when he was the Bastard of Winterfell.

Two of them now sit together near the riverbank just outside the village. Other older villagers walk pass by from time to time and wave at them, commenting about how adorable they are as a couple, jokingly of course. Sure, things are grim on Innistrad and the life expectancy of its people is even shorter than Westeros, but eight years old is still regarded as too young for a romance. Still, the comments made them blushed, especially in Henrietta case. Her cheek turned red, and it made Jon want to eat her face. By biting it off with his growing fangs of course. Lucky for both Henrietta and Jon, his self-control and good nature won out.

"So, you are moving away, Jon?" Asked the girl. "I wish I could go with you. You know. Traveling the world, seeing more people, maybe I can be an archmage like your mother." Said the girl as she is kicking her legs while sitting on a log. Their shoulder touch and she doesn't mind.

"Perhaps. But your father will kill me before that will happen, I think." He joked. Jon knows how much the blacksmith loves his little daughter. It makes her laughs. "I hope I can come here after my mother is pardoned for her mistake and become an archmage again. I might be an archmage myself so I can protect you."

The girl giggles as she twitches away playfully. She doesn't look so happy as usual though. They both know this is the last chance they will probably ever meet. Their reasons are different, but Jon know he doesn't need to tell her that. He just needs to complete the test his mother gave him. He feels it is easier compared to when he started, as he develops feelings for her as well. It might not be love, but it's a good feeling, nonetheless.

"Before I left …" said Jon. He turns to her and looks into her eyes. There is no mind control here, just his charisma. "May I ask you one last favor?"

"Aha." His target didn't hesitate for a second. She nods and gives him the same treatment.

"I don't want you to forget about me, Henrietta. And I don't want to forget about you, too. So …" He hesitates for a few seconds before he gathers enough courage to ask. "May I have a kiss so we can remember each other by?"

Jon feels like everything stops right after he finishes asking. As if on cue, the wind stops blowing. There are no sound, if there was, he doesn't hear it. It is so silent, Jon could hear two heartbeats, hers and his own. He stares at her as she stares at him, neither dare to do anything else.

Then his answer comes. Not by words, but by her soft and misty lips touching his own. He is taken aback but does not resist. Instead, he closes his eyes and feels it all. His enhance sense could pick up the blood that rushed to her lips and its soothing warmth that transmit to him.

This is nice. He reckons. Mission successful. Mother would be proud of me.

Suddenly everything changes. He knows that something is wrong as the warmth of their kiss fades.

Something is not right. Her lips feel …. Dry?

Jon doesn't understand what happened. When he finally opens his eyes, he is met with horror. Henrietta changes. No longer she is a lively lovely girl that her sight alone could brighten his day. Oh no. She is now but a dried husk that died while kissing him.

Everything is so silent. Too silent, when Jon thinks about it. Something must have happened.

Oh no. Mother!

Moments earlier

Arlinn Kord is watching her son doing the task that she assigned him to do a month ago. Her super-hearing could pick up sweet words that he said to the blacksmith daughter. She keeps tap of his progress of course. When Jon tried to befriend the girl, at first, he was shy himself. Clearly, he had no clue on how to approach other people or stranger. She couldn't blame him considering the upbringing inside a castle as a son of a powerful lord but born out of wedlock that he told her. For the past month, she saw him improving. There were times that he stumbled to answer the question he didn't expect, but his improvisation is getting better and better. Sometimes it made her even thought that Jon believed in those lies himself. Its something she had to make sure and correct on.

And then, out of nowhere, a calamity came. Arlinn soon finds herself standing in a mist of a slaughter. However, it is not by a howlpack out for food or some spiteful spirit that haunted this area. One moment everything is fine, the villagers just go about their lives as normal, then everything turns mad. Everyone eyes go blank and stop doing things on their track. Then, horrors begin as blood is sucked out from everyone in the village, leaving them a dry husk. Dark powers are in play here and she knows who is responsible.

Her thought goes to Jon as she realized who has come for them. In a panic, she searches for him with her senses and is glad that he is alive and unharmed. She also sees that he had completed his test, but that matter needs to be put on hold. There is a change of plan.

"You are far from home, Arlinn of Avabuck. I tolerate you only because you are of Innistrad. I let you stay in Ulvenwald because you want to keep a balance. And yet you abaddon your post." Said the perpetrator. His voice echoes throughout the area even there are only two other souls to hear it. "And what is this? A young wolf pup who recently ignite its spark. You are not of here, youngling, yet you have the curse? Interesting."

A figure moves so fast her eyes can barely track. Seeing that it moves toward Jon, Arlinn cursed herself for her indecisiveness and rushes toward her son. She needs to get to Jon fast or he might not be alive long enough for her to explain to that person. She put all her power to enhance her legs and dashes at an incredible speed.

"JON!" She cries, seeing that he is confused and scared. Scared for both his life and hers. He is such a good boy that it makes her almost come to tear if not for the possibility of impending doom. Lucky for her, she reaches Jon before HE does. Or more accurately, HE let her reaches Jon before HE does.

As she hugs her son to calm him down, a man emerged out of a shadow. His wears an ornate armament, a silver armor with a giant piece of perfect ruby in the middle of his chest. He of skin so pale, eyes so black, and a dress cut down to Venezuela. An ancient vampire of an imaginable power. A foe that she could not win against.

"I am Sorin Markov, Innistrad is mine. Heed me and obey, OR DIE."

Custom Card of the Chapter

Card Name: Hidden in Plain Sight

Manacost: 1G

Types: Instant

Card Text: Transform all werewolves you control. Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to humans this turn.

Flavor Text: "Werewolf? Where? Wolves? I have no idea what you are talking about."

Rarity: Common