Jon moved quietly through the forest, the crisp air causing his breath to precede his steps, but otherwise he tried to be as silent and invisible as Ghost. The direwolf stalked ahead several hundred yards, pausing once in a while to sniff the air or turn back to look at Jon, as though questioning the reason for their journey.
Jon himself somewhat doubted his motives, but now that he was out here in the wilds, trying to find signs of wildling camps, he needed to commit himself to it.
After two days of trekking, he began seeing scattered signs of camps and so doubled his pace, hoping to catch a group unawares and gain some information to take back to the Wall before anyone knew he had been there. If they did discover him, his chances of survival were exceptionally low, and his mission to convince the acting commanders at the Wall of the need to send word again for more help would fail. More than that, he would fail himself. He felt it his duty to make up for his absence, even though it was under orders. And his duty to the Wall was all he had left now, after leaving Ygritte, and now knowing of what befell Robb and his armies. His thoughts drifted to Aurelia, and he banished them quickly. No mention had been made of her among the guests or the casualties at the Twins. Jon could not bring himself to ask about her, only to wonder if there was a chance she survived. Yet if she had, what then?
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind. As though sensing his unease, Ghost had slowed his pace and now stood about fifty yards away. Jon saw him look back, then ahead to the east. Jon's gaze followed the direwolf's, but he could not see whatever lay out there. He sprinted softly over the damp leaves to Ghost's side.
"What is it, boy?"
Ghost sniffed the air, then panted lightly. Jon scanned the woods as much as he could. Just as the hair started to stand on Ghost's back, Jon noticed several figures in the distance.
"Easy, Ghost," he whispered.
The direwolf snarled, but remained quiet and still. Jon started to move forward, Ghost keeping on his heels. The figures were moving out of the wooded path and into a clearing that jutted downward. Jon began to sprint and Ghost followed. However, JOn only made it about fifty strides before Ghost overtook him, and ran to the left. Jon had been so focused on following the men, he had missed the figure trailing behind them. Ghost did not and as soon as the direwolf leapt for his prey, Jon rushed to stop him.
Ghost had the wildling pinned to the ground, but was not attacking. As Jon reached the small figure pressed under the weight of his wolf, he cursed.
"Seven hells," he muttered, pulling out a length of rope and strap of dark leather. He bent and quickly gagged his victim while Ghost snapped at the wildling's hands. Once Jon had her tied up, he flipped her over.
"Ygritte," he sighed as her eyes blazed at him. Her hair tucked beneath her hood, a few strands loosed and stuck to her face by the damp ground. Jon made to brush them away and she wrestled beneath him.
"Ygritte, please," Jon said softly. She took a deep breath, ready to cry out, and Jon slammed a short punch beneath her jaw. Ygritte's eyes glazed over and she fell unconscious.
Jon hoisted her up and put her over his shoulder. "I'm sorry," he said quietly as he turned back the way he'd come. "I wish there was another way, but you have to come with me now."
Ghost padded along beside him as Jon released a weary sigh.