Sansa wondered if this was what Bran experienced when he fell, as the ground rushed up to meet her much quicker than she would have expected. Only this time the hard ground was buried underneath layers of snow. Her little brother had not been so fortunate. She closed her eyes and braced for impact. It was jolting when it arrived and she felt pain shoot up her body as her teeth rattled. She briefly wondered if she was paralyzed as her head throbbed and she lay immobile, trying to regain her senses.

After a few minutes of shocked silence, she pushed herself into a sitting position, groaning at the effort. "Theon," she whispered looking around. She saw him lying a few feet away and her heart lurched into her throat as she crawled over to him. "Theon."

He groaned and rolled over, causing Sansa to sag with relief. "Can you walk?" she asked.

Theon sat up and his eyes looked dazed as they attempted to focus on her.

Sansa made her way shakily to her feet, then held her hand out to him. "Come on. We have to get going," she said urgently.

Theon struggled up and then took a few steps on unsteady feet. "We can lean on each other until we feel better."

Theon slung his arm over Sansa' shoulder so she could help support him as they made their escape. He was half starved and barely had energy. She hoped that he wouldn't collapse.

They stumbled along, trying to put as much distance between them and Winterfell, only stopping at the threat of their legs giving out.

"We will rest here," Sansa insisted.

Theon was shivering as he looked around. "We're going to have to find food soon," he warned. "Or they'll find us before we can travel far."

"We shall find some berries or nuts in the morning then."

The two snuggled up together, wrapping their arms around one another to retain body heat, and as night fell, they slowly drifted off to sleep. Theon woke once in the night, whimpering and thrashing in his sleep; when Sansa realized what was going on, she gently brushed the hair off his forehead and softly sang a lullaby from her childhood. She sighed when he settled down and fell back into his slumber. Sansa turned her face upwards and stared past the top of the trees to the sky above. Silently she counted the stars until she too drifted off to sleep.

As the first ray of light hit her face, Sansa stirred in her sleep. She wanted to doze a while longer but knew it would not be possible. She slowly sat up, letting out a big yawn and allowing her body a satisfying stretch. She was surprised when she found the space beside her empty. "Theon?" she called nervously. When there wasn't any reply, she stood up and looking around the nearby trees.

Maybe he's getting food. Or even bathing in a river nearby. His odor had not been the most pleasant. Sansa worried her bottom lip for a few seconds before deciding that she would go ahead and freshen up while she awaited Theon's return.

She was relieved to find him making his way back to her within minutes of her settling back down on the spot they had slept. He was holding some wood in one hand and a rabbit in the other. Sansa's stomach rumbled, reminding her just how hungry that she was.

She helped Theon dig a small clearing to start the fire in. They removed as much snow as they could until their fingers felt frozen; then Theon found some stones in the surrounding area to place in the cleared ground before they piled logs on top of it. Once they were done preparing the logs, Theon started a fire. Sansa added some more logs to provide them warmth before she held the rabbit over the fire and started cooking it.

It wasn't long before the delicious aroma of cooking meat wafted through the air, generating loud protests from both of their empty bellies. As her and Theon shared the fully cooked rabbit, Sansa couldn't help wondering if this was the first meal that he had tasted in days. The thought pained her.

As soon as they finished eating, they cleansed their hands in melted snow, and scattered the logs and stones, before dumping the snow back into the clearing that they had emptied it out from. Once they had erased evidence of their presence there, Sansa and Theon quickly resumed their trek to The Wall. Suddenly the sound of barking carried through the air and reached their ears.

Sansa immediately froze, her gaze locking on Theon's.

His eyes reflected her horror. "Run!" he yelled.

Sansa took off with Theon beside her. She sped through the woods as quickly as her woolen dress would allow. Pure terror cut off her breathing and threatened to suffocate her. She ran until the stitch in her side became unbearable and still she wouldn't allow her feet to rest. She knew the fate that awaited her if she was returned to Ramsay, and she would do anything to prevent it.

Things became tricky when they reached a raging river. Sansa halted as she pictured herself getting carried by the tumultuous currents and smashed into huge rocks. "Please," she heard herself whispering as she backed away.

"We have to cross here," Theon said, confirming her fears.

Sansa cautiously stepped forward to test the water, lowering one foot into its depths. She instantly recoiled, the piercing cold jolting her body. "I can't!" she cried.

"It's the only way to throw off the hounds!" Theon instantly replied.

"But it's too cold, I can't." Hot tears of frustration burned her eyes but Sansa refused to allow them to fall. "I won't make it. I'll die," she finished miserably.

"I've seen what his hounds do to a person. This way is better," Theon convinced.

Sansa knew that he was right, but she was so scared. She stared at the wild currents again and then braced her shoulders, looking at Theon and confirming with her eyes that she was ready.

He grasped her hand and carefully helped her into the frigid water, the baying of the hounds sending wave after wave of fear racing through her body. Sansa could hardly believe it when they made it safely to the other side and climbed out of the river. She had pictured their deaths a thousand times already.

"Hurry," Theon urged as they took coverage between the trees.

She stumbled along behind him not wanting to slow them down. Her heavy cloak and dress were soaked and their combined weights helped drag her back.

Theon slung his arm around her back, gently embracing her and leading her to a group of low hanging branches with some logs beneath for them to sit on. He looked at her in concern for she had begun to shiver wildly, a glazed look overtaking her eyes. "Sansa," he whispered, trying to break through her shock.

But she remained oblivious to him, her trembling increasing.

Theon quickly enveloped her in a warm hug, rubbing her back to get some heat back into her body. They both were frozen to the bone. The contact felt good. He almost felt like he had a family again. He closed his eyes and drew comfort from the hug. Their peace was abruptly disturbed when the sound of barking kicked off again. He felt Sansa jerk in his arms and they quickly broke apart. The terror was back in her eyes and her trembling had returned in full force.

Theon stood up determinedly. "Stay here," he instructed her. "I'll lure them away."

"No!" Sansa immediately cried out. "I won't make it without you."

"You will," Theon denied. "Go North. Only North. Jon is Lord Commander at Castle Black. He'll help you."

But Sansa was too frightened to believe, and she could only stare as Theon hurried towards the noise. She could hear the Bolton men asking Theon about her whereabouts and him lying to protect her. But they found her anyway. She struggled as they attempted to pull her up, desperate fear making her crazed as she kicked and lashed out. It would be better if the hounds tore her apart right now. Tears streamed down her face. It would be better.