ROBB III

The anger and determination with which they had left Winterfell, had long since left them. After determining that Theon would likely head East to escape over land, instead of chancing being seen at White Harbor, they'd turned their horses to search the Wolfswood. Being late in the day and the forest as thick as it was, the light grew dim rather quickly, but still their nerve pushed them on. That was until they began to grown hungry, and this time it was Jon who spoke of it first, Robb was proud to say.

"We should make a fire and look for some game before it gets too dark to see," suggested Jon.

"Of course, now you're hungry," japed Robb.

A look of shock then overcame Jon, which caused Robb to pull on his mount's reigns so he could continue to speak with his brother.

"What's wrong?" asked Robb

"I didn't bring a bow with me. In my rush to kill Theon I completely forgot to bring any weapons… how was I going to kill him?"

And suddenly Robb realized that much the same was true of him-neither of them had thought much about how they'd... handle… Theon, just that they needed to do something.

"Actions before thoughts leave you with naught but oughts," muttered Robb, the Septon's gravelly voice ringing in his ear as he said the proverb.

"How could I've been so stupid!" Jon chided himself.

"You weren't the only one, Snow. The only thing I think I have is the dagger grandfather sent me for my last nameday." And Robb checked to see if the dagger indeed was still attached to his side, as he routinely did so every morning. At first it had been to show off the rather impressive craftsmanship of the Riverrun smithy, as the handle held an engraved alternating pattern of trout and wolves, capped with a wolf's head at the end. The blade itself though was decent enough-good for hunting and skinning an animal, but probably not much more, and it was the only weapon they had on either of them at the moment.

"It's more than I have."

"You've got some rope in your saddlebag? We can set up some snares and traps and see what we can catch."

Howe'er, before Jon could answer, their horses began to start growing fearful. Both Jon and Robb spent the next few moments trying to calm their increasingly shying mounts, but it wasn't until he heard the padding of a large animal racing towards him that he looked up to see the largest wolf he'd e'er seen-probably a direwolf-come bounding towards them. What happened next happened much more quickly than Robb could e'er have described it. The horses, rightfully frightened, reared, threw them from their saddles, and took off back the way they'd come. Robb felt sore after hitting the ground, but he The wolf meanwhile continued to come, seeming uninterested in the prey galloping away, and instead focusing all its attention on Jon, whom Robb noticed had not moved since being thrown.

"Jon!" called out Robb-hoping that he'd stir and they could run, but by that point the wolf was upon him. Robb reached for his dagger, but froze before he could pull it-all his training leaving him as he could see his end before him. He would die, a hungry wolf's meal this night. He closed his eyes in fear as the wolf came o'er top him, but instead of biting him he heard a whimper and felt the wolf's cold nose nuzzle him. Robb opened his eyes to see two worried-and yet familiar blue eyes staring at him, frightened and yet happy. Those eyes-he knew those eyes-but for the life of him he couldn't place them, and yet he knew them. The wolf then slunk its way over to his brother. He felt like he should pull out his dagger now, and fight to keep the wolf away from his little brother, but Robb did neither of those things. Instead, he joined the wolf by Jon's side. The wolf to Robb's surprise-though he probably shouldn't have been as shocked considering the welcome he'd received from the beast-nuzzled his brother, and when Jon let out a weak groan-Robb let go of a breath he hadn't been aware he'd been holding.

He then shook Jon and asked, "Jon! Can you hear me?"

"...yesss… my head hurts..." moaned Jon weakly, his eyes opening just a crack.

"Can you move?" asked Robb

"I think so…" responded Jon and he saw his brother move each of his arms and legs, and again Robb felt a relief wash o'er him.

"We have to get you back to Winterfell."

To Robb's shock the wolf added a bark of approval, which made Robb question if the beast had understood him.

Howe'er Jon wouldn't have it, "No… Theon…"

"Theon can rot on that godforsaken rock!" and though he didn't say it, Robb knew Jon understood the words he hadn't said You're more important.

The wolf then bowed its head and tried to adjust Jon upon its back, but found it difficult to do alone. Robb, alarmed by the offer of help the wolf seemed to be giving, took it up on its offer and helped drape his younger brother on its back, laying down. Jon was still too groggy to completely comprehend what was going on around him it seemed, and made no comment as he was situated on the wolf. Robb asked if he could grab the fur, and Jon complied, giving a firm but weakened grasp of the beast's fur. This caused the wolf to yelp slightly, but beyond that the beast seemed unbothered as they slowly made their way back to Winterfell-Robb careful to make sure that Jon wouldn't fall off the wolf.