BRAN IV
Bran didn't particularly like being referred to as "wolf", not one bit, but as long as he was in the body of one, he figured he had little room to complain. So he followed his father out of Jon's room, Rickon hanging all over him, still thinking him Shaggy-that wolf must be a saint to put up with Rickon climbing all over him, for his brother was all feet and hands in all the wrong places.
Once outside, his father looked him directly in his eyes, and at long last, Bran's
"Can you switch back?" was the only thing his father asked.
And at last Bran finally knew for certain that Sansa-or Arya, even-most definitely had explained skinchanging to their father. Bran whimpered for his answer-trying to convey that he didn't want to change back with Rickon all over him, if only for the fact that he didn't know what would happen when he left the she-wolf.
He was a little nervous as he had not once felt the wolf's consciousness in this body, and that worried him. Had he warged a corpse? Was that why it had hurt so much to warg? No-he'd felt Jon pulling at the she-wolf's fur all through the walk back to Winterfell, not to mention the several direwolf pups squirming inside. If this was how mother had felt all through carrying him, Bran vowed to be even kinder to her in the future.
Had he been so focused on forcing the connection he'd instead suppressed the wolf? That might be it... and if he changed back now with Rickon all over him in the middle of the Great Keep-who knew what a frightened she-wolf quick with pups might do. No, if he was to try, he was going to have to get the she-wolf in a place where she could be contained… After all, if she left for the forest now, Rickon would likely chase after her. Where could he keep the wolf? And then Bran knew immediately where to go-the kennels! With a bark and a jerk of his head to indicate for his father to follow him, Bran rushed down the steps, his father, failing to keep a pace. Rickon all the while urging "Shaggy go faster!" and mirthfully laughing as he clung to Bran's back.
As they exited the keep into the courtyard, Bran soon felt the wolf was exhausted and he could hardly blame the body for feeling as such. After dragging Jon back to Winterfell, rough housing with Rickon, and the pups inside being restless, the she-wolf deserved a rest. So Bran slowed her body down to a nice trot, not feeling any need to rush.
"No! Shaggy! Bad!" scolded Rickon, obviously wishing to go faster. He then pounded his fist on the she-wolf's head-Shaggy was indeed a saint-and instinctively Bran growled in response. It was after that a sudden jabbing pain shot through his left rear leg, Bran yelped in pain and he felt the world spinning once again. When the spinning stopped he found himself back in his body, in his own room, being held by his mother.
"Mother?" asked Bran
"Bran, my beloved boy! Oh bless the seven, for they are merciful!" exclaimed his mother as she pulled him further and tighter into her grasp. And Bran, glad to be back in his own body and with his mother held tight to her as well.
The only thing that could disturb such a happy reunion was his brother's scream from the courtyard.