Winter Is Coming

by The Realm Eternal

The Stark words: "Winter is coming". But Jon wasn't a Stark. He was a Snow. A bastard. A brother to the heirs of Winterfell and a Brother of the Watch. He was a warg and a Wildling. And, unknown, but most important, he was Winter's champion.

14. 14: GHOST

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Disclaimer: Sadly, I am not the genius behind A Song of Ice & Fire, nor one of the ones behind Rise of the Guardians. All I own is my own insanity, which I claim proudly and fully blame for this convoluted mess.

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Chapter Fourteen: GHOST

Ghost loped easily through the snow, his massive paws spreading his weight so that he only sank a little. He kept his nose turned into the wind and his eyes alert, ranging in small circles around Jon's slower form. High above, the winter-man-beast did the same, but went farther out, disappearing from sight frequently. The direwolf still did not know where the man-beast hid his wings, but apparently, he could fly. Just as easily as the white owl that kept appearing in the sky, leading them somewhere.

He did not know where they were going, but he trusted the man-beast, as did his Jon. Their acquaintanceship was only a few days, but already he was their friend. Ghost was glad of that; he would not want someone that powerful to be against his Jon. Now, however, he was worried. Ever since the white-walkers' attack, he had smelled an odd blood in the air. Instinct and the cold crisp of it had told him it was the man-beast's. He hid it well, but Jack Frost was hurting.

A stick dropped to the ground in front of him and Ghost halted, staring at the familiar object in concern. His red gaze shot skyward as the wind shrieked in alarm, his mouth opening in a silent whine. Branches cried for him as they snapped, broken by the plummeting form of the winter-man-beast. Ghost watched his descent, powerless to stop it, and then, gently taking the stick in his teeth, bolted to where he crashed, digging aside the snow that covered him.

The direwolf lay down in the snow, staring at the unconscious man-beast, waiting for Jon to catch up. For the first time since leaving the Wall, Ghost was worried. Secret though it was, the winter-man-beast had had a plan. If he died, they would have nowhere to go. If he died, eventually Jon would too.

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A/N: Oh no! What's happening? You are experiencing my attempt at Martin-esque dramatic cliffhangers, that's what. Enjoy the bog of uncertainty! Mwahahahahaha! Oh, and the Arya/Bunny/Tooth trio should be next chapter, but I'm not promising anything.