The blizzard came without warning, a wall of white that swept through the forest and swallowed the world whole. The howling wind drowned out every other sound, and the biting cold seeped into Jon's bones despite the heavy cloak wrapped around him.
"Keep moving!" he shouted over the storm, glancing back to see Katrina struggling to keep up. She clutched Dream tightly to her chest, the black cat's green eyes wide with unease. Ghost led the way, his form barely visible in the swirling snow.
"I'm not deaf, Snow!" Katrina snapped, though her voice was weak from exhaustion. Her injured side slowed her movements, and Jon could see her stumbling more frequently.
They couldn't keep going like this.
Jon scanned the landscape, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a cluster of jagged rocks rising from the snow ahead. "There! We can take shelter!"
Katrina nodded wordlessly, her head bowed against the wind as she followed him. The storm fought them every step of the way, but they finally reached the rocks, which formed a crude overhang. It wasn't much, but it would shield them from the worst of the storm.
Jon helped Katrina ease down onto a flat patch of ground beneath the overhang. She winced as she leaned back, her hand pressed to her side. Dream leapt from her arms and settled into the corner, curling up into a tight ball.
"You're pushing too hard," Jon said, crouching in front of her. "You need to rest."
"I don't have much of a choice," Katrina muttered, her breath fogging the air. "Unless you've got some magic way of stopping a storm."
Jon ignored her sarcasm and pulled his pack off his shoulder, rummaging for their meager supplies. He found a bundle of kindling and flint, enough to start a small fire. "Stay still. I'll get this going."
Katrina didn't argue, which worried Jon more than her usual sharp remarks. She watched silently as he worked, her golden eyes half-lidded with exhaustion. Her face was pale, her lips tinged blue from the cold.
Jon's hands were numb by the time he managed to coax a flame from the kindling. The fire flickered weakly at first, but with some effort, it grew into a warm, steady glow. He moved closer to Katrina, pulling his cloak around her shoulders to add more warmth.
"Here," he said, offering her a strip of dried meat. "Eat. You need your strength."
She took it with a faint smirk. "You're a real mother hen, you know that?"
"Someone has to be," Jon muttered, though a small part of him was relieved to see her teasing again.
They ate in silence for a while, the storm raging just beyond their small shelter. Ghost sat at the edge of the overhang, his body tense as he stared out into the white void. Dream remained curled up by the fire, her purring a faint but soothing sound.
"You're quiet," Katrina said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Jon looked up at her, his brow furrowed. "You're the one who's always telling me to shut up."
"Yeah, but it's weird when you actually listen," she said with a faint smile. Her gaze softened, and for a moment, the usual walls she kept around herself seemed to crack. "What's on your mind?"
Jon hesitated, his eyes flicking to the fire. "That… thing we saw last night. The man in the forest. What he said."
Katrina's smile faded. "You think he was telling the truth? About the cat? About us?"
"I don't know," Jon admitted. "But he wasn't human. That much is clear."
Katrina leaned back against the rock wall, her expression thoughtful. "He mentioned the fire and the shadow. What do you think he meant?"
Jon shook his head. "I don't know. But it sounded like a warning."
"Everything's a warning these days," Katrina muttered, her tone bitter. "The dead, the living, the gods. Sometimes I wonder why we bother."
"Because we have to," Jon said firmly, meeting her gaze. "Because if we don't, no one else will."
Katrina studied him for a long moment, her golden eyes searching his face. "You really believe that, don't you? That you're the one who has to fix everything."
Jon didn't answer. He didn't need to. The silence was answer enough.
The storm began to ease, the howling wind fading to a low murmur. Ghost relaxed slightly, his ears flicking as he turned back toward the fire. Dream stretched and padded over to Katrina, rubbing against her leg.
Jon leaned back, his eyes fixed on the flames. "Get some rest. We'll move again when the storm dies completely."
Katrina didn't argue. She pulled his cloak tighter around her and closed her eyes, her breathing evening out as she drifted into a restless sleep. Dream curled up beside her, her purring filling the quiet.
Jon kept watch, his grip on Longclaw firm as he stared out into the night. The storm might have passed, but the whispers of danger lingered in the back of his mind. Whatever lay ahead, he knew it would only grow darker from here.
The storm had passed, leaving behind a world of pristine white, glinting under the pale light of dawn. The air was bitterly cold, each breath a visible puff that lingered before disappearing into the stillness. Jon tightened his cloak and looked toward Katrina, who stood just beyond the shelter of the rocks. She was staring into the distance, Dream perched on her shoulder, the black cat's tail curling around her neck like a scarf.
"We should move," Jon said, his voice breaking the quiet.
Katrina glanced back at him, her golden eyes sharp but weary. "Agreed. I don't want to be here when the dead catch up."
Jon nodded, glancing at Ghost, who was sniffing the air, his body tense. The direwolf growled softly, his crimson eyes fixed on the horizon. Jon followed his gaze and felt his stomach twist.
Tracks. Fresh tracks.
"Someone's been here," Jon said, kneeling to examine the prints. They were too precise, too deliberate to belong to the dead. Human. A group, by the looks of it.
"How many?" Katrina asked, stepping beside him.
"Four, maybe five," Jon replied, his tone grim. "They're headed in the same direction as us."
Katrina frowned, her hand tightening around the haft of her spear. "Could be raiders. Or worse."
"Stay close," Jon said, rising to his feet. "If they're hostile, we'll deal with them."
Katrina smirked faintly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "You make it sound so simple, Snow."
"It's not," Jon admitted. "But we don't have a choice."
They set off in silence, following the tracks through the forest. The trees grew denser as they went, their branches heavy with snow. Ghost stayed ahead, his nose to the ground, while Dream occasionally flicked her ears, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings.
The tension was suffocating, each step punctuated by the crunch of snow beneath their boots. Jon kept one hand on Longclaw, his senses on high alert. He didn't like the feeling of being watched, of being hunted.
After what felt like an hour, Ghost stopped abruptly, his growl rumbling low in his throat. Jon froze, motioning for Katrina to do the same.
"What is it?" Katrina whispered.
Ghost's growl deepened, and then Jon saw them—figures moving through the trees, their forms partially obscured by the snow-laden branches. Four of them, armed and armored, their movements careful but deliberate.
"Raiders," Jon murmured, his grip tightening on Longclaw. "Stay back."
"Like hell I will," Katrina hissed, stepping forward to stand beside him. "I'm not hiding while you play hero."
Jon didn't argue. There wasn't time. The raiders had spotted them, their voices low but urgent as they moved closer.
"You there!" one of them called, his voice rough. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his face partially hidden by a hood. "You lost, or just stupid?"
"We're just passing through," Jon said, keeping his tone calm but firm. "We don't want trouble."
"Trouble's all there is out here," another raider sneered, stepping into view. He was wiry and scarred, his eyes gleaming with malice. "And you look like the kind that's carrying something worth taking."
"Nothing but our lives," Katrina said sharply, her spear raised. "You're welcome to try taking them."
The raiders laughed, their amusement chilling in the quiet forest. They spread out, circling Jon and Katrina with predatory intent.
Jon stepped closer to Katrina, his voice low. "On my signal, stay close to me. Ghost will cover us."
Katrina nodded, her eyes never leaving the raiders. "I've got your back, Snow."
The leader of the raiders raised his weapon, a crude but deadly-looking axe. "Drop your weapons, and we might let you live."
Jon didn't reply. Instead, he lunged forward, Longclaw flashing in the pale light as he drove the blade toward the nearest raider. The man barely had time to react before the Valyrian steel sliced through his weapon and into his chest.
The forest erupted into chaos.
Ghost leapt at another raider, his massive jaws closing around the man's arm with a sickening crunch. Katrina moved with deadly precision, her spear darting like a snake as she struck the wiry raider in the leg, sending him sprawling into the snow.
Jon turned to face the leader, who roared in fury and swung his axe with brutal force. Jon sidestepped the blow, his sword cutting a wide arc that forced the man to retreat. They exchanged blows, the clash of steel ringing through the forest.
Behind him, Katrina fought fiercely, though her movements were slower than usual. Her injuries were taking their toll, and Jon could see her faltering under the strain.
"Katrina!" he shouted, driving the leader back with a powerful swing. "Fall back to me!"
She didn't answer, too focused on fending off a raider who was pressing her hard. Jon cursed under his breath, his anger fueling his strikes as he forced the leader to his knees with a brutal downward slash.
Before Jon could deliver the final blow, the wiry raider lunged at him from the side. Ghost intercepted, knocking the man to the ground with a snarl, but the distraction gave the leader enough time to scramble to his feet and retreat into the trees.
"We're not done!" the leader shouted, his voice fading into the distance. "You'll regret this, crow!"
Jon ignored him, rushing to Katrina's side. She was breathing hard, her spear bloodied but still clutched tightly in her hands.
"I'm fine," she said before Jon could speak. "Just tired."
Jon shook his head, pulling her closer. "You're hurt. We need to move before they come back."
Katrina nodded, leaning on him for support as they made their way deeper into the forest. Ghost followed, his muzzle stained with blood, while Dream trotted ahead, her tail high as if she'd led them to victory.
As the forest grew darker, Jon couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The raiders had retreated, but they weren't gone. And whoever they were, they wouldn't stop until they got what they wanted—or until Jon and Katrina made sure they couldn't.