Isabella

The Night's Watch made camp at the base of the Fist of the North Men. Their camp was well fortified a small maze of hardy tents made from thick cloth and animal fur save for a lonely tent at the edge of the camp away from the others made from a thin material of white, orange, and red that was nearly as large as a small house. It glowed with a faint light and smoke slowly rose into the air from the heat generated within. Inside Isabella was tinkering with a large machine cursing under her breath as she struggled to maneuver her tools with gloved hands.

Ever since she had been found by the brothers of the Watch she had traveled with their main camp glad that her survival kit included camping equipment so she could maintain some privacy. The old man Lord-Commander Mormont and his surprisingly verbose raven tried to talk her into traveling south, saying repeatedly.

"This land is no place for a woman."

"Woman. Woman. Woman."

The sexism aside, Isabella had no intention of leaving this region just yet. Even if Bill and the others were dead, there might be other survivors in the area, and she was their best chance of rescue before the 'Others' they spoke of attacked and turned them into monsters. Still, Isabella was not blind to Mormont's concerns. The Night's Watch appeared to be more of a conscript army than an order of noble knights. Most of the 'men' were just young boys rejected by their families the others were men that made the hairs on her back stand up when their gaze lingered a bit too long.

Isabella and Mormont took some precautions. She wore her spacesuit most of the time as uncomfortable as it was, it was warm inside and seemed to be foreign and strange looking enough to kill most interest in her and for anyone more stubborn she gave them a nice demonstration of what her laser pistol and the exoskeleton in her spacesuit was capable of doing to anyone stupid enough to try their luck. Mormont also placed a few of his more trusted men at the edge of the camp near where she was, they were reliable protection thus far, so Isabella felt safe for the moment, but she longed to see a familiar face after days amongst strangers.

As she worked she could hear footsteps approaching and looked up to see a shadow at the edge of her tent and a familiar canine shape next to it. Smiling Isabella approached the entrance of her tent and slowly unzipped it revealing a face she was starting to know.

"Ah, Jonny come in." She spoke. "Warm up a little.'

Jon Snow was among those who found her whom she had punched in the face by accident still high on adrenaline after her encounter with Bill. He was Lord Commander Mormont's assistant of sorts and a mostly affable kid though sometimes quiet and guarded. Occasionally she invited him and his friends to warm up in the tent, trusting them not to bother her too much. As Jon stepped in his albino wolf followed sniffing the tent curiously as Isabella rummaged through a pack and tossed down some jerky for Ghost who accepted it eagerly.

"Thank you," Jon said quietly. He removed his gloves and flexed his burned hands as he took in the warmth. Isabella eyed it noticing the wounds were slowly healing.

"You've been applying that burn paste I gave you right?"

Jon nodded. "Every morning and at night before I sleep, yes."

"Good," she said. "What brings you by, Jonny?"

Jon frowned. "Must you call me 'Jonny'?"

"Would you prefer 'Lord Snow' instead?"

"No," Jon sighed. "If I cannot have my name I suppose 'Jonny' is as good as any. I came to say my farewells to you. I am leaving."

"Leaving?" Isabella looked up. "Leaving where?"

"That horn yesterday was rangers returning," Jon said. "Qhorfin Halfhand calls on me to join the search for the Wildlings and I intend to join him."

"I see…" Isabella paused. "Dangerous work for a kid your age."

"I'm no child," Jon said. "I'm a man grown."

"' I'm a man grown' is exactly the kind of thing a kid would say," Isabella said. "Look, Jonny, I'm sorry you just remind me of my little brother we used to tease each other. I respect that you are a man in your culture and a warrior."

Jon gave her a sympathetic look before nodding. "I understand. I have a sister as well."

"Good," Isabella said. "Then let me stop being a jerk and give you something. One second."

Isabella walked over to a pile of tools and equipment and picked up a box and a sheathed knife.

"This is a medical kit it has medicine and stims that will help you if you're hurt, just take off the caps and put them in your arm or leg there are drawings you can follow," she said. "And this is a knife."

"I…thank you, Isabella but I have a knife."

"Not like this one," Isabella said. "See this button?"

She pulled out the knife and held it safely away from Jon. She tapped the button, and the knife began to let out a squealing noise as it began shaking within the hilt. Ghost looked up sharply shaking his head and growling at the noise as Isabella quickly shut it off.

"Sorry Ghost, I forgot dogs hate these," she said. "This is a high-frequency blade. A small power pack inside makes it vibrate. This baby can cut through anything so be careful with it."

Jon eyed it curiously. He took the blade in hand and tapped it on which caused Ghost to promptly leave the tent before he shut it off.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," Isabella said. "Be safe Jonny."

Isabella patted Jon on the shoulder as he prepared to leave when his eyes were drawn to Isabella's work desk.

"Isabella was that always glowing?"

"Glowing?" Isabella said. 'It shouldn't be unless… Oh my god."

She quickly ran over to the device and began keying instructions. Jon approached with a curious look in his eye.

"This is a relay buoy," Isabella said. "It can strengthen signals I was using this to see if I could call anyone but it's receiving a message. Someone out there is transmitting!"

"Trans.. mitting?" Jon said. "Sending a message?"

"Yes exactly," she said. "It's weak but…If I can just…. YES!"

Isabella pumped her fist as the transmission became green and a hissing sound filled the room.

"Is anyone out there? …. Do you read?"

It was a feminine voice speaking in a hushed tone.

"This is Isabella Zagnino, UAS Thorfinn Karlsefni," Isabella said. "I read you, report status."

"You're receiving!? Oh gods, it's good to hear another voice. I am okay for now I am with Ben and we're from the supply section. We crashed and some locals captured us and put us inside their camp."

"Camp?" Jon repeated.

"I…I don't know where we are exactly my MoCom is barely working. The people who captured us are terrifying. They wear skulls and there are giants and mammoths everywhere. There are so many of them. Please if you can get to us…"

The voice became distant as static returned and Isabella frustratedly worked the system.

"Damnit," she said. "They're gone the storm is messing with the signal."

"Isabella…was that real?"

"What? Of course, it was." Isabella said. "Why do you know where they are? Is it the Others?"

Jon shook his head. "No, your friends have been captured by the Wildlings."

"The people you're at war with? Well, that's just fucking great."

Isabella stood and began grabbing equipment. "Well Jonny, looks like you're not rid of me yet."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm coming with you," Isabella said. "They're my crew and I intend to find who I can."

Jon looked shocked. "No. This is too dangerous. The Wildlings could hurt you badly."

"And I could hurt them," Isabella said. "They have my friends. And most importantly I can lead you to them I have the signal. Look we can follow it and find the camp."

She presented her MoCom to Jon who eyed it curiously seeing a map with a display of pointing arrows. Jon looked thoughtful before sighing.

"Gods be good…" He spoke. "How am I supposed to explain this to Mormont and the Halfhand?"

Isabella smiled. "Just leave that to me, Jonny. I'm great at getting what I want."

Jon seemed unconvinced as he frowned but motioned for Isabella to follow him. Ghost rejoined his side moving briskly through the snow without a sound.