Pack Animals |Game of Thrones|

Chapter III - Winterfell

"Will we be going out for that hunt now?" Silver would have jumped in shock at the sudden intrusion of her deep thoughts by Theon, if she had not known of his habits to do just that every time someone tried to think. "I didn't mean to startle you, my lady." He said and she took her foot out of the stirrup and she kicked him in the ankle. "Ow." He complained.

"You are hilarious." Silver's tone of voice was dripping with sarcasm, as he looked at her and she shook her head. "I have to feed the pup. Maybe tomorrow." She said quietly and he shrugged.

"I will go and find a cow." He offered and Silver busted out laughing, as she was shaking her head, as they trotted into the stables.

Silver and Theon had their usual race of seein' who could cool off the horses faster and this time, Theon won by the seconds and Silver sighed. "You have a wolf pup in your furs. We can call it a draw this time." Theon said as Silver cracked a grim smile.

"I have won every other time." She pointed out and Theon shook his head at her as he turned out the horses and she was walking to the kitchen.

Silver got a towel and soaked it in warm milk for her pup, which eagerly suckled on it as she silently listened to her younger siblings arguing about the names that they should give their pups and they all looked at her in a rather cohesive manner and fashion.

"What are you going to name your wolf pup, Silver?" Robb asked and she looked up, as she felt them all staring a bit at her.

"Winter." She casually spoke up and the direwolf pup whimpered a small bit at the word. It was if she wanted to move to come to her, but couldn't quite move on it's own yet. Not strong enough yet, not enough food.

"Mine is Grey Wind." Robb stated and she smiled slightly, as Silver stood up and went out into the yard to train for the second time that day.

Silver looked at the pup and she smiled a little, once she saw that her eyes had opened as she crouched down next to her. "Hi there." She said softly and Winter leapt into her arms, as Silver smiled slightly and Winter was licking her cheek. "Down, girl." She murmured and Winter obediently hopped down and Silver's eyes widened slightly at her obedient nature.

"She is more obedient than around half of the dogs around here." Silver looked to her left to see Theon, as she shook her head.

"You could announce yourself for once, Theon, before I chop off your head by mistake one day for you and your creep tendencies." She said with a shake of her head, as Theon walked over.

"I came to see if you needed a sparring partner. That was all, I promise." He murmured and looked at Winter the pup, who bared her fangs at him.

"Easy Winter. He has yet to be a real enemy... yet." Silver murmured with a slow smirk on her face as he looked at her with a shake of his head.

"Well, thank you for the assurance Lady Stark." He said and she swung her hand out and smacked him on the shoulder. "Ow." He said and she glares at him. "Ow, okay, I'm sorry."

"Don't call me it again, would you? It is bad enough with everybody else, all remindin' me of it constantly. Sansa is the one who solely wished to be a bloody lady of the court, not me." She mumbled grumpily to him as Theon nodded and Maester Luwin came into the training yard as she looked up. "I would have never expected to see you here, Maester." Silver sounded rightfully surprised.

"Rightfully so, young child. Your father, he wishes to see you in his chambers." Maester Luwin said with a small bow, as Silver nodded slightly and whether she liked it or not, Theon and the Maester could see her acting a little more like royalty every day.

"I will be there as soon as I can be. I would not dream of keeping him at all waiting for long." Silver murmured as Maester Luwin nodded. Silver was looking over at Winter with a small smile, the direwolf pup, she who got up onto her paws and the two walked away.

Silver made a quick stop at her chambers first in order to change out of her sweat-stained armor and tunic into a lighter tunic that was much more presentable, or at least to her it was.

Silver buckled her sword belt back around her waist, laying out her bow and quiver full of arrows out onto her bed and she walked out of her rooms.

Winter followed along at her heels and the direwolf yipped at her, as she leaned down and scratched her head gently behind the ears.

Silver and Winter stopped in almost perfect synchronization at the sight of the big wooden door that Silver loved to see, but also dreaded to see at the very same time.

Silver took a deep, big inhale of breath, before she raised her hand and knocked loudly on the heavy door in front of her.