Weeping Thorns

Chapter 4: Lover of Wolves

~Kasondra~

Sansa and I ran down the stairs and met father at the gates. He dismounted from his horse and gave us both a small grin. Our father was never good with emotions, nevertheless words. His sword was strapped in place on his hip as usual. I could see the small strands of hair and the dried blood caked to the blade. I felt my heart throb for the man who lost his life to that blade. Ice, as my father called it, was only used on special occasions.

Bran hopped down from his horse and it was then I saw the squirming item in his arms. The pup poked his head out and sniffed the air cautiously. I walked over and rubbed the fur ball behind his eyes, laughing at the way he whined and licked my palm with enthusiasm.

Robb and Jon walked towards us with their own Direwolves close. Sansa took one from Robb just as Sansa and Rickon came charging from the castle. Father handed them each a pup and went over ground rules for taking care of them. All my siblings now held a dire wolf and I was left empty handed.

"My lady, are you missing something?" Theon tapped my shoulder and I cringed at his touch. He held a pup under his arm rather tightly. Her fur was dark red with golden around her chest and muzzle. From what I saw, her brothers and sisters were mostly gray and silver, one a bit black. Her topaz eyes begged me for help and I was more than happy to comply.

I reached for her but Theon yanked the dire wolf away as she gave a whimper at the sudden jolt. "I don't think so. I might be able to change my mind." Theon stepped closer and smiled, an expression that made my stomach churn. I never trusted Theon ever since Father held him hostage at age 9. He leaned down and held a glint in his eyes that made me want to sock him in the jaw.

"Of course." I smiled wickedly and stood on my tip toes. Theon let his eyes close and I made my move. With the front of my knee, I shoved it into his groin and watched him topple over with pain.

Theon dropped the pup as he stumbled backwards and I snatched her from the ground. Robb held me by the waist and kept me away from a now bruised Greyjoy. Robb helped the man to his feet as Theon held his crotch. I couldn't help the smirk on my face as father ran to Theon's side.

"What in the hell is going on here!?" My father demanded, looking back and forth between the two of us. Theon struggled for breath and I softly stroked my pup behind her ears. Robb released his hold on me and held my shoulder just incase.

"Oops." I teased and walked to Theon's side. Jon stood at attention as I approached. I laid a hand on the injured man's shoulder and squeezed it. "Never drop your defense near an enemy." I whispered to him harshly and turned to father was had his arms crossed over his chest. I smiled gratefully at him and turned when Jon's snow white pup nipped at my elbow. I laughed and scratched his head as Theon limped away with a wounded ego.

"You really shouldn't have hit him that hard. He may not be able to produce children now." Jon joked and adjusted his Direwolves against his shoulder as he began to grow restless.

"Good. We don't need more assholes like him in this world." Jon chuckled and reached out to pet my wolf on her tiny head. Father wrapped an arm around my shoulder and kissed the top of my head.

"There are some rules, Kassy." I cringed at his nickname. That name stuck with me all through childhood but I never argued. There were many other names I could have held. Like "Red", as Robb once called me. I was only 7 at the time but that was the quickest I had ever punched somebody in my life. He held a piece of raw meat to his jaw for two hours. "The servants are not to care for them. You must train them yourselves, feed them yourselves, and if they die, you must bury them yourselves."

"Of course." My pup began to nip on the ends of my curly hair, her saliva staining the ends. Robb's pup came trotting up and pawed at my feet with a playful touch. Robb grabbed him up and bounced the pup like a small child. "Have you decided a name yet?" I questioned as I looked into my pup's golden eyes.

"Ghost." Jon murmured and sat his pup down, watching him pounce on a passing moth.

"Grey Wind." Robb answered and turned towards me with a grin. I looked down at my own Direwolf and racked my brain for a name. I went blank, no names coming to mind.

"I'll see you later. Don't cause any trouble." I chastised my brothers and began to walk back to my room. They both chuckled, knowing I would be the one to cause the most commotion. As I passed Sansa's room, I could hear her cooing over her own Direwolf. I peeked my head in and caught her decorating the canine with various ribbons.

Seven hells.

I rolled my eyes and eventually came to me bedroom. I opened my door and closed it before letting my wolf roam. She stayed close to my heel and looked up at me for guidance. I nudged her with the tip of my shoe but she took it as a fighting gesture. She bit into the leather with sharp baby teeth.

"Hey now, no teething!" I laughed and walked over to my bed. Perhaps I could have the blacksmith make a collar, but first I would have to name the fearless animal. I jumped on my bed and squealed as I was bounded into the air a foot or so. The Direwolf yipped and struggled to climb onto the bed. Her claws dug into the quilt as she fell on her back, whining for help. "C'mon you."

I took another glance into those beautiful eyes and remembered a story Old Nan once told me as a child. She talked about an exotic woman from the islands that held the brightest golden eyes known to man. This woman held dark tan skin and a lovely personality. She could have courted any man in her village and many others surrounding. But she held a dark secret. By day she was a pretty lady who treated everyone with respect, no matter their stature. By night, she was an assassin for a mysterious group with deadly intentions.

My Direwolf held the same beauty, and no doubt the deadly assets. That woman had a name that was foreign and represented the pup perfectly.

"Mahala."

Deadly and Beautiful.

~Chapter End~

My new sequel to Red and Wolf will be posted soon. But you know how good I am on time! Please enjoy this story! 🐺