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At the entrance of Winterfell's main keep, Bloodwind's gray fur stood on end.
His ears were upright, his large fluffy tail raised high, and he released a long howl, displaying a majestic posture.
The other five direwolves, who still looked like pups, kept their bodies pressed close to the ground.
Their fur lay flat, and both their ears and tails drooped low, showing submission.
"Robb… is that your Bloodwind?"
Eddard, who rarely showed his emotions, was genuinely astonished by the wolf's growth rate.
"Yes, Father. He… eats a lot, sleeps a lot… and grows fast."
Robb nodded in confirmation.
After hesitating for a moment, he gave the explanation he had already prepared.
Eddard nodded.
With a single glance, he stopped Catelyn—who was about to ask questions—and the other children who were trying to crowd around Robb.
Then he said calmly,
"Go on, Robb. We'll be waiting for your return."
"Yes, Father. Mother, I'll take my leave."
Seeing that Eddard truly had no intention of questioning him further, Robb bowed to his parents and headed toward the training yard, with Bloodwind gradually calming down beside him.
"Hmm… Robb's a glutton, and his Bloodwind is too. Nymeria, you need to eat more and grow up quickly as well!"
Arya muttered while picking up her direwolf.
"Pff… Arya, even if she eats twice as much, she'll probably still end up about your size."
Sansa covered her mouth and laughed, teasing her sister.
Arya rolled her eyes.
Without replying, she carried Nymeria back toward the keep.
"Jon, what Robb said might fool Arya and Rickon, but not us, right?
Why is Bloodwind growing so fast?"
Bran tugged at Jon's sleeve as he asked.
Jon's face was full of thought.
He looked at Bran, smiled, and shook his head.
He didn't know how to answer either.
Catelyn overheard the conversation behind them.
She placed a hand on Eddard's shoulder and said quietly,
"Ned… when Robb says something even a child wouldn't believe, isn't he clearly telling us he has his own secrets?"
"Our children are growing up, Cat."
Eddard didn't answer directly.
He placed his rough hand over Catelyn's delicate one and spoke with a faint smile.
...
When Robb arrived at the training yard, all the guards were already waiting.
They wore armor bearing the styles of their respective houses and stood beside their horses.
When they saw Bloodwind, they showed only mild surprise.
They had no idea just how abnormal his growth rate truly was.
Theon held the reins of two horses.
When he saw Robb, he immediately stepped forward and handed one of them to him.
Then he said in disbelief,
"Robb… that wolf is Bloodwind?
The little pup we saved a few days ago?"
"Ten days ago. And yes… it's him."
Robb replied quietly as he took the reins.
Then he turned toward the guards and spoke loudly,
"You all know the mission.
Mount up. We're leaving."
"Yes, Lord Robb!"
Thirty-two men—including Robb—mounted their horses almost simultaneously.
Their movements were synchronized, swift, and precise.
The group rode out through Winterfell's northern gate.
Soon they were riding northeast toward Long Lake.
Bloodwind ran beside Robb.
After being cooped up in the bedroom for so many days, he could finally run freely and release his wild instincts.
At the southwestern border of Long Lake and the Wolfswood, Jory had established a temporary camp with nearly one hundred and ninety soldiers from Winterfell.
After half a day's ride, Robb and his men arrived at the camp.
...
"A few days ago, we received a raven from House Bolton.
A group of forty or fifty wildlings somehow bypassed Castle Black and Last Hearth and attacked watch posts and nearby villages in Bolton territory.
Lord Roose Bolton personally led several hundred cavalry to surround them.
But they managed to break through the encirclement and fled into Stark lands.
Oh, and those deserters you killed earlier… they were from one of the attacked watch posts."
After a brief exchange of greetings, Jory immediately began explaining the situation.
"Lord Eddard ordered me to bring two hundred riders to eliminate them.
But those wildlings are very cunning.
As soon as they realized we were tracking them, they began running through terrain that horses can't navigate.
After several days of pursuit, we managed to trap them in that forest.
But that's their territory.
I led men into the woods and we lost several soldiers before we even saw them.
After reporting the situation to Lord Eddard, he ordered me to set up camp and wait for your arrival."
"Captain Jory, now I understand why you've been missing these past few days.
So you were hunting those wildlings."
Robb nodded.
"I understand the general situation now.
From this moment on, I will take command of this mission."
"Of course."
While chatting calmly with Jory, Robb smoothly took control of the operation.
He looked toward the lush green forest ahead and murmured,
"But this time… you'll be acting as support."
...
In a clearing deep within the Wolfswood stood a crude camp made from rough tents.
A group of wildlings, wrapped in ragged furs and wearing fierce expressions, sat in a circle arguing loudly.
"I say we storm their camp tonight and slaughter them all.
Those southerners without horses or armor are nothing."
"That's right!
Ever since those southerners started chasing us on horseback, we haven't slept or eaten properly.
Better to strike first."
"Yeah! Those southerners were easy to kill."
"Don't underestimate the southerners."
A young wildling woman with messy brown hair spoke while cleaning a crude spear.
"Most of them may be weak, but there are dangerous ones too.
Aren't those Night's Watch 'crows' southerners as well?"
As soon as she spoke, the wildlings fell silent.
They all turned to look at her.
It was clear she was their leader.
Among the wildlings, the law was simple:
the strong ruled the weak.
They followed her because she had led them through death and survival many times.
"So, Osha, what do you suggest?"
A bearded wildling holding an axe asked.
"If we just wait here, more and more southerners will gather outside."
Osha smiled confidently.
"So what if there are more southerners?
In the forest, this is our domain.
If they dare come in here and fight us, they're looking for death.
And if we can't win…
we can always flee deeper into the forest.
No matter how harsh it is in there, it can't be worse than the Haunted Forest."
But another wildling objected.
"That may be true…
but we climbed the Wall to live better lives.
Hiding in the forest forever isn't a better life."
"That's right!"
"We don't want to hide forever!"
The wildlings began arguing again.
Osha's eyes gleamed.
She spoke with excitement,
"We won't be trapped here for long.
You all know the King-Beyond-the-Wall has begun gathering his army.
Soon enough, all these southerners will leave to help those Night's Watch crows.
And when that happens… our good days will finally arrive.
All the villages of these southerners will be like pieces of juicy meat…
Ready for us to devour."
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