we carried on through drought and flood;

[wolfchild]

ᴡʜᴏ: Arya + you
ᴡʜᴀᴛ: Little girl misses mother.
ᴡʜᴇɴ: Morning + Evening
ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ: see below
ɴᴏᴛᴇs: Spoilers abound for ASOS

A. Gardens
[ Life does not stop. If the gods were just, they would make it all stop. Arya does not know if the gods are not here yet or mayhaps they are dead. But the direwolves need grooming and that task falls to her. She had loved it before. Arya would lead Nymeria and Grey Wind out with a brush in hand. Nymeria needed to be chased down; Grey Wind would sit obligingly and lick her face.

Today, both direwolves are energetic. Days spent in closed quarters and they have plenty of energy to burn. They play fight, snarls ripping through the air, tails up. But though they grab one another and tackle the other, there is no blood, no injury.

Arya has not played like that in a long time. Fights aren't games.

She screams at both and they break apart. Arya immediately feels bad. She crouches on the grass and holds an arm out to them. Grey Wind comes up to her first, always the less petulant of the two. He nuzzles her neck. Nymeria rolls on the grass. Arya glares at her over Grey Wind's head as she begins brushing his coat. ]


B. Stark rooms
[ A nearly full plate on the floor and Arya sits at the window to watch the outside. It's pretty. It's always pretty. She hates it.

Nymeria snuffles over and eats the meat portions. Robb will know. But Arya's not very hungry and Nymeria wants it. She strokes the direwolf's clean, warm fur. ]

At least one of us is happy.

[ Lucky Nymeria. She never misses her mother. ]

Comments

a;

[ofhope]

[ Although Joshua had been lying near enough to hear the sound of wolves playing (he knows the sounds of a fight), he'd kept his peace, remaining sprawled out on a bench hidden by the lush flowers and resting.

The sound of a girl screaming is jolting, however, especially when he'd just been about to doze, probably to dream of play fighting with claws and teeth. It's soothing, really. Or it was.

Sitting up with a sigh, Joshua gives in to curiosity enough to stand on the bench and peek over at where this dramatic event is taking place. What he finds is nothing extreme at all, and that should be strange. But he sees it's Arya. ]

Jealous, or something?

[wolfchild]

[ Her glare finds a new target. It's said animals take after their owners, and perhaps the reverse is also true. Something vaguely animalistic lines Arya's movements. Her mouth presses into a thin line. She almost seems to bristle as the wolves do when they mislike something.

Nymeria stops rolling in favor of lying on the grass and watching Joshua. Grey Wind too studies him. Arya turns her face away from him to focus entirely on her task. Surprisingly perhaps, her movements over Grey Wind remain gentle. ]

Go away.

[ofhope]

[ Joshua has a rather...non-reaction, merely appreciating her own obvious instincts. He likes base reactions as much as he likes intellectual ones. It just depends on the day, maybe, or who can pull what off. So long as he's not bored...

But he doesn't look particularly interested, either. A month where nothing is right. ]

I was here first.

[wolfchild]

[ She doesn't have the energy to even roll her eyes. Arya makes Grey Wind so she has better access. He snuffles at her. When she finds burs on him, she leaves her brush on the ground to pick them out individually. ]

[ofhope]

[ He'll move closer...but not on the ground, instead hovering a few feet nearer with white wings spread out in the air and a curious look on his face as he observes Grey Wind, not recognizing that one yet. ]

What's his name?

[secondchances]

Loud voices always catch Stephanie's attention. Paradisa is quieter than a bustling city, but there are some habits that will need more than three years to fade. When she spots Arya and the two wolves, her shoulders relax a little, but she's not really relieved. She remembers Robb's entry. The castle was such an ass, bringing her mother here and then sending her home. It was difficult for any child, but it seems especially cruel for a girl that had clearly been through more than her share of hardships.

She could quietly make an exit, or...

"What a bunch," Steph comments, making her way over. Slowly, of course--she's still not so sure about these giant wolves. "I don't even want to think about how much food the both of them eat in a week."

[wolfchild]

Lounging on her side, Nymeria pays Stephanie no more mind than she would a squirrel. Her brother's head swivels toward the voice, but Grey Wind otherwise stays still. His fur has got longer. Arya carefully detangles a particularly ornery snarl.

She could mention how much they eat: easily summed up as "a lot." She and Robb only feed them every few days. Wolves do not eat every day and neither do theirs. But they never go a week without eating. Not when both have developed a taste for men. Nymeria, in particular, will eye residents and city people alike with a hungry glint.

Arya only shrugs, a movement easily lost amidst the brushing.

[secondchances]

Which is why Stephanie is particularly glad she's not walking Ace at the moment. Ace was definitely not a fan of strangers, and strange, giant wolves? No way.

"Is it alright if I visit for a bit? It's been a while."

[wolfchild]

Another shrug. "I guess."

Arya at least stops her task to watch where Stephanie will sit—and stop Nymeria if need be. She has so difficult to predict. Some people she likes and others she simply hates. And the former can switch to the latter in a heartbeat.

Grey Wind feels her tension. He butts his head against her stomach.

[secondchances]

Though the current state of her household may indicate otherwise, Stephanie's not much of an animal person. She does, however, like Grey Wind a bit more than Nymeria, so she opts to sit closer to that wolf and Arya.

"Hey, big boy." She offers him a palm to sniff. At least she knows better than to just pet the thing.

b;

[fantasies]

[There's a series of knocks at the door. It's just a formality, though, because a moment later it creaks open to a crack, enough for Henry to poke his head in.

Their roles are reversed, now. Him with his mother and her having just lost hers. To him, it feels like something fundamental has changed in the castle, somehow, even though this is just another example of daily life.

He opens the door more, enough that he can be seen, but doesn't cross the threshold.]

Hello?

[wolfchild]

[ Nymeria hears him. She lifts her head, ears pricking forward. Arya is left to look after her in faint surprise when she leaves. ]

Nymeria? Robb? Is that you?

[ Getting to her feet, Arya follows after the wolf.

Nymeria walks up to Henry to smell him. Seemingly satisfied with whatever she found, she bumps her nose to the side of his head.

Arya bites her lip. ]

Are you here to get the rest of your things?

[fantasies]

[Henry smiles reflexively at Nymeria, one hand coming up to pat her nose.

He turns the smile towards Arya, and it softens, just a little.]

No. [He sticks one hand in his pocket, waddling his way into the room as he does so. He pulls out a few packets, beaten around the edges, but sealed.] I brought hot chocolate. Do you want some?

[wolfchild]

[ He said the magic word. Her head pulls up in interest. Arya holds her hand out for them. ]

I don't know how to make it.

[fantasies]

[He gives them to her. They're nothing fancy, just generic instant mix, but it gets the job done.]

That's okay, I can teach you. It's not hard, and that way you'll be able to have it whenever you want from now on.

b;

[wilder]

[He decides to come visit. Normally their time is the early morning, but this past week has him worried. He's not sure entirely what he's going to do, but if he learned anything from Seles...staying away was not the answer even if it seemed easier]

[And so he'll knock on the door. There's a pause, then he'll call out because he kinda figures they might ignore a knock from just anyone]

Hello?

[wolfchild]

[ She does not hear, though Nymeria does. When the wolf abandons her plate and heads toward the door, Arya follows. Nymeria sniffs the bottom edge; Arya has to shoo her away to open it—and only enough for a single grey eye, too large on her wan face, to be visible.

Zelos. Why is he here? She didn't call him; she hasn't done anything. Maybe Robb called him and forgot to tell her.

Arya opens the door a little wider, though she continues holding onto the knob with both hands. ]

Did you come to see Robb?

[wilder]

Wow, not even a hello?

[He says this in a casual way, like he doesn't care if he gets a hello or not]

Actually I was coming to see you, my little wolf.

[wolfchild]

[ Her fingers tighten around the knob. She speaks to the floor. ]

Hello. [ She almost leaves it there. Arya bites her lip. She promised she would be better. Stepping back, she pulls the door with her. ] Do you want to come in?

[wilder]

If you don't mind.

[He'll take a step into the place, looking at her, trying not to let worry show too much on his face]

B

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[Bunny has given them time and space, but he's waited long enough. So, a hole will be opening up in the hole, and his head pops up. He knows the direwolves wouldn't appreciate him suddenly being in their midst, so he doesn't completely leap out right yet]

Little Brumby?

[wolfchild]

[ Nymeria had startled at the first appearance of the hole. Grey Wind wakes. Arya merely watches like she had summoned him and was waiting for him. ]

Are you looking in on all your wards today?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[He moves a little closer to her, concern all over his features]

No, just you today. Been worried about you.

[wolfchild]

[ I'm…

Not even in her head can she finish it. Arya looks out the window. ]

Don't.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

Don't worry about you? [He smiles sadly, shaking his head] Bit late for that, Arya.