ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀ ʟɪᴠᴇs ɪɴ ᴍʏ ʙᴏɴᴇs

[wolfchild]

[ She stumbles into snow. The cold slices into her. Soaked, filthy, with travel-stained clothes turned almost to rags on her skinny frame and matted, tangled hair only just growing out again, she looks little like a girl, much less like the missing younger Stark daughter.

She sniffles and wipes her nose with the back of her hand. Her face is uncomfortably hot yet she's freezing. Her shivering near knocks her off her feet as she clambers up the steps. ]

My mother…

[ Arya feels her eyes fill with tears. She was going to find her mother and her brother. She was almost home. It wasn't fair. ]

Comments

[savors]

[ While she does not mean to sneak up on her, it's essentially what happens. When Arya reaches the steps, a familiar voice speaks up behind her. Her tone is soft and uncertain.

Normally she would reach out to her, but something about her body language makes her think better on it. Tears. Arya was crying and Abby just didn't know what to do. ]

Arya..

[wolfchild]

[ The hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Arya whirls to face her. She'd known this girl. Abby, she recalls. But she still keeps away. ]

You're here.

[ Very few made it a year, she knew that. And she'd been gone more than a year. ]

[savors]

[ Despite the drastically different appearance, the first thing she looks at are her eyes. The fact that they're focused on her is the only relief she feels right now.

Is she crying? ]

You went home?

[wolfchild]

I have no home.

[ Because she remembers now. It doesn't matter if she reaches the Twins at all. She marches into the castle, uncaring that she's left Abby. It's cold and she's tired and all she wants is a place to sleep and sleep and sleep. ]

[bronwe]

[ Frodo managed to slip away from under the elves' watch, not too difficult a feat for someone like him, but only to walk around the castle alone.

The small stumbling figure causes his alarm and he runs toward her. She is unfamiliar, but he has more pity now for travelers weighed down by weather and more. He halts a step away to watch her quietly and hold out his arms in case she falls. Not Sam, a little girl nearly a head taller than him! ]

[wolfchild]

[ She staggers away from him. Her foot slips on the slick step and she drops down hard on one knee. ]

Stay away!

[ She's grown as suspicious of children as men. Only when she looks at him again does she realize it's not a child at all. Another dwarf? She had only seen the Imp in Winterfell and never any here. He doesn't look dangerous, but she's all too aware that she has no weapon on her. If he has a knife…

Ignoring the pain, she drops back another step. Distance is her only defense. She's lost Nymeria, she's lost Needle, she's even lost the Hound. Much as she hates him, she knows he'd have killed anyone who threatened her. All he wanted was her ransom and he would only get her brother's sword if he arrived without her. Maybe he'd get it anyway. Arya hoped he would. ]

[bronwe]

[ Frodo does have a dagger, but it has seen no wear in his hands. ]

I'm sorry. [ For startling her, making her fall. He thinks he can understand paranoia, though no child should. He sits on the floor where he stood instead, and waits. ]

[theabjectauthor]

[he hears the familiar voice, and instantly worries, because - something sounds different. something doesn't sound right]

Arya?! Where are you ...?

[wolfchild]

[ She hears the voice, the journal, they're magic, they follow, but the name is harder to place. She keeps quiet. ]

[theabjectauthor]

Arya...? [she isn't answering. oh dear. she's hurt, she's dying, she's -- unconscious, maybe, like Jane on the stairs the other day, and needs medical attention? so many of his friends are having trouble lately ... he gathers up his briefcase and starts to head down to the lobby, journal in hand]

It's Mr. Snicket - Lemony ... please, are you well?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[Of course he's around. When it's your duty to take care of children, you do it. And Arya is no exception. He's not a big fan of snow himself, but still, he'll make his way over to her, regardless. Unsure if she'll see him or not]

It's pretty cold to be wandering around out here, y'know.

[wolfchild]

[ She freezes in place at the sight of the massive animal. That it speaks is little comfort. Through the haze of memory she recalls speaking to a rabbit. He'd got her an egg. But she hadn't seen him. I was blind. ]

I'm not wandering. [ Her teeth chatter. ] I've just come.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[That was something, at least. Now he knows he can at least help her, he'll move a little closer, see how warm his fur looks, Arya. It would warm you up in no time]

All the way out here? Well, we'd best get you inside, before you catch your death out here.

[huffythedragon]

Ayra? [The panic in his tone is creeping in instantly, she sounds PROPERLY upset and Arya NEVER shows things like that. This must be so bad]

...Arya what's wrong?

[wolfchild]

[ Sorry, Spike, but she's not in a talking over journal mood. Rather than try to find it amidst the snow, she slips into the castle in search of warmth. ]

[huffythedragon]

[Spike will just start panicking now and racing off to try and find her, still shouting into the journal]

Arya? Arya! Can you hear me?

[not_mafia]

[Tsuna's on his way out when he stumbles onto Arya. For a moment he starts and stares at her, not recognizing her at all.

But then worry trumps surprise, and he rushes forward to help her.]

H-hey! Are you alright?

[wolfchild]

[ She flinches away from the suddenness of his approach. Her scramble takes her further from the castle and back to the snow. She snarls: ] Stay away!

[not_mafia]

[Tsuna stops immediately at those words. That voice seemed... familiar.

He holds up his gloved hands in a placating gesture, backing off a little.]

A-ah, sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.

[wilder]

[He was in the lobby, relaxing in the armchair with a book when he picks up the sounds of someone sniffling and coming in. He doesn't make much movement until they come into the actual building, when he sits up in utter surprise- recognizing who it is...just barely]

Arya...?!

[wolfchild]

[ Her eyes snap to him when she hears her name. Zelos. The memory comes so sharp she can't believe she forgot.

She can't believe it's really him. ]

You're still here.

[ It's a broken whisper. Arya finds herself acutely aware of her state. The dirty hair, her hands become hard and ugly, the once fine clothes sticking to her. It's like coming before Robb. Shame rakes over her. ]

[wilder]

'Course I am.

[he's crossing the distance and kneeling down to her level, concern written across his face as he reaches over to touch her cheek]

What the hell happened, my little wolf?

[secondchances]

[Steph's leaving to go to the city when she comes upon this sight. She doesn't recognize who it is, just that it's a kid.]

Whoa, are you okay?

[wolfchild]

[ She moves away. Her posture is reminiscent of a cornered animal. The lie is obvious even as she says it. ]

I'm fine.

[secondchances]

If you're fine, I'm--[wait.]

Arya?

[She's lacking some hair, not to mention... cleanliness.]

What happened?