>>FROM:@AEGONNER >>TO:@ALL [backdated to ~a week after BASE arrival]

[northerndragon]

I have two things to speak on today.

The big white wolf is a direwolf. He's mine. His name is Ghost.

Dogs don't like him, horses don't like him, and he can bring down deer and elk. Not just can — will. He's half-wild, maybe more than half, and you won't hear him coming. He's never shown his teeth to a friend, though. If you're good to him, he'll be good to you.

The other thing — if you want to go out there, or you've been out there, and you're not used to the wilderness, time was when I was a kind of ranger. I have to tell you that I'm not used to this wilderness, but I'll help you if I can.

And if any of you want to train with swords, I'm your man for that, too.

If you're new to COST… well, ask Chiron which one I am, but looking for Ghost should give you an idea of it. I'd be pleased to meet you.

[OOC: Jon has his own log post over here for any and all recent BASE stuff, including interactions specifically with Ghost or with both of them, Jhashch training, camping (which I am pretty late on due to illness but would still love to do). You can probably have most any top level you want, if you give me a nudge -- PM, detectivefiction, or detectivefiction#1669 on Discord.]

Comments

@GOTTAGUN

[widow_of_the_crag]

I have seen what those wolves can do. Does he really not make a noise? Your brother always said that the wolves could sense who was friendly and who wasn't, but even still. I never could sit easy around him. You won't let him get too close?

[northerndragon]

He was right.

Are you frightened of them?

[Because if that's the case, he wonders which of the two of them, between Jeyne and Grey Wind, sat closer to Robb.]

Ghost is no runt now, but he was the smallest when they were pups.

[widow_of_the_crag]

I am. I told you of how your brother seized my family's keep? I could see everything from the walls, all of the fighting and bloodshed. There was a massive wolf in the ranks, tearing through the troops. I saw him knock down a man I had known all of my life. He bit into him, ripping his face. The sounds...it was hard to forget, even when the wolf was docile.]

[A shiver runs over her spine, pushing away the smells and screams that seemed to encroach on her.]

How big is he now?

[northerndragon]

Fully grown. The centaurs here are bigger, but I don't think you'll see any bigger wolves. He'll come up well past your waist.

Ghost isn't any danger to you. [Probably. He thinks.] You're not going to be on the other side in a battle.

[widow_of_the_crag]

Fear isn't always easy to control. I don't know how I will feel around him.

I wish I were like my brother. He loved Grey Wind.

that's because Grey Wind was a Right Proper Lad <tm> (RIGHT PROPER!)

[northerndragon]

Loved him? He could get near to the wolf?

Raynald's death for Grey Wind still kills me (RIGHT PROPER!)

[widow_of_the_crag]

Yes. Grey Wind was fond of him.

He...

I heard he died trying to free Grey Wind from the kennels, so the wolf could go protect Robb. He was shot with arrows getting Grey Wind free, but it was all for naught.

[northerndragon]

I hadn't heard that. You have my condolences.

[Hadn't heard it, because he'd heard about a different woman entirely... and yet, the idea of Jeyne's brother trying to save Grey Wind, trying to help Robb, twists at him and makes him feel the loss a little more fiercely again.]

It's always seemed to me that these direwolves know who their friends are, like my brother said. Ghost has always protected me and mine, and he's never been fooled by anyone who meant me ill. If Grey Wind liked your brother, he must truly have taken up my brother's side.

Your family's liege lords probably didn't like that. We both know their name.

[widow_of_the_crag]

My brother was loyal to yours. It didn't matter if he was opposing our liege lords, he believed in your brother's cause. He always had the ability to see past politics to the heart of a person.

[There were things she hadn't told him about her family, how Raynald was the exception among them. She had been hiding the information, aware of how little Jon actually knew about this, hearing of a different woman in his world. All he had to trust was her word. Knowing of her mother might rupture that trust.

But being honest was better than concealment. It could only lead to trouble if it was found out under different circumstances.]

We should speak in person. There is more I should like to tell you about my brother and my family's liege lords.

=> action

[northerndragon]

I can meet you near the food. Ghost needs his supper.

[And indeed, upon arrival in the mess hall, she will see that Jon is feeding something that looks approximately like a raw beefsteak to a huge white wolf... except that what oozes from the steak is the wrong color, and the texture of the thing is strangely fibrous.

Ghost attacks the steak, but not with the gusto one might expect: instead, he sniffs at it, seeming like he's trying to decide whether it's good enough to eat.]

[widow_of_the_crag]

[She's uncomfortable, it shows on her face as she slowly approaches Jon and Ghost. Her eyes were fixed on the large wolf, uncertain how he would respond to her. He seemed to be consumed by his meal, but she knew how quick they could move.

She shuffles around them, keeping as wide a girth as she could.]

Is it safe?

[northerndragon]

[First his expression brightens in welcome; then his gaze shifts between her and Ghost, then back to her.]

Safe enough for a time. Don't get between him and his food.

Sit down, tell me of your brother. Or get yourself something to drink first.

[There's already a cup of something at the table -- some sort of juice that he's been drinking. He'd asked for apple, and it's only approximately apple.

The room is otherwise deserted. He wouldn't bring Ghost in here when it's full of people.]

[widow_of_the_crag]

[She took that advice seriously, giving Ghost an even wider girth. If she could get a table between the direwolf and her, she would be a bit more at ease. How Raynald managed to get so close to these things, she'd never understand.

She peered over at the juice, deciding to collect something for herself as well. Tea was the best, it might keep her calm in this really frightening situation.]

Raynald would make fun of me for this.

[northerndragon]

[He watches her getting her drink, and keeps an eye on Ghost, who seems no more than vaguely interested in her presence.]

It sounds like your brother was brave. I wouldn't make fun of you... I know Ghost isn't an easy animal. And he's used to running around by himself, north and south of the Wall.

But he helped save Lord Commander Mormont from a wight once. And when I was injured, he hardly left my side.

[He doesn't mean the arrows -- Ghost was cut off from him then. He means the knife wounds, the one in his leg from Karl Tanner, and then... the other wounds.]

[widow_of_the_crag]

[She scooted awkwardly back around the wolf, giving as wide a girth as possible. When she took a seat, she made certain to put the table between herself and Ghost. It wouldn't do much to stop him, if he wanted to lunge at her, but it at least felt like some form of protection.]

You have a deep bond with him. Your siblings must have had one with their wolves too. I wonder if it's my fault that Robb was so willing to keep Grey Wind in the kennel when he visited the Twins. He grew used to doing that.

[Lady Catelyn seemed to disapprove, but she didn't seem happy about the marriage at all.]

My brother was a good man and his blood is on my mother's hands.

@SSSSSSSSS

[deem]

[This is quite helpful and informative, but he has a question here]

You said if we're good to him... So how do you make friends with a wolf?

[He doesn't even know if wolves like the scent that sachets give off, nor does he have his. That worked for giant boars and moose, but wolves are new]

I wouldn't want him to bite me and hurt himself.

Sorry for the slow!

[northerndragon]

I'm more worried about him hurting you.

I can't say I know how to make friends with a wolf. I raised him from not long after his birth. But I know what you don't do — don't kick him or hit him or throw things at him or try to take away his food.

It's not that I think anyone here would try to. If you've never seen a wolf before, what about a big dog? They're not the same, but there are similarities.

[deem]

My physiology's a little different. My skin might look real, but under that I'm made of alloys, and my blood is synthetic. I assume he could smell the difference, but that's what concerns me.

I've actually never seen a dog either, but I have data files pertaining to them. And you're right that I wouldn't do something like that. It's just asking for a fight, and not very nice, besides.

[northerndragon]

He's never met anyone like that before. Neither have I, but for the moment, we're more worried about him. I can't be sure that he won't try to bite you, but I think you're probably both safe. We're in the mess hall now, if you want to meet him.

You have data files — like the ones COST has on all of us?

[Because as far as he can tell, you're saying that you're made of metals.]

[deem]

Something like that, although what I have on people here surely isn't very comprehensive. I pick up information from observation and experience, or sometimes, from other units like me. We collaborate. Or we did, anyway.

[What with being the only one present now, 9S can't say a whole lot of collaboration is going on]

But if it's alright with you, I'd like to see him for myself.