[ When Nymeria catches Arya's scent, she throws her head back and howls. Absolute silence rings after the sound fades away before an answering howl comes, this one from a human throat. The beast tears away from Dany and past Zelos.
Arya had heard the howl and frozen. She was only dimly aware of cupping her hands around her mouth to respond in kind. She hears the heavy padded footsteps, the deep breaths, the strong heartbeat that could not be human. She does not move as Nymeria races into view and bowls her over. Girl and direwolf roll across the ground.
The first truly joyful sound she has made in far too long rings loud and clear in the cool air.
Arya hugs Nymeria around the neck, the sound of her laughter cascading around them. Nymeria does not seem to know whether to nuzzle her, lick her face or try to settle on top of Arya as she had so often when she was still a pup. Arya lies half on the ground and half on Nymeria's chest. A massive paw rests over her. She hides her face in the warm, warm fur. Her shoulders shake. She whispers apology after apology into Nymeria's neck, assurances that she had meant to return, promises that she would not leave Nymeria again. The direwolf responds by lifting her head and licking a long stripe up Arya's neck and face. Arya laughs.
Her laughter dies as she remembers why she had sent Nymeria away, the person she had set Nymeria to protect while she bought them enough time to escape. ]
Where is Daenerys, Nymeria?
[ Focusing on her surroundings again, Arya freezes when she hears the extra footsteps. Too heavy for a child, too slight for a man. She climbs to her feet slowly when she sees Dany. Nymeria, dwarfing Arya now, follows with a soft whine.
Arya's hand, the left, the one bearing a keycrest, reflexively lifts to the scarf still wound around her neck and the stone hidden underneath it. Her hand trembles. Lips parted, pupils dilated so only a slender gray ring remains, Arya stares in stunned disbelief. ]
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Arya had heard the howl and frozen. She was only dimly aware of cupping her hands around her mouth to respond in kind. She hears the heavy padded footsteps, the deep breaths, the strong heartbeat that could not be human. She does not move as Nymeria races into view and bowls her over. Girl and direwolf roll across the ground.
The first truly joyful sound she has made in far too long rings loud and clear in the cool air.
Arya hugs Nymeria around the neck, the sound of her laughter cascading around them. Nymeria does not seem to know whether to nuzzle her, lick her face or try to settle on top of Arya as she had so often when she was still a pup. Arya lies half on the ground and half on Nymeria's chest. A massive paw rests over her. She hides her face in the warm, warm fur. Her shoulders shake. She whispers apology after apology into Nymeria's neck, assurances that she had meant to return, promises that she would not leave Nymeria again. The direwolf responds by lifting her head and licking a long stripe up Arya's neck and face. Arya laughs.
Her laughter dies as she remembers why she had sent Nymeria away, the person she had set Nymeria to protect while she bought them enough time to escape. ]
Where is Daenerys, Nymeria?
[ Focusing on her surroundings again, Arya freezes when she hears the extra footsteps. Too heavy for a child, too slight for a man. She climbs to her feet slowly when she sees Dany. Nymeria, dwarfing Arya now, follows with a soft whine.
Arya's hand, the left, the one bearing a keycrest, reflexively lifts to the scarf still wound around her neck and the stone hidden underneath it. Her hand trembles. Lips parted, pupils dilated so only a slender gray ring remains, Arya stares in stunned disbelief. ]