章 5: Chapter 5
Xerneas finally arrived at Barrowland, a place filled with rolling hills and numerous barrows. It was already nearing daytime, but Xerneas was determined to reach the woods ahead before taking a break. All he knew for certain was that he was heading North, and a confidence surged within him as he began to explore his legendary Pokémon abilities, testing out his powers. The only thing he hadn't tried yet was his destructive side, but he felt a strange resistance within himself, a hesitation to unleash such power. To avoid drawing attention in the human-populated area he anticipated crossing, Xerneas cloaked his presence with mist.
Xerneas soon arrived near Torrhen Square, the home of House Tallhart. The area was situated by a large lake, surrounded by woods. After quenching his thirst from the river but not necessarily just out of habit, Xerneas made his way towards Wolfswood, where he planned to take a break. Moving cautiously, he had to pause from time to time, sensing the presence of humans. He waited for them to move away before continuing, relying on the mist to disguise him. If someone did catch a glimpse, they might just mistake him for an adult elk, thanks to the mist serving as his veil.
Once within the woods, Xerneas released a soft call, summoning his subjects. Soon, a pack of wolves, wild leopards, elks, and even snakes gathered around. Xerneas hesitated at the sight of the snakes, knowing that, as a fairy-type Pokémon, he was vulnerable to poison and was personally scared of snakes. Nonetheless, the creatures led him deeper into the forest.
On a hillside outside the castle walls, the ranger Will stood before Ned, knowing his sentence was death for claiming to have seen White Walkers and for deserting his duty. Ned, wielding his family's ancient blade named Ice, carried out the punishment as his sons, even young Bran, watched. After the grim task, he shared a lesson with Bran: "Our way is the old way. The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword." When Bran questioned if the deserter truly saw White Walkers, Ned assured him that they were creatures long gone for thousands of years.
As they journeyed back to the castle, the group encountered a dead stag on the road, partially disemboweled. Theon suggested it might be the work of a mountain lion, but Eddard dismissed the idea, stating none lived in the area. Further investigation revealed a rare dead female direwolf, killed with a stag antler lodged in her throat. The female had died after giving birth, and her five pups huddled nearby for warmth.
Approaching the dead direwolf, a sudden growl echoed from the woods. More than 50 wolves emerged one by one, creating a terrifying sight. Eddard Stark, along with his castle's master-at-arms Rodrik Cassel, urged Bran, Jon, Robb, and Theon to retreat. Despite Jon's insistence on staying, Eddard pushed him to go with his siblings. As they retreated, they noticed many elks standing alongside the wolves, an unusual sight.
While they withdrew, Eddard sensed the presence of Xerneas, barely visible through the trees. For safety, they refrained from making any sudden moves, as the overwhelming number of wolves gave them no advantage. Xerneas slowly emerged from the woods, approaching the dead direwolf. He then turned towards where the Starks had retreated. Xerneas appeared to express satisfaction, perhaps even a metaphorical smile, as it dawned on him that he was an early participant in the intricate game of thrones that was just beginning to unfold. His antlers began to grow, shining in seven colors. His entire body glowed in green, and the once lifeless direwolf started to show signs of life. Slowly, it rose and bowed in the presence of Xerneas. The Xerneas then turned towards the forest, leading the direwolf and her pups, guarded by a massive pack of wolves and a group of elks.
When they got back to Winterfell, Eddard Stark noticed an unusual surge in wild animals, especially a large pack of wolves surrounding them. To tackle this, he ordered his men to organize a hunting party. However, what puzzled Eddard was the wolves' restraint; they didn't attack, despite having the upper hand in numbers. This defied the usual behavior of wild animals.
Adding to the mystery, Eddard and his son Bran both sensed something extraordinary. Eddard could vaguely see a glimpse of Xerneas, a presence that brought a calming effect to his mind. Bran, even without seeing Xerneas, felt a strong attraction to the forest when the wolves closed in.
That night, an unusual dream enveloped every Stark, even Jon. Despite sharing the dream, they were separated, unable to reach each other. Arya's screams echoed through the dream as she dashed through a mysterious forest, causing panic among her family.
Jon, prompted by Arya's cries, tried to follow the sound but couldn't get any closer. The same was true for Robb, who also heard Arya's distress. Meanwhile, Sansa hesitated to move, standing before a non-hostile yet intimidating wolf.
Eddard, navigating the dream world, was unaware of how he ended up there, staying vigilant. In his journey through the forest, he encountered a black wolf. Though unarmed, Eddard remained cautious, but the wolf gestured a direction, perplexing him. Despite uncertainty, he decided to follow.
As Jon drew closer to Arya from one direction, Robb approached from another. Eventually, they found Arya, captivated by a wolf standing before her. The wolf, seemingly guiding them, started moving, prompting the Starks to follow. With no other choice and the dream feeling eerily real.
Soon, they spotted Eddard being guided by another wolf. They called out to him, catching his attention. The family gathered together, and Eddard embraced Arya, who was frightened from being lost in the unfamiliar forest. Eddard, astonished by the presence of his children in the same dream, listened as they shared their confusion upon waking up in this strange place.
Fear gripped them all as they pondered how they ended up in this mysterious realm, guided by peculiar wolves. Sansa, led by a grey wolf, was the last to join the group. She ran to Eddard, seeking comfort and safety, and tearfully hugged him, overwhelmed by the sudden and bizarre environment surrounding them.
Suddenly, a massive albino wolf, a dire wolf, emerged from the forest, putting everyone on edge. Eddard instinctively positioned himself in front of his family, ready to protect them. The wolves that had guided them earlier hurried towards the dire wolf, who surprisingly showed no signs of aggression, easing Eddard's tension.
The dire wolf began walking in a specific direction, prompting the Starks to follow cautiously. As they trailed behind, they discovered Bran standing before a peculiar dead tree. The tree, no taller than 12 or 15 feet, appeared lifeless amid the surrounding woods. Eddard approached Bran, who seemed mesmerized by the energy emanating from the dry tree.
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