(Untitled)

[tooktheblack]

There was a reason the direwolf was the sigil of House Stark: sheer stubbornness. Jon had run across that many times before now, certainly, but it was never quite so evident as when Ghost had managed to streak his fur with dirt and leaves and bits of gore from some kill in the jungle (monkey, Jon suspected, not that he'd ever seen one outside of a

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[_kinginthenorth]

"The question isn't whether he'll come back," Robb says dryly from behind him. "It's whether it does any good to clean him. I do wish you the best of luck, though."

[tooktheblack]

"He's been hunting," Jon returned lazily, turning to see Robb. He'd know his voice anywhere, though, even when chasing after Ghost who was bound and determined not to have a bath.

"Probably a futile effort but I don't want him scaring off Reynald or anything with blood on his muzzle."

[_kinginthenorth]

Robb nods. "I appreciate it," he says, "though I don't think Reynald is too likely to mind. I'd rather he not try to pretend he's a wolf by smearing things on his face, all the same." It had been one of Eddara's games, and had driven her mother to fits.

"Still, if you want help, Grey Wind actually likes a swim. He might persuade him."

[tooktheblack]

"Nothing like a brother to trick someone into doing something," Jon said wryly. "But you're right, it might work. The soap is already on him so he'd really only need to swim around for a little while to accomplish what I had in mind."

[_kinginthenorth]

"Grey Wind can be very persuasive," Robb says, and wrinkles his nose. "Apparently. And he can't have gone too far away." He whistles, a trick which only works some of the time--if Grey Wind is near, and not in the middle of something more interesting, and feels like being obliging. Which in this case, he fortunately does.

"Want to go for a swim?" Robb asks him.

Grey Wind cocks his head to one side, thumps his tail against the ground, and looks back at him with an expression that very clearly says, You first.

[tooktheblack]

"They have minds of their own, clearly," Jon said, laughing a little and whistling for Ghost to come. He didn't expect it to work, exactly, but maybe if Robb and Grey Wind joined him for a swim, Ghost would follow suit.

"Ghost! To me!"

While Ghost darted closer, he did not go in the water.

[_kinginthenorth]

"I think," Robb says, looking from wolf to wolf to man and back again, "that it's clearly up to us to set an example."

[tooktheblack]

"Well, Grey Wind's older," Jon said, grinning at the two wolves. "He should set an example for his younger brother so he doesn't embarrass the whole pack. It's not like a direwolf ought to go around so messy, right?"

[_kinginthenorth]

"And yet," Robb laughs, "he appears to defer to us to lead them. Which quite honestly is something I'd prefer not to change." His grin widens, his eyes narrow. "Are you going in, or shall we throw you?"

[tooktheblack]

“Oh, I’d like to see throwing,” Jon said, grinning right back. It felt good to be able to joke and laugh with Robb after so long missing him on the Wall and, later, knowing there was no Robb even to visit any longer. He used to imagine Robb off somewhere keeping court with his queen but this island was better, in a way. No wars to worry about.

[_kinginthenorth]

Robb is rather attached to being alive and not in constant battle too. He finds it suits him. But it suits him better--as most things do--when Jon is with him, however difficult it is worry always about losing him again.

"In that case," Robb says, "I'd hate to disapoint you." And grab him.

[tooktheblack]

Playfighting with Robb had been a part of a life that Jon thought long since past and once he was over the shock, it was nothing to start splashing water at him. Not really trying to drown him, of course, but Jon was utterly sincere in getting him back.

"Stark! I'll get you for that."

[_kinginthenorth]

"You'll try!" Robb crows, laughing. He's always been bigger than Jon, and his traditional method of attack has been to rush at him and try to bowl him over--so that's what he does, with Grey Wind yapping as if to tell him he looks like an idiot.

[tooktheblack]

"I'll win," Jon tossed back but that was up for debate. Robb had a size advantage and they'd fought enough that he was well aware of Jon's own strengths and weaknesses. It might end up a draw, if anything.

He feinted, to try and duck the rush. It was a technique that had worked on boys at the Wall, at least.

[_kinginthenorth]

If they were properly fighting, of course, it would have been a good move; Robb's angle would be off and his position weaker. Since all Robb is really trying to do in this case is knock them both over, though, it's the momentum that matters. Also, if he's going into the water, Jon is going with him.