Chapter 110: A play!

The wolf raised its head, its gaze fixed on Damian. Its muzzle was stained with blood, and it regarded him with a wary curiosity. The boys watched in fear, their hearts pounding in their chests as the wolf began to move toward their uncle.

Damian remained still, his bow lowered. He did not reach for another arrow or make any move to defend himself. Instead, he watched the wolf with calm, assessing eyes, as if he understood something the others did not.

"Uncle Damian!" Jon called out, his voice tinged with panic. The sound of hoofbeats approached, the guards and Rodrik closing in to form a protective line between the boys and the wolf.

Rodrik had almost reached them, his voice ringing out in the forest. "Haaah!" he shouted, trying to scare the beast away. But the wolf seemed unfazed by the noise, its attention solely on Damian.

To Rodrik's astonishment, Damian stepped forward instead of retreating. He moved slowly, deliberately, closing the distance between himself and the wolf. The wolf paused, its head cocked to the side, watching him with curious eyes.

"What are you doing?" Rodrik shouted, his voice taut with urgency. "Get away from that beast, Damian! There might be more of its kind nearby."

Damian raised a hand, signaling Rodrik and the guards to hold their positions. "Stay there," he called back, his voice calm and confident. "I've got this."

The wolf drew closer, just twenty meters away now. It moved with a predatory grace, its body low to the ground, muscles coiled and ready to spring. But there was no aggression in its eyes, only a cautious curiosity.

Damian extended a hand toward the wolf, palm open, his movements slow and unthreatening. The wolf sniffed the air, taking in his scent, and then, to the astonishment of the onlookers, it approached him with cautious steps.

"Easy now," Damian murmured softly, his voice a soothing murmur in the quiet forest. "I'm not here to hurt you."

The wolf stopped just short of him, its nose brushing against his fingers. Damian remained still, allowing the wolf to take the lead. It sniffed his hand, then huffed softly, its breath warm against his skin.

Rodrik and the guards watched, disbelief etched on their faces. The boys were transfixed, their fear giving way to awe as they witnessed the exchange between their uncle and the wolf. There was a connection between them, a bond that seemed to transcend the natural order.

Damian looked back at Rodrik, signalling him again not to advance. "It's alright," he said, his voice steady. "He means no harm."

Rodrik hesitated, his instincts screaming to protect the young lord at all costs. The sight of the massive black wolf, its coat gleaming like midnight, was enough to make even the most seasoned warrior wary.

Yet, there was something in Damian's demeanour, a quiet authority that reassured him. Damian stood with calm confidence, a silent communication passing between him and the beast that defied explanation.

Slowly, Rodrik relaxed his grip on his sword, nodding to the guards to do the same when he saw the wolf wagging its tail like a playful dog upon being patted on the head. It was a sight that seemed almost impossible—a creature of such power behaving with the affection of a loyal hound.

The boys watched with wide-eyed wonder, their initial fear melting into fascination. Robb was the first to inch closer, emboldened by Damian's calm, and Jon quickly followed suit. Their young faces were filled with awe, seeing the legendary wolf not as a fearsome beast but as a potential friend, considering they had already met the unusual-sized falcon already. 

Damian turned back to the wolf, a grin tugging at his lips as he winked at it for going along with the play. Yes, this wolf was none other than Adolf, his direwolf companion. In his heart, Damian knew this was the best chance to introduce Adolf to the real world, with an adequate backstory that would explain his presence in Westeros.

Now, the time had come for Adolf to step into the light, to become part of the world that Damian had made his own. With the tale of the hunt, Damian had crafted a story that would carry weight and wonder throughout the North. A direwolf had returned to the land, a sign of ancient power and the blessing of the old gods.

Adolf's size was still similar to that of a large wolf, so no one immediately made the connection with the direwolves of legend. However, the one feature that set him apart was his striking red eyes, which gleamed with an unsettling intelligence that made Rodrik dare not come any closer. The old Master-at-Arms had seen enough in his years to recognize a dangerous creature when he saw one, and Adolf's eyes promised as much danger as they did loyalty.

But the boys were more daring than the old master-at-arms. Fascinated by the creature, Robb and Jon crept forward, their excitement evident in their wide-eyed expressions.

"Can we touch him too?" Jon asked, his voice filled with youthful curiosity.

"Hm, okay," Damian replied with a gentle smile. "Just raise your hands slowly and approach him. Don't make any sudden movements, alright?"

The boys nodded eagerly, doing as Damian instructed. They approached cautiously, their hands outstretched toward the black-furred creature. Adolf, sensing their trepidation, sniffed at their hands before nuzzling them gently, his eyes softening with what seemed to be approval.

The boys giggled, delight lighting up their faces as they ran their fingers through Adolf's thick fur, marveling at the feel of it. They had learned their lesson from their earlier encounter with Ace, and this time they took care not to go overboard, treating the wolf with the respect and gentleness it deserved.

"He's amazing," Robb breathed, looking up at Damian with admiration. "I've never touched a living wolf."

Jon nodded in agreement, his eyes shining with wonder. "He's like the direwolves in Old Nan's stories."

"Maybe beyond the Wall, but there are no direwolves in the North," Rodrik said, his voice tinged with skepticism. He watched the scene unfold with a mixture of wariness and grudging respect, his eyes lingering on the wolf. He'd never seen a creature behave with such calm around strangers, and it unsettled him as much as it impressed him.

"Alright, I think this is it. Let's head back. We have a hunt and a wolf to manage," Damian said, a note of finality in his voice. The hunt had been small, and he had promised Ned to return by dusk. It was time to make their way back to Winterfell.

"You don't mean to bring this wolf as well, Lord Damian?" Rodrik asked, raising an eyebrow. He had assumed that they would let the wolf go on its way, but it seemed that Damian had other plans.

Damian glanced at the black wolf, who was now walking beside him with a calm and steady gait. "I do," he replied simply. "This wolf has chosen to follow us, and I see no reason to turn him away."

Rodrik looked uneasy but didn't press the matter further. He could see the determination in Damian's eyes and knew better than to argue.

As they made their way back to Winterfell, the story of Adolf's introduction spread quickly among the folk in Wintertown.

Whispers of the black wolf with red eyes circulated through town like wildfire, each retelling more embellished than the last. Some spoke of him as a harbinger of the old gods' favor, while others saw him as a symbol of the House Stark.

Damian and the boys were greeted with a mixture of curiosity and admiration as they dismounted from their horses. The wolf walked beside them, his presence for all to see. The folk of Winterfell watched in hushed curiosity, their eyes drawn to the wolf following Damian.

Ned and the others were astounded, with Lady Catelyn eyes almost bulging out. Robert quickly came and explained the story.

Lady Catelyn immediately had Robb come to her the first chance she got. Even after knowing that the wolf was harmless, she demanded Damian not to bring it in the keep. 

Her worry was understandable, even Ned seemed reluctant to let a wild wolf stay at Winterfell as it concerned safety of its residence. But knowing Damian's Warging ability, he told Damian to keep it in the Godswood for now and don't let it run around. 

Anyway, Damian would be leaving tomorrow, so the wolf would be of no concern afterwards. 

Damian did as he was told, and left Adolf to play in the Godswood.