The crisp air of the Wolfswood carried the scent of pine and earth as Shadow led Jon and Mary deeper into the forest. Jon, now five years old, carried a small axe over his shoulder, his dark eyes focused and determined. Mary trailed behind, her white hair catching the sunlight as she swung a stick in wide arcs, growling and humming to herself. Her tail flicked behind her, a constant reminder of her wild, untamed nature.


    Shadow stopped near a young tree, his smoky form solidifying slightly as he gestured for Jon to approach. “Today, I’ll teach you how to cut wood,” Shadow said, his voice a low whisper in Jon’s mind. “It’s an important skill. You’ll need to know how to provide for yourself—and for Mary.”


    Jon nodded, his small hands gripping the axe tightly. Shadow guided him through the motions, showing him how to position his feet, how to swing with precision, and how to avoid wasting energy. Jon listened intently, his brow furrowed in concentration as he brought the axe down on the tree. The first few swings were clumsy, but with Shadow’s patient guidance, he soon found a rhythm.


    Mary, meanwhile, had no interest in the lesson. She sat on a nearby log, her stick clutched in her hands as she growled and swung it at imaginary foes. When Jon offered her the axe to try, she recoiled, her blue eyes narrowing as she let out a sharp yelp. She threw the stick at Jon instead, her tail lashing behind her, and darted off into the trees to play.


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    Shadow watched her go, his glowing eyes softening. He had long since given up on trying to force Mary to do anything. She was a force of nature, untamable and unpredictable. Instead, he focused on Jon, teaching him the skills he would need to survive—and to care for his sister.


    “You’ll need to be strong, Jon,” Shadow said as they stacked the cut wood into a neat pile. “Not just with an axe, but in other ways too. Mary... she’s different. She’ll need you to look out for her, even when she doesn’t want you to.”


    Jon nodded, his expression serious. “I will,” he said quietly. “I’ll take care of her.”


    Shadow’s form rippled with something akin to pride. He knew the weight of the responsibility he was placing on Jon’s young shoulders, but he also knew that the boy was capable. Jon had a quiet strength, a resilience that would serve him well in the years to come.


    As they made their way back to Winterfell, Mary rejoined them, her stick now adorned with a crown of leaves she had fashioned herself. She growled happily, her tail wagging as she showed it to Jon. He smiled, ruffling her hair, and the three of them walked together—a strange but inseparable trio.