Ruins #53

As Tormund and Threya raced into the cover of the trees, Tormund spotted Gale, who had slowed down to allow them to catch up. "Hold on, lad. I know a place around here, a ruin to the southwest. It's our best shot at fending off these fuckers," Tormund declared, and Gale stopped in his tracks immediately.

"Facing a horde of angry wildlings in the open isn't on my list of fun pass-time activities. I'll trust your judgment," Gale acknowledged with a nod. "Lead the way," he added, gesturing for Tormund to take the lead.

Tormund maintained his focus, pushing onward. Soon, they caught up with the young man. "So... what's the plan?" Gale inquired as he jogged beside Tormund.

"It's an ancient stone ruin on top of a tall hill," Tormund explained. "We'll have cover from arrows behind the ruined walls if they've got archers, and there's just one way in and out."

"Sounds solid," Gale agreed, his pace slowing as he heard the menacing barks of the hounds closing in. "You go on ahead. I'll catch up once I've thinned the mutts' numbers," he added, coming to a stop and readying his bow.

Taking an arrow and slotting it into the bow, Gale drew the string and took aim. The hounds were closing in fast, their movements jagged as they leaped over the tangled roots of the Haunted Forest's withered trees. Yet, Gale felt no sense of panic or disarray. 

His swordsmanship training hadn't progressed as smoothly as he'd hoped during his time in Castle Black, but his marksmanship skills were exceptional, his progress astonishing even Benjen. 

The previous owner of this body had evidently possessed an innate depth perception that aided Gale in mastering the use of throwing knives and bows. The culmination of his marksmanship training and effort had hardly seen any real-life application since his departure from Castle Black besides hunting. 

But now, facing the sprinting hounds, Gale's training was about to be put to the test.

Focusing on his target, the lead hound charging at the front of the pack, Gale released the arrow. It soared with remarkable swiftness, piercing the hound's skull. The beast let out a piercing yelp before collapsing. Unfazed, Gale swiftly notched another arrow and fired, taking down three more of the savage hounds.

Gale initially estimated he could thin out more than half the pack from his vantage point before they closed the gap. However, the sight of the Lord of Bones galloping toward him, his clattering bone armor accompanied by urgent cries from the treeline, caused him to reconsider. 

However, it wasn't the time to flee just yet. Knocking another arrow, Gale drew in a deep breath and took aim at the Lord of Bones, recognizing him as one of the likely leaders among the forces hunting them.

With a steady hand, Gale released the arrow, directing it straight toward Rattleshirt's chest. The projectile seemed destined to strike its mark until the wildling raider nimbly deflected it away with a swift swing of his sword, much to Gale's chagrin. 

"Oh well... worth a shot," Gale mumbled, stowing away the bow and sprinting southwest, following Tormund's trail. He spared the undead bear one last glance as it charged toward Rattleshirt before resolutely turning around and continuing his dash. 

...

After several minutes of relentless running, Gale successfully distanced himself from his pursuers as he finally reached the ruins that Tormund had spoken of. The site appeared to be a temple perched atop an elevated hill encircled by jagged rocks. 

A long, timeworn flight of stairs seemed to be the only way into the ruins. 

The temple might have been a grand structure in the past, but the ravages of time had taken its toll, leaving behind only a few tattered walls and an arch marking the entrance at the top of the stairway.

"Looks defensible enough... it figures the wildlings would know their way around the wilderness," Gale muttered under his breath, quickening his pace as he ascended the stairs. 

While he had managed to elude his immediate pursuers, Gale had no delusions that they wouldn't track him down sooner or later. His powers allowed him to mask his tracks in the snow, but he had no means of hiding his scent from Rattleshirt's hounds. 

Furthermore, Threya and Tormund had no way of concealing their own tracks, meaning their assailants would track them down no matter how far they ran. 

Amid his way up, Gale caught sight of Tormund motioning from behind the arch, signaling him to hurry. Nodding in acknowledgment, Gale hastened up the steps, finally reaching the top where Tormund and Threya were waiting.

"Ah, there you are," Threya greeted, an anxious frown marking her face. "What took you so long?" She was visibly curious about the delay.

Gale exhaled deeply. "I was hoping to clear out the hound pack so we can slip away... managed to take down quite a few with arrows, but their master wasn't far behind," he explained, a tone of regret in his voice. "And a sizable force was lurking in the forest... they almost cut off my escape route...."

Threya's expression turned to a mix of frustration and disgust. "The fucking Thenn... should've slaughtered of 'em out when we had the chance," she said with a scowl, her voice dripping with annoyance. 

Gale shook his head in response. "It wasn't the Thenn... not the ones lying in wait near the treeline," he clarified, a knowing grin on his face, sparking curiosity in Tormund and Threya. "They're probably still trying to put down their undead friends," he elaborated with a chuckle.

Gale's revelation prompted a moment of bewildered silence from Tormund and Threya before realization dawned on them. 

Tormund wasted no time, expressing his grim satisfaction at their fate. "Serves them right! If anyone's earned the fate of being turned into those walking corpses, it's the fucking Thenn. Hah!" he chuckled, finding some dark humor in their misfortune.

However, Threya's worry cut through the morbid humor. "And the ones in the forest...?" she probed, her concern etched across her face.

"It's a whole heap of angry wildlings out to carve our guts, I'm guessing," Gale replied, a touch of resignation in his voice. "I'm not certain how many, but I'd wager it's more than a few."

Tormund's grin persisted as he offered more insight. "I spied Rattleshirt and Harma Dogshead in the open. I'd wager it's their lot out there," he concluded, his tone suggesting he wasn't thrilled by the revelation either.

"But the question is, what are we going to do?" Tormund's gaze shifted between Threya and Gale-- his frankness laid bare. He was more at home wielding a blade than strategizing.

"Nothing," Gale responded firmly, preempting Threya's impending question. "We've got a defensible position here. Our best option is to dig in and hold this high ground." Gale was determined to make the most of their vantage point. 

With his superhuman strength, stamina, and the formidable power of the iceblade, he believed he could repel the attackers for as long as necessary as long as the pursuers attacked him head-on instead of surrounding him. 

He considered the practicality of the situation. "We'd be wise to rest and conserve our energy. I doubt our pursuers would be in the best shape when they finally catch up," he explained, emphasizing the importance of their advantages. "Being well rested might be the difference between life and death should they decide to attack us immediately..."

Threya's concern was palpable. "The fuckers might not immediately attack us... or ever," she cautioned, voicing her reservations. "They might just encircle the ruins and wait for us to starve if they can't take us head-on or just for sport..." she added, her expression darkening. "I wouldn't put it past Rattleshirt and his lot..." 

"They will do no such thing," Gale replied with a determined expression. "In fact, I only wish they'd try." His confidence was evident as he spoke. "With such a large force moving so tactlessly close to the Wall, the Night's Watch and Rayder are bound to take notice sooner rather than later, if they haven't already." Gale grinned at the thought. 

"I can guarantee that either Lord Commander Mormont or Rayder will dispatch an even larger force to investigate." The young man said, waving his hand dismissively. "The waiting game wouldn't end well for our new friends... I can only hope they're dumb enough to not realize it..." He concluded with a chuckle, giving Threya a meaningful look. 

Instead of being relieved or assured, Threya's expression darkened at those words. "Did you just call me dumb, you kneeler cunt?" 

...

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