Bran isn’t entirely sure that what he is doing is right. This is mostly because Arya has decided it’s a brilliant plan, and Arya’s plans have a history of tanking dramatically, but also partly because he has absolutely no idea what his mother’s reaction is going to be.
“Come on, Brandon, hurry up!” Arya calls. She’s wearing his backpack across her front in addition to her own on her back, and has got Rickon by the hand. She skips back to where he is standing, struggling to hold on to the big box in his hands.
“If you want me to go faster, why don’t you carry them?” Bran snaps. The cardboard box he is holding is about as big as Rickon is, and its ungainly cargo won’t stop running in circles and yipping at him.
See, the box that his sister convinced him to tow home is full of puppies.
There were only six of them, and there are seven kids at the Stark house, but Bran couldn’t just leave them there. He’d heard them barking and snapping and howling in the alleyway behind the school, and dragged his siblings over to investigate. Someone had just left them sitting there, in the dark shade of the alley, all alone, in a box. They didn’t even have a towel or anything to lay on like you see on TV; Bran immediately peeled off his overshirt and shoved it in the bottom to make up for it.
Arya didn’t even hesitate for a moment.
And now, here they are, half a block from home and struggling. He sets the box down at his feet to rest for a moment, and Arya and Rickon lean down to look in.
He, much like his sister, doesn’t wait for an answer. Instead he reaches in and picks up the biggest one he can see, who is pitch black and howling incessantly. As soon as the pup is settled in Rickon’s arms, though, he quiets down and starts placidly licking at his hands.
They make it the last few lengths home, where their four older siblings are already snacking and doing homework.
Arya parades in to the kitchen, shedding both backpacks but managing to hold on to her puppy. She sets her on the counter in front of a studying Theon, and waits for him to look up. She doesn’t stop to help Bran with the door, he notes resentfully.
“Hey, Theon,” she says, barely suppressing a grin.
“Yes, and this little cutie is Nymeria.” Arya laughs. Theon’s got an incredibly skeptical look on his face. Bran sets down the box of the remaining four by the kitchen table, and gets a bowl of water for them to drink out of.
“Those things are probably diseased, you know. If you just found them on the side of the road…” Theon trails off, staring concernedly as the newly-christened Nymeria gnaws heartily at Arya’s hand.
“Well, guess that you don’t get one then!” Arya says, scooping Nymeria up and cradling her protectively.
“That’s okay, I don’t want one,” Theon replies, and Bran doesn’t miss the fervor in his voice. He wonders idly if Theon is afraid of dogs. Good thing there are only six, then. Theon gets up, closing his textbook, and walks toward the staircase.
“What’s going on down here?” Robb asks, followed closely by Jon and Sansa. They must have heard the barking, which is high pitched but still loud. Theon shrugs and moves past them.
Robb and Jon kneel down to look into the box. Bran takes the opportunity to claim the puppy he wants.
Robb looks up at Bran and the grey fluff ball he is cradling.
“You know, they probably wouldn’t have died. Someone would have taken them to the pound.” Robb says. He furrows his brow for a second, thinking.
“Have you thought about how we are going to pay for these guys?” Robb asks after a moment.
Jon agrees, saying that he will put in some of his money as well. He is still smiling at his little white pup, but the thing hasn’t made a sound.
Bran is awash with relief. They’re all okay with this, they all want to work it out and keep these pups. Everyone goes their separate ways with a pup in tow; Robb to find the yellow pages and call a veterinarian, Arya, Jon, and Rickon to the backyard to play around, Sansa to the computer to search “at-home puppy training.” Her dog is sitting patiently on her lap, its little paws folded one over the other.
Up in the room he shares with Rickon, Summer begins nosing around and exploring Bran’s things immediately. Bran lays down some newspaper on top of a couple rag towels as a makeshift dog bed, but Summer isn’t having any of it. Finally, Bran picks Summer up and sets him on the his chest, laying down on the bed. As he begins to doze off, Bran has one last thought. Just wait till Mum and Dad get home.
Once again, thanks for reading! This is unbeta'd; all mistakes, mishaps, and mischaracterizations (if any!!) are mine. Characters belong to George R. R. Martin and the A Song of Ice and Fire series. Let me know what you think!