Even though the wall stood thick with new recruits and battle-scarred veterans seeming to fill up almost any available space on the bleak structure, it still seemed that you were very, very alone. This was definitely preferable to running and hiding from the thugs desperate to collect your head in exchange for a deep and long running gambling debt.

"Are you okay?" You felt a firm hand grasp onto your shoulder. "You seem lost, do you need some help?" The first thing you noticed about the man was his blade, a firm blade, at least half a foot longer than a longsword with a ruby eyed dire wolf for a pommel. It was a weapon you had seen around the wall but before this you had never had a chance to speak to the bearer.

"No... I'm fine, thank you." You brushed his hand away, but he stood firmly in front of you, his thick black cape hung tightly from his form in a bid to keep the bitter cold away.

"I don't think I've seen you here before, are you new?" Was the small talk conversation going to drabble on forever? Besides the money crazy blades for hire that followed you most of the way here, the second reason you had decided to join the Night's Watch was to get a clean slate and the ability to keep yourself to yourself. "It's okay, we don't bite here. The Night's Watch look after each other, taking a little bit of help is nothing to be ashamed of. I'm Jon." He held his hand out and waited for far too long before realising you weren't keen on returning the gesture.

"I guess I don't really know my way around yet. I arrived with the latest batch of recruits a few days back. Don't worry about me though, as long as I can find where I need to sleep and where I need to eat, I'll be okay."

"What brought you here?" He asked, somehow sweeping you along with him as he began to stroll around the open air. "Everybody has a different reason for being here, you know?"

"Just felt like I needed a change." Jon smiled and pulled his cape around his arms.

"That is the bullshit everybody comes out with when they first get here... soon enough the truth comes out, and, it will be accepted. Whatever demons were following you, there's a good chance you lost them down there." He hung his head over the wall and stared down into the abyss.

~*~

Written by Aaron.