Jon prepares a horse to leave Castle Black as Sam tries to stop him. Preparations complete, he calls Ghost and gallops past Sam into the night, nearly running Sam down before he jumps out of the way. Jon has chosen the life of an outcast for the chance to avenge his father at Robb's side. Ghost keeps pace with him for awhile and then goes off on his own and does not come when Jon calls for him. He stops to eat and hears horses coming. He gets off the road just before Grenn, Halder, Pyp, Matthar, and Todder ride up. Sam must have told them what he was doing. Ghost betrays his position to them, and they coerce him into coming back.

The next morning, Jon fetches Lord Commander Mormont's breakfast from Hobb and takes it to him. Jeor chastises him for running, saying he knew it would happen, and he had been observed leaving. He tells Jon that the war affects everyone, and he is not special. He also tells him of darker tidings. Cotter Pyke reports elk and mammoths fleeing south. Ser Denys Mallister reports abandoned wildling villages and seeing huge fires in the night, and Qhorin Halfhand has caught a wildling who states that Mance Rayder is gathering all his people at a new stronghold. Many rangers have gone missing in the past year and now the dead have been seen to walk. Lord Commander Mormont is personally going to lead a large expedition beyond the wall to find Benjen Stark and discover what is going on. By tradition, the Lord Commander's steward is also his squire, but he says he will not take Jon if he just plans to run off again. Jon reluctantly lets go of his father and siblings and promises not to run again.