Theon awakes in the dead of night next to Kyra, whom he has brought to Winterfell to please him. He has a sense that something is wrong, but cannot put his finger on it. Suddenly, he realizes that the constant howling of the direwolves has stopped. He sends Urzen to see what is happening and wakes Wex to make sure Bran and Rickon are where they are supposed to be. Wex and Urzen report that Bran, Rickon, Summer, and Shaggydog are gone. He tells them to roust the castle and have Lorren check the gates. He hopes Stygg reaches Asha soon; he is worried he does not have enough men. The people of the castle resent him. Palla was raped, and even though he beat the men that did it, he was blamed. They are also angry that he gave Septon Chayle to the Drowned God by throwing him down a well. Lorren reports that the guard on the Hunter's Gate is missing. They soon find the guards, Drennan and Squint, dead. Theon decides they cannot go after the boys until morning.
Theon goes to address his assembled subjects. Reek1 tells him that Osha, Hodor, Meera, and Jojen are also missing. Aggar has told him that all the horses are accounted for, so the party is on foot. Theon addresses the crowd, including Gage, Nan, Joseth, Farlen and Barth, the brewers wife and the first woman he ever had sex with, and demands to know where the boys are and who helped them. The crowd is silent. Theon orders Joseth to saddle Smiler and for him, Murch, Gariss, Poxy Tym, Aggar, Gynir Rednose, Gelmarr, Reek, Wex, Farlen, and Maester Luwin to accompany him on the hunt. Little Walder asks to come as well, despite Big Walder's voiced disdain, but Theon gives permission. Lorren is in charge until Theon returns. They head out at dawn and follow the trail to a stream before losing it. Wex, through gestures, is able to point out that the tracks have all disappeared save for those of the direwolves. He splits his party into three groups to try and relocate the trail, but they cannot do so. After searching until evening, he realizes with horror that he will not find them. Reek speaks up and says that he thinks they are at a nearby mill. He shows Theon some things he is carrying in a sack, and Theon suddenly agrees.2 He sends everyone back save Aggar, Rednose, Gelmarr, and Reek and heads for the mill.
