She moved swiftly. Running, jumping and ducking under the rotting carcass of a great oak, finally fallen after what must have been centuries of growing only to have its final resting place be a completely dull and average boulder.
This shape was far from her favorite. Her big paws and heavy stature was far from graceful. Her short brown fur boring and unflattering. Not to mention the hideous jaw, that no matter how she tried would contain the drool of her mouth. She had never felt less pleased with her form, but she did appreciate the way she could feel the presence of the immense power in her muscles, allowing her to execute tasks she typically would need to use magic for.
To once again test her ability, she stopped to clasp her jaws around a thick and sturdy branch hanging low from a tree. She promptly crushed the wood with ease and the branch snapped in two in her mouth. The feeling made her wag her tail until she realized how truly foolish she must look doing so.
No matter. The only other being of importance within sight was the smelly beast her warden companion called a pet. Happily waving his own entire behind in excitement over his newly transformed playmate. The big smelly hound appeared even larger in this shape as it was not nearly as tall as any human, although his scent was far less unappealing to her current nose. A miracle, truly. Considering how much more sensitive it was.
Regardless of her opinion regarding the dog's hygienic standards, she felt an irresistible urge to run with him. So off they went.
They ran a good distance away from the campsite they both shared with their group of fellow individuals hoping to stop the blight ravaging Ferelden. She was grateful of the very clever choice of location they had made, as there was very little risk of any darkspawn sneaking up on them and killing them all in their sleep. Of course, even if they managed to get to the camp, the two wardens resting there were sure to crush their skulls and loot their tainted corpses quickly enough. Granted that she herself didn't end their miserable lives with her staff first, nor their unlike her permanently four-legged and rugged companion with his fangs and paws.
Speaking of the friendly beast, he had taken the lead of them both as he was technically the "older" dog and thus had a better mastering of his canine libs than she had. Although it was insulting to think she should take direction from a creature such as him she accepted the fact that at the moment it was for the better.
He stopped them both and faced her. Waving his tail and bowing down in a playful manner, barking into her face with excitement. She barked back and before she knew it they were play-fighting and wrestling on the soft ground of the forest. To her surprise her now canine brain found this to be the purest form of fun and joy in the world.
When she felt she had had enough of those shenanigans, as fun as she had to admit she found them, she dashed back through the woods back to the campsite. Stopping only for a few seconds to return to her original shape.
The real mabari barked and whined at her when she did. She turned around to hush him before his loud protesting woke up this entire part of Ferelden.
"Be quiet! This was a one-time experience for the both of us - and do not even think to tell any of our allies of this or you shall never know the taste of my herbs ever again!" She said in her strictest tone. The pup went silent and stared sadly at her with his dark, intelligent eyes.
Scoffing, she lowered her hand and patted him gently before going back to her tent.