The group was tired, they had been away from Skyhold for more than two weeks atleast. The trip started in the Hinterlands, to investigate leads on the venitori that lead to Creekwood, then to the Falllow mire, but ended with nothing in the Western approach.

"By the dread wolf! Nothing!? " Santeri Lavellan threw his hands up,"Three damn weeks in this wreched heat for nothing!" He slumped on a rock near Dorian's feet.

"Now, now, it isn't all bad." The Tevinter pushed back the strands of hair on Santeri's forehead, "I mean you got a wonderful tan-"

Dorian was cut off as Cole and the Iron Bull walked in to the cave opening. The Bull sat across from them, while Cole stood still muttering. Santeri looked over, pushing a pale hand through his mess of dark hair, "Something interesting ,Cole?"

"Yes, " The blonde was silent, then looked at the sand beneath his feet, " The heat. It hurts, it - it distracts, unfocused. But he helps. He anchors me. His voice sweet like honey.-"

Dorian glanced at the elf by his feet. Light pink danced on Santeri's cheeks and tips of his ear. However, Cole didn't notice and cotinued on.

" His skin a beautiful tan, like a doe in the fall forest. His finger tips touching my forehead, tingling. His name, calming, Dorian , I can't stop thnking, Dreaming, does he know? He needs to know, I want to tell, but the words fly away, when I try. Does he feel the same? I need to know; it hurts living within the unknown."

Santeri stood and bolted out before he finished, into the heat and sun. The Iron Bull whistled," Looks like Boss is after the 'Vint! Can't say I'm too surprised on that one." He laughs, nodding at Dorian,"But you were."

"Well, of course I was"

The Inquisiter returned near dawn, out of breath, as if he'd run all the way from Val Royeaux. He was covered in cuts,scrapes, and the tips of his ears and hair were singed, with a stream of smoke floating up.

Dorian raised an eyebrow,"Something wrong, Lavellan?"

"Dra-" he was intrupted by a burst of flames following a deep, growl-like cry, that was loud enough to wake the Bull, "-gon."

The Iron Bull grabbed his axe, and headed towards the enterence, with Santeri and Dorian behind him. Cole appeared infront of them, holding his hands out,"Stop! She won't hurt you!"

Santeri looked at him, astonished,"Cole, if you haven't noticed, she's a dragon,!"

"She's hurting! We have to help! She won't hurt you."

The elf paused, then walked past Cole to the dragon. The Bull and Dorian followed close behind muttering, "Of course! Let's go towards the danger!"

" If it bothers you, stay."

"And let you get slaughtered alone? Perish the thought!"

Cole trotted ahead of them and began talking to the beast," Calm down, we're here to help!"

The dragon was still and studying the people in front of her as they did return. She was not the large, red dragon that they had seen flying over head, but a smaller, brown one with a hint of gold, glimmering, where the early sunlight touched her.

She made a soft whimper, when they didn't attack. Santeri walked carefully, his hand was out stretched. He rested it on her snout.

Her hot breath came against his skin like a gentle breeze, tingling with something. Her bright amber eyes locking with the elf's. He could feel it better, he could feel the magic in side of her," Cole, what's hurting her?"

"Going numb. The feeling, the color, the life, fleeting out my grasp. The world's beauty abandons me. My soul was bounded, but now caged in the gray emptiness. My spirits fading, going, going...Gone"

The dragon's eyes grew lifeless, darker. The magic was gone, dead, but the animal was still breathing, *living*. Santeri kept his eyes locked with hers," She's alive."

Cole frowned," She can't be, I can't feel anything."

Santeri tilted his head," It's like she's ..."

Dorian came to his side, " Tranquil."