The Lady was gone. The Lady was gone, and she was human once more. Swiftrunner was speaking with their rescuers. The Wardens. Then her pack leader turned to them, and slowly they began to stream out of the ruins.
They were almost to the edge of the woods when she slowed. Gatekeeper turned to her. "Skyhunter?"
"Where do we go now?"
"Home."
She shook her head. She'd had one of those once, until the curse had come upon her. Her husband's blood on her claws. After so many years, would any of them even remember? "I can't."
Gatekeeper's face was gentle, and he put an arm around her shoulders. "We will make a new home."
#
There was screaming. Young voices. She headed towards them. Darkspawn cut down the man trying to defend his children. A growl started low in her throat, and she charged. She bore the first darkspawn to the ground, and came up with its greatsword in her hands.
For a moment, she felt the strength of the wolf again. The Lady was with her. And the battle was joined.
They were a boy and girl. The girl perhaps nine, the boy younger. Mere pups, looking up at her with tearstained eyes. "Come. I will take you to safety."
#
Refugees were going to a place called Redcliffe. So many people. A chantry sister took the children from her. "Thank you."
She nodded, and started to walk away. The boy caught her hand. "What's your name?"
For a moment, the question threw her. Once, a long time ago, she'd been Rachel. But Rachel had died with her husband. "I am called Skyhunter."
"Are you a Grey Warden?" he asked, gazing up at her.
She considered the question. "Not yet."
#
More refugees. Only this time, it was bandits that hunted them. A half dozen, laughing at the desperate family. One of them put their hands on the woman.
Her fingers tightened on the hilt of the blade.
#
"You won't stay?"
"You will be safe here," Skyhunter told them. "Others are still out there."
The refugee nodded. "Maker bless you and keep you safe."
She didn't need the Maker. She had the Lady.
#
The darkspawn seemed less formidable. Many of them seemed to be fleeing. That did not stop them from preying upon a group of wounded soldiers. She stepped out of the trees, lifted her greatsword, and came to their aid.
"Thank you, my lady," one of the soldiers said.
"I am not Lady," she replied. "Something has changed."
The soldier smiled. "They did it. The Wardens. They killed the archdemon. The Blight is over."
She nodded. "Where can I find the Wardens?"
"Um... Denerim, I think."
Denerim. Far to the northeast. "It will be a long journey," she said, and started walking.
#
There were still darkspawn. Still refugees. She arrived in South Reach with almost a hundred trailing behind her. Her small band, old men and young boys, armed with what swords they'd scavenged, led the refugees to shelter.
She was turning to go when a Chantry sister caught her arm. "Skyhunter."
"Yes?" It was the sister from the road to Redcliff.
"There is another camp a day's travel south. They need supplies, but bandits have been..."
"I will need armor."
#
She was nearly to Denerim when she heard the news. The Wardens were in Amaranthine. She saw her latest band of refugees to safety, and continued her journey.
#
The men at the Keep claimed to be Wardens, but they spoke with Orlesian accents. None were the ones that had come before The Lady. She considered going back to Denerim, then shook her head. Perhaps the Wardens were in the city of Amaranthine itself.
#
The cell door closed. She stared at it in confusion. They'd taken her sword and her armor. What difference was there between killing a bandit on the street and killing a bandit in the woods? The man, constable they'd called him, said she would have to wait for the arrival of the Arl. He'd glared at her, through the eye she'd blackened.
#
There were screams. Smoke and fire. The guards had told her to wait in the cell, but she could hear the people in danger. She shook her head, called upon The Lady, and broke the door.
#
She saw him. The Warden. The one that had nearly been part of her pack. He was calling commands, and the others were paying heed to his words. She smiled, and then walked to him.
He looked up at her. "I need an axe and armor," she said.
He met her eyes, and she saw him recognize her. "What are you called?"
"She called me Skyhunter."
A few minutes later, she had her armor and her weapon. And her task. The darkspawn came, and she growled.