As always, I own nothing that is clearly BioWares/Dragon Age. Mel's story starts with "We're the only family we need"

Mel peered down from the rocks, watching the fight below. She and Fen had been keeping a close eye on the group of mercenaries since they had appeared on the coast just before dawn, waiting to see if they would need to deal with them. But then this other group had appeared and it no longer looked like it would be necessary. Mel found it interesting how this group of five was made up of three humans, two of which were mages, a dwarf, and an elf that seemed to be glowing. Interesting and weird, she thought. She looked at the crouching great cat beside her. "Guess we don't have to worry about them," she said. The red lion huffed in agreement, a hint of irritation showing. Mel backed away from the ledge and stood up straight, stretching to loosen her muscles. She picked up her bow and tugged on her hood to keep it in place. "Well, should we go look for more trouble or just do some simple hunting?" Fen got up and followed her as she began to walk away, keeping out of sight of the path but nearby as had become her practice. "Lirene did say that she needed more animal skins and meat for the refugees." She stopped when Fen began to growl and stalk toward the ledge again. She hurried over and peered down. Below, lying in wait, was a large group of Tal-Vashoth. "Shit. Ambush."


Fenris gritted his teeth as the mage once again complained about Templars and the Circle. He was really getting sick of his whining. Bad enough that he was a mage. He knew it was only a matter of time before he hit the mage, Hawke's friend or not. He glanced at Bethany. While she was a mage as well, he didn't feel as threatened or annoyed by her as Anders. Of course, she didn't talk constantly nor house a demon inside her. But she was still a mage and he would continue to keep a wary eye on her. She must've felt his gaze because she turned and he quickly looked away. He saw movement up ahead and drew his blade, his markings glowing again. "Hawke", he warned.

Marian Hawke looked up from talking with Varric and saw that their path was blocked by a small group of Qunari. She drew her daggers but hesitated when Varric gave a warning shout. She turned and saw the way behind them also blocked off by more Qunari. They were outnumbered and trapped. She turned back around and focused on the one she assumed was the leader. "We don't wish to fight," she said.

"Then you'll drop your weapons," the leader replied, his voice a low growl.

Bethany gripped her staff tightly. "Maybe we should just give them what they want."

Varric shook his head and aimed Bianca at one of the Qunari. "I don't think it's just our coin they're after Sunshine."

Fenris saw the blood lust in their eyes and knew them as Tal-Vashoth. "No. It's not."

Suddenly, a great roar filled the air followed by two cries of alarm. Everyone watched in shock as two Tal-Vashoth dropped dead, their throats ripped out. Fenris watched in surprise as a great beast took down a third. He ignored the fear that crawled beneath his skin as he heard the leader give the order to attack. They will deal with both threats. As he charged one of the Tal-Vashoth, he registered that a hooded figure joined the fight, firing arrows with lightning fast reflexes.

Mel took out a few Tal-Vashoth but she mostly kept an eye on Fen, making sure that the people they were rescuing didn't try to attack him. Eventually, the ex-Qunari recognized that they weren't going to win and retreated, vanishing over the rocks. Fenris saw that the beast remained and prepared to attack.

"Freeze!" Mel shouted. "Or I will drop you!" Fenris did as she ordered, keeping his blade up and his eyes on her as she positioned herself between him and the great cat. He raised a brow at seeing that she kept her aim on him and her back to the beast. Her face was hidden behind a dark red mask and shadowed beneath a similarly colored hood, features such as hair kept unseen. She wore leathers that were dyed black and he noted the daggers on her belt and would've betted the dwarf that she had more hidden in her boots. He tried to read her bright blue eyes for her intent and was startled when Varric started to laugh.

"Andraste's tits! You're the Red Hood!" he said, grinning at her as he strapped Bianca to his back. Mel glanced at him, offered a small smile of her own before focusing back on the strange elf.

Surprise then recognition appeared in Hawke's eyes. She had heard about the Red Hood, who in Kirkwall hasn't, but had yet to run into her. During her year of smuggling, her and her sister mostly worked near the docks and the Red Hood was only ever seen outside of the city. She couldn't believe the stories about the vigilante having a red lion were true. "I'm meeting all sorts of interesting people this week," she said. She noted that her sister was staring thoughtfully at the red lion.

Mel also gave her a smile before asking Fenris, "Any chance you're going to lower your blade?"

He tilted his head. "Perhaps. If you lower your bow." Mel glared at Fen when she heard the cat give an amused huff. She slowly lowered her bow and Fenris did the same with his sword.

He nodded at the red lion. "Impressive beast you keep."

He was surprised by the flash of rage in her eyes and the snap of anger in her voice as she snarled, "I do not 'keep' him. That implies ownership. He is my friend." Fenris couldn't help but feel admiration towards her for the unexpected response.

Varric took a step forward, recognizing that the elf walked dangerous ground with this one. "Pretty impressive friend." He struggled against the instinct to run when the predator's golden eyes turned to him. Maker that is one scary cat.

"What is his name?" Bethany asked softly.

"Fenthorn," Mel answered, unconcerned with sharing this information. Few knew to connect Fen to her and those that did were back in Ferelden and she trusted them with her life.

Hawke gestured to the corpses. "Thank you for the assist. I wasn't expecting to run into a horde of Qunari."

"Horde may be exaggerating it," muttered Anders. Hawke stuck her tongue out at him and he rolled his eyes, but Mel caught the small smile he tried to hide. Well, isn't that adorable.

"Tal-Vashoth," she corrected. "Normally, they stick to the main road leading into the city, ambushing merchant wagons. They must've followed you out here." She looked them over, noting their cheap armor and tattered clothing. "Though why is beyond me. You don't look like you have much coin."

Hawke looked down at herself and grimaced at seeing a new tear in the leather. Her mother was going to kill her. "We're saving up."

Mel laughed but stopped when the wind changed and Fen started to growl at one of the mages. "You're a Grey Warden," she stated.

Anders startled and gripped his staff tightly. He felt Justice stir but pushed the spirit back, struggling for control. "How could you possibly know that?" he asked, suspicious.

Mel nodded at Fen. "He doesn't like how you smell."

Fenris smirked. "None of us do." Mel laughed and a strange foreign feeling rose up in him. He didn't trust it and he glared at her. She was surprised by the sudden change and returned his glare. What was his problem?

Anders crossed his arms and grumbled, "Bathes aren't exactly a luxury in Darktown." Mel realized that this was the mage that ran the clinic there. Lirene had asked her collect herbs for him in the past.

Hawke winked at him, "You're welcomed to use mine." Anders blushed.

"Marian," Bethany sighed. "I'm pretty sure Mother would object to that."

"Spoil sport." Hawke turned back to Mel, who was enjoying the banter. "Is there a problem with him being a Warden?" she asked, readying herself in case she needed to protect her friend.

Mel saw that she had made her wary and waved her hand while shaking her head, smiling. "Oh no. I just found it interesting that a Ferelden Grey Warden was helping deal with a random group of mercenaries."

"Former Grey Warden," Anders corrected. He nervously stared at the still growling red lion. "Can you tell him to stop that?"

Varric chuckled, "I thought you liked cats, Blondie?"

"House cats." Fenris rolled his eyes and watched as the vigilante nudged the red lion and gave him a look. Fen stopped growling, narrowed his eyes at the mage and walked a ways a bit before looking back at her.

Mel understood what he wanted. It was time to go. She turned back to everyone. "Those Tal-Vashoth should be long gone now and I have a feeling they won't be back for… a few days at least. So you should have a relatively safe journey back to the city."

Hawke looked back the way they came and forward toward the mount. "Would that be the same if we went the opposite direction, say to the base of Sundermount?"

Mel's brow furrowed, thinking about the Dalish residing there. "Why do you need to go there?"

Fenris frowned at the suspicion in her voice. "None of your concern."

Hawke sighed. "No need to be rude Fenris."

The elf glared at her. "You shouldn't be so trusting, Hawke."

"How can you say that? I don't even trust my uncle!" Varric snorted.

Mel rolled her eyes. "Look, I'm just asking because there's a Dalish clan there and they don't like strangers." She looked directly at Fenris. "Though they may like you."

"Because I'm an elf," he growled.

"No, because you're highly distrustful and judgmental," she replied, sweetly, laughter in her eyes.

Anders smiled, "I like her." Hawke chuckled but stopped when Fenris turned to glare at them all.

"Actually, it is the Dalish we have business with," she told the Red Hood.

Strange, the Keeper never said anything. "Do they know you're coming?" she asked.

Hawke cringed. "Probably not."

Fen walked back over and stared expectantly up at Mel. She shook her head but he only continued to stare. Fenris found the exchange intriguing. Eventually, Mel sighed.

"We'll go with you then."

Hawke tilted her head, questioning, "Why?"

Mel placed a hand on Fen head and scratched behind an ear. A rumble of pleasure sounded from the cat as she answered the woman, "They'll be less likely to shoot at you if they see us."

Fenris crossed his arms. "I thought you said they don't like strangers."

Mel smiled. "We're not strangers."

Hawke contemplated her offer and glanced at her companions, most of whom nodded in agreement. She smiled at the Red Hood, "I do like avoiding conflict."

Mel spoke softly to Fen who turned and ran off, quickly disappearing down the path. "He'll make sure they know I'm coming," she explained.

Hawke waved her hand, "Lead the way."