Some Form of Destination
As I plod along I'm starting to get used to some parts of being a wolf. Being so low to the ground is a bit weird, but other things are marvelous. My ears can pick up everything, from the faintest whisper of a breeze to the chirping of birds too far off for any human to ever hear. The nose is a marvel too, I can smell the earthworms in the dirt, the sap oozing from some of the trees, even some poor rabbit that had somehow gotten stuck in mud some distance away. To its credit, it is very quiet which is why I'm relying on my nose to know it's there. The best part by far though is the eyes. I suppose they're nothing extraordinary, not like the others, but that doesn't matter in the slightest. It's impossible to describe what it's like, going to bed one morning half-blind then waking up fully restored. Even with all the strangeness that surrounds me, I can't bring myself to regret being able to look through both eyes again.
The only real drawback though is that it's messing with my depth perception, I keep thinking things are farther than they are and have consequently bashed my nose on multiple objects, including trees rocks and a thorny bush. My nose still stings from that, but it's fading away which is good. In a similar way, fear is starting to subside too as I grow ever more familiar with the body I somehow came to possess. I find myself asking more questions such as if I'm in Thedas, where in Thedas am I?
Ferelden, my mind seems to instantly say. I don't know how or why, but I instantly know that this is correct. Not only that, but I instantly know that I'm about a day and a half west of Lothering. This is feeling more and more dream like all the time but I can't wake up. I begin to ponder the time and I instantly come up with the answers of the ninth age some time after the start of the blight. I'm getting a little scared at my own apparent powers of clairvoyance. I reassure myself by remembering I've played Origins at least ten times, so it would make sense for my mind to jump to this scenario.
When I ask myself if Ostagar has occurred yet, no answer comes to mind with any degree of certainty and that is unsettling. If my mind created this illusion, shouldn't I know all the details of it? Yet I don't. I know Lothering is west, but I don't know how to get there. I know that Cailan is at Ostagar, but I don't know if Duncan and Solaryn have arrived yet. I hesitate at that thought even though I somehow know Duncan chose her. It's not so much out of puzzlement as irony, it figures it would be her. She always was my favourite warden, so of course this dream would place her in that role.
I growl softly as I splash across a shallow stream. This isn't a dream is it? My mind isn't creating this world. But then, if my mind hasn't manufactured this how can I possibly know the details? Argh, I'm going to chase myself in endless circles if I keep thinking about this. I resolve myself to simply observe for the time being and hope an answer to that question presents itself.
I take a quick drink from the stream before moving on and ponder if I should head to Lothering. I could wait for Sol there and, if lucky, maybe warn a few about the potential darkspawn threat. No, that's a foolish notion, they'll already know... well what then? Why go to Lothering at all though? Why throw myself straight into the line of fire? The answer to that I suppose is obvious- I have no idea where or why else to go. Thinking over the amount of danger I'd put myself in by being in Lothering, I think I should figure out answers to those questions.
Moot point of course, since I have no idea how to get there other than go west. I stop and turn my head to the east but I can't actually bring myself to go that way. It feels inherently wrong, whereas going west feels right. If this means my subconscious is telling me that throwing myself into the fire is a good thing, I call it a fool. Then again, trusting it has never led me astray before, so I keep going. It occurs to me that I am at the very least an idiot, and probably in no uncertain terms insane. Neither thought is particularly pleasant.
I veer more to the northwest after a time and progress in that direction for some hours before coming across a run down dirt road. I sniff it experimentally, and am only mildly surprised that I can tell the last traveler hasn't been this way in weeks. As I look up again though, the sound of wagon wheels in the distance, along with horse's hooves, catches my ear. I quickly look up the road and see that I'm covered by a rise in the path, and quickly flash into a thicket of bushes on the side of the road.
Waiting for them to come over the rise I count the number of bodies by ear. Two men and a woman conversing. There's a fourth person walking, but they have yet to speak.
I can make out the words as they approach the rise, even though I can't see them. The first voice I hear is the woman's, and she sounds concerned. "Lothering's right in the path of the blight, are you sure this is a good idea?"
A man's voice cuts in. "This is no blight, you silly woman. It's a simple surge, one the King will beat back quickly enough. Still, if they don't know that they'll want out, and they'll need supplies." He paused for a moment and I could see his sneer through the tone of his voice. "Besides I hear it's been a good time since a merchant like myself shows up, they'll likely have goods to sell. Things we can resell later, maybe even back to the villagers if the King fails and the darkspawn rush north."
It hits me as the group passes over the rise that this is the same merchant that was taking advantage of the villagers of Lothering in game. I think about what will happen to him if Solaryn comes this way- he'd have nothing left. The thought would make me grin if it weren't for how sad it is that Sol's intervention should be needed.
The other man asks how much longer till they reach the village and I pay more attention. The thieving merchant says two days, but the woman says two and a half. I can't recall how long I thought it'd take, but know I can make the trip in less time. I'm faster after all.
And hungrier, as a faint discomfort in my stomach reminds me. There's no food about, but maybe I'll get lucky and find something along the way, mushrooms or something... an intense displeasure seems to emanate from my body in response, and I take that as the wolf not approving of the notion. I'm in the body, but the body still holds urges from the mind that was meant for it I think. Regardless, there's certain to be food at the village, so I think I can wait that long.
As they pass by me I retreat into the trees a little further then run swiftly and silently through the trees, paying careful mind to keep the road in sight so I can run parallel to it.
