It wasn't long before the two of them had come upon a mountainous alcove where his clan resided. He seemed to become more unsettled, his tone clipped; she felt sorry for him that he couldn't find peace with his clan. In more ways than one they were certainly a lot alike. She was lucky she'd at least found the Valo-kas, or that they had come upon her, tired, hungry, and very well near death. But he had no one it seemed. Just the wiles and whims of a man who wandered.

She wasn't lost on his apprehension in telling her things. There seemed to be something larger that he wasn't revealing, but she didn't want to pry despite wanting to know. They began to come upon a few of his clansmen, they watched him, she could see the way they turned their noses up at him.

However, it didn't take long for their gaze to fall upon her. No doubt they'd heard by the crow flies about whom she was. The one with the mark in her hand. The one who could close rifts. She felt uncomfortable underneath their gaze, though she supposed she should be used to it by now. Whispers began to occur, that she made the Lady in the Sky angry. That she'd marred the sky. She saw the tight line of Hudson's lips, the furrow in his brow. He heard their words, and he was doing his best not to lash out.

"Apologies, Sano." He said quietly.

"It's alright." She assured him. They began to get closer into the heart of the small village. Houses built out of stone and wood, some built into the mountains and some made of logs. He had explained that some of it was already built. His clan wandered a bit, but they'd since settled and made this place their home. Animals were abundant for food, and there was plenty of greenery to salvage in the warmer months.

They found an open alcove that'd been carved into the mountainside long ago. Plenty of people were crowded around the fire in there and she saw one with many furs, some beadwork, and he looked to be important.

"Thane." Hudson nodded to the man and they all looked upon the two of them.

"Ah. So it seems the murderer has returned." One of the other men chirped.

"Dagen, that greeting is well worn and tired don't you believe?"

"Not at—"

"Leave." The thane spoke, and there wasn't much protest from the others as they all filed out. Dirty looks were sent Hudson's way, and curious stares sent hers. "So this is she? The bonny lass that tore the sky open?"

"She did no such thing. We believe there was a darker entity involved. He has yet to show himself." Hudson defended.

"You have a name lass?"

"Sanosara Adaar."

"Aye. What say you about this?"

"I don't remember, but I truly hope the breach wasn't my doing. We saw a glimpse of what happened when we went back to the Conclave's location. There was a voice threatening the Divine. She called out for help and I tried to aid her."

"Yet you remember none of this?"

She shook her head. "I do not… Just the residual memory that was there."

"You don't seem threatening. I see you're also a mage." He seemed to be looking her over, mulling whether or not he could trust her. She swallowed nervously, not wanting to say anything wrong or insulting. "We're having a clan supper at sundown. Others will want to hear about what's going on in the lowlands. As well as this breach situation. Hudson, your cabin is still there. Gael tends to it when he has time. He should be back by sundown; he's out hunting with the party."

Hudson nodded then turned to Sano. "I'll meet you outside." He watched her nod and head out and he turned his attention back upon the Thane. "I would appreciate discretion regarding my being a warden."

"You didn't tell her?"

"I did not."

"I would assume you told her of the other incident."

"I did."

"Your account no doubt." He said snidely and Hudson resisted the urge to snarl. "It does not matter. Tell her if you wish or not. Ye won't be here long."

"No. We won't." He made his way back outside and found her, glancing around at people milling about. No one but the Thane and his cousin knew about their arrangement regarding the Wardens. At least he hoped that was still true. The Thane may have been an unforgiving bastard, but he was true to his word. "Come, let's get away from here." He began to lead her on a trail that led out the village. It wasn't too far off, but a secluded cabin was on the edge of the village.

She could see how much they mistreated him and she ached to see it so. "Why do you come back here?" She asked and she watched him dip his head.

"I… I really don't know sometimes. I suppose I like to honor my agreements. I prefer not to be hunted down. If I'm not within the terms that the Thane and I agreed upon, I know a few men who would hunt me down and take their revenge. I'd prefer not to deal with that. I don't want to kill any more of them, despite their hatred of me."

"You don't seem to mind wandering. I'm sure there's places you could travel that they wouldn't be able to find you at."

"It would seem simple enough… But eventually one who wanders is always found, love. I've made peace with it. It's why I don't come back too often. Every few months or so. It's really all I can stand of them." He chuckled softly, but she couldn't bring herself to laugh alongside him. He thought of it as a sad joke it seemed. She thought it simply saddening.

"Who is Gael?" She asked as they went inside the cabin.

"Ah, he's my kin. My cousin. Luckily my actions haven't sullied his name. He stays here sometimes, keeps it kempt for me. I rather miss him."

"Did you… Want me to go somewhere else? I can set up a tent out—" His laughter interrupted her and she smiled bashfully. It did sound quite silly didn't it?

"Nonsense. I'd like you to meet him. He's the only one who doesn't speak harshly of me. Maybe indifferent I suppose to save face, but I can't blame him. He's here, I'm not, so whatever he has to do to stay in good favor is fine with me."

They began to set a few things up, not really planning to be here more than the night. They both wanted to meet the others in Val Royeaux as soon as possible. Plus, she felt uncomfortable being around here, knowing and seeing the way they treated him, when he had been nothing but kind and forthcoming with her. Aside from the one thing he seemed to not want to tell her. She wasn't a fool, there was clearly something he wished to discuss with the Thane that he didn't want her knowing.

It didn't matter. She didn't feel any bad vibes from him. "When should we head down for this supper?"

He let out a sigh, sitting down on the bed that was at the far corner of the room. It wasn't a big cabin, maybe one room and a loft that more than likely held another bed. "As late as possible if you don't mind."

"I assume they want to hear about everything that's happened." She mulled that over, wondering if they needed to bring more detail to what it was they were doing. She supposed she should trust Hudson's lead.

"Aye, something of the sort. You don't have to answer any questions that make you uncomfortable. I don't believe they've seen any Kossith or Qunari folk in these parts."

She shrugged her shoulders. "I relate more to humans than I do of being one of them. I spent more time with my father than I did with my Valo-Kas brothers."

"Were you able to speak with the others that made it?"

She shook her head, taking out a change of clothes that she'd set aside for the morning. "I did not, but Cassandra said Leliana would send scouts to them. I hope they became more at ease. I know they were worried, but then again, they do know I'm capable. If I needed to run, then I would."

"I don't suppose they can keep you there. Your powers are interesting. I don't think I've seen too many mages who rely more on bursts of energy. Do you know any other spells?"

"Basic fire and ice, but my father and I honed in on the mind blast technique and built upon that." She watched him a moment as he made his way towards the kitchen area, looking through the pantry to see what they all had. "You don't… You really don't fear me?"

He shrugged his shoulders like it actually meant nothing. "No, why? You're not malicious. I can tell that too. You've not even raised your voice in anger even in battle. You shout to warn not to scare."

"You're observant."

"I've had to be." He smirked in her direction. "I've been around many different types of people. I've had to adapt being amongst them. I know good people when I see them."

"Really? What do you think of our companions?" She asked curiously.

"Cassandra is a hardened woman. She's had to be. But I think she's got a soft spot about her. She worries for others. Varric likes to seem indifferent, but he cares a lot. He would've left us otherwise. Solas is interesting. I haven't been able to tell with him, but oddly I trust him. He took care of you when you were out."

"I like Solas. He seems to know a lot about the fade, something I've always tried to avoid whenever possible."

"Is it different for you?"

"I suppose so. More spirits seek me out. I try to ignore them. I don't like to vigorously explore as Solas enjoys doing. It's not… It doesn't feel as real. However, he'd like to show me more of it. I suppose I should, just to see what's out there. Or rather in there. The way he speaks of it is intriguing."

"I have to agree. He has many stories. It's interesting that different spirits can give you a different view of the fade. Different perspectives and different feelings."

"It sounds so overwhelming." She laughed.

They turned their attention towards the door when it opened and a man who bared a slight resemblance to Hudson walked in.

"Gael!" Hudson shouted excitedly and a smile turned up on the younger man's face. They rushed towards each other, hugging, and Sano smiled somberly. She'd missed those familial hugs. "How are you? You've grown taller!"

"Aye, just a little more and I'll be as tall as you." He said.

Hudson scoffed, "You're fooling yourself youngin' I'm quite sure you're finished growing." They laughed together, patting shoulders and roughing the other up. "Ah, Gael, this is Sanosara Adaar."

"Is she the one?"

"Yes, she is. She bears a mark that closes rifts. Have you seen any around?"

"Not yet. Some of the scout party says they saw something green northeast of here. Other clans we've run into have spotted more popping up. What happened?"

He blew out a breath, hands on his hips. "I saw it happen. It was incredible and horrifying. I was on the outskirts when everything just erupted. I watched her walk out of the fade and collapse."

"Did you do it?" Gael asked her.

"I don't think so. There was someone else there. I think he had something to do with it."

"She didn't," Hudson said confidently. "She's a good person, Gael." She watched his cousin nod then a small smile appeared on his lips.

"Uh huh."

"What?" Hudson asked defensively, shaking his head and waving his hand. "Anyway, they're basically forming an Inquisition of sorts. We're trying to figure out if we're going to get help from the Templars or Mages. Both of them are all out of sorts."

"Yeh, what's going on with that one? They're at war right?"

"Yes," Sano answered. "It's sad to see them killing anything and everything. They even attacked us when we came upon them despite us trying to help and make the situation less heated."

"It's madness and war out there. Coupled with the rifts spewing demons…" Hudson spoke.

"Do you… Need any more help?"

"Nonsense, Gael. I don't want to see you out there. You should stay here. They need you."

Gael hung his head. "I don't know about that, cousin. They're growing more… Reclusive. I'm not sure they even like what you're doing anymore."

Hudson raised a brow. "They don't mean to…" He let the question hang in the air.

"I don't think they'd go so far as to kill you, but they're worried about you being—"

"They needn't worry about that." She watched him glance her way and Gael seemed to tighten his lips. She pursed her own and tried to ignore it, but she knew his secret was beginning to nag at her.

They chatted a little while longer, making their way out to the bonfire that was going. True to form there was a clan supper in full swing. They listened to their stories intently. Hudson spoke to them of the war that was raging and she tried to explain what was going on with her. They wanted to know if she'd seen the Lady in the Sky. Hudson had told her days ago just to say yes since she technically did see a woman in the fade despite not knowing whom she was. He corroborated her story, despite the fact he wasn't paying attention to anything behind her.

It wasn't long before the ale was flowing and she felt the warmth flowing through her. She ran hot as it was, but they cheered her on when she took off her coat, saying she was more of a highlander than Hudson. At least now they weren't treating him so badly. A few ladies wanted to dance and he acquiesced for a little bit.

She was surprised when a few men wanted to dance as well, and even children wanting her company. They seemed to not think of her as a threat as well. She could feel her head spinning and she excused herself to take a walk in the woods to cool herself down and it wasn't long before Hudson joined her.

The soft sounds of their music was slow and he smiled at her, drunkenly, and bowed to her. She began to laugh. "May I have a dance, milady?"

She nodded, letting him thread his fingers through hers as he brought her close. It was a slow, seamless, move as he held her hand out and placed his other at her waist. This was a nice distraction, an extremely nice distraction.

"You're having a good time?" He asked her, trying not to slur his words.

She nodded, barely able to form words. She couldn't deny what she knew she'd felt since the beginning. She really liked him. She liked him more than she cared to admit; that she was scared to admit. "Everyone seemed to warm back up to you." She finally said.

He shrugged, "They're drunk." He said simply. "They'll remember their distaste for me come sunup." She frowned. "It's alright, love," he tipped her chin back up, his hand smoothing over her cheek. She was burning up and he seemed to get a laugh from it. "You're hot as coals, Sano." His voice was low, gravelly, and she watched as his head dipped. She swallowed, her heart beating wildly in her chest. Was he? He grew closer, his honeyed eyes intent upon hers. She could barely catch her breath.

A scream cut through the forest, and they quickly broke apart. Shouting erupted and they watched her hand flare up. She cried out, and he caught her before she could fall.

"A rift," Hudson shouted, sobering up as he helped to steady her. Sano quickly gained her senses, and they began to run towards the screams and shouts. A demon sprouted in front of her in a wisp of green aura and she launched her hand in front of her, more in shock than anything, and blasted the demon backwards. "Go get your staff!" He told her as he picked up a sword that was lying near the smithy's cabin.

"I don't need it!" She shouted back. She wasn't about to leave his side.

"Sano—"

"I don't need it." She told him again, and he finally nodded. She followed after him, and they stopped when they saw a child lying on the ground, a deep cut on his arm. She stopped, chanting the basic healing spell she knew and ushered him in the opposite direction of the fighting.

The Avvar were certainly formidable warriors and mages alike. They were helping to dispatch the demons, but they both knew if they didn't get to the rift they'd just keep pouring out. She could see the green crackling in the air, electricity seeming to pour out from it. She felt cold sear her flesh at her shoulder and Hudson pushed her out the way getting tagged in the chest. She launched a small fireball its way and destroyed the despair demon.

"Hurry!" She grabbed Hudson and he moved with her and she finally made it to the rift, close enough to begin closing it. "Back away!" She shouted at the warriors and Hudson barked at them the same command.

She focused, channeling the different energy she felt when it came to the mark. She felt the pulls, the tears, the rift was beginning to close. She used her mind blast technique when she saw a demon nearing them. Hudson backed away, cutting down another and she felt the culmination of the power as she closed her fist. A brilliant burst of emerald shattered in the air and a few of the warriors who were too close fell backwards as Hudson steadied her.

"You alright?" He asked her, out of breath. She nodded at him, out of steam as well.

"I'm fine."

"Your shoulder—"

She waved a hand at him. "It's just a little frost burn. It'll be okay." She looked around, many were wounded, and the mages were beginning to tend to some. She looked Hudson over and saw a little blood and a few claw marked rips in his shirt as well as a frost burn of his own. "I can heal you."

"Heal them first."

"I won't have enough energy to heal you then."

"Don't mind me, tend to the others." He assured her and she nodded. They both began to help the others. She hadn't expected this night to fall apart as it had.