"Here it is, Lothering. Pretty as a painting," said Alistair as he leaned on the edge of the Imperial Highway.
All three humans in the group focused on the town just up the road, which could be clearly seen from their vantage point on the highway.
"Bear, drop it," commanded Kitra absently as the hound turned to her, his prize clutched between his jaws. With a whine, he dropped the bandit's tibia he had been trying to present to his mistress.
"What? No reaction at all?" asked Alistair as he looked to Kitra. It seemed he had expected her to say something about the state of the little town.
Morrigan snorted. "What is there to react to? 'Tis nothing but a festering refugee camp."
Alistair ignored her.
"I've been here before," said Kitra, uncrossing her arms from beneath her chest. "I used to come here for supplies sometimes." She gestured to the ramp that would set them on the path into town. "Shall we?"
With that, the little group made their way into the town.
Kitra took note that only Templars guarded the town; the actual guards that would have belonged to whatever Bann Lothering answered to were nowhere to be found.
It seemed Alistair noticed as well, for as soon as they sighted the Chantry, Alistair volunteered to take the news of the bandits' demise to whomever was left in charge of the town - likely the most senior-ranking Templar. This left Kitra alone with Morrigan and Bear.
"Morrigan," said Kitra as she fished around in her pack, "could you procure some traveling supplies for us?" After a bit of searching, she withdrew a small pouch that made a distinct clinking sound when it moved. "Tents and the like? I have some other things I'd like to see to while we're here."
Morrigan looked from the pouch that Kitra held out to the merchant near the Chantry who appeared to be arguing with one of the Sisters. "Certainly."
Kitra wasn't entirely sure that she liked the slightly predatory look Morrigan wore as she strode off to do their shopping, but Kitra had a few things that she wanted to look into around town. With Bear at her side, she made her way through town, pausing to speak with an elven family about the bandits before making her way to the bridge that would take her into the more residential part of town.
At the bridge, a small boy got her attention. "Hello miss," said the child as he looked up at her. Kitra estimated that he couldn't be older than six. "Have you seen my mother? I'm cold and hungry and I can't find her."
"No," said Kitra with a shake of her head before kneeling down to the boy's level. "I haven't. Would you like to come with me and look for her? She must be worried about you."
"Mum said I'm not to go anywhere with strangers," said the boy. He reached out to pet Bear, who offered his giant head obligingly.
"Your mother is wise," said Kitra thoughtfully. She reached into one of the pouches at her waist - of course she hadn't given Morrigan all of her coin - and withdrew three silvers. "Here. Go buy some food and take what's left over to the Chantry. Perhaps if you offer up some coin for their coffers they'll take notice of you."
The boy nodded. "Thank you. You're a nice lady, just like mother." He smiled up at her before running off, presumably to do as Kitra had instructed and buy food.
"You're the first person to stop and help him and not simply pass him by," said and accented voice behind Kitra.
She stood and turned, finding herself facing red-haired woman in Chantry robes. "Oh?" Kitra asked, arching an eyebrow in a questioning look.
"Yes," said the Sister. "Most people have simply glanced at him before shaking their heads and moving on. They couldn't - or wouldn't - do anything to help him."
"What about you?" Kitra was blunt. "You're a sister of the Chantry. Don't they take in orphans of all sorts?"
"We are taxed to capacity, the Chantry can't handle any more refugees," said the Sister sadly. "And who's to say he's an orphan?"
"He's alone in a town that's right in the path of the Blight. Most parents are keeping their children close at hand, ready to flee at a moment's notice. The boy has no one. If he did, at least one parent would be with him." Kitra started walking, crossing the bridge and making her way through the streets of the residential section of town.
The Sister followed, seeming intent on keeping up a conversation, much to Kitra's mild annoyance. "That is true," she conceded, sounding a bit saddened by the likely conclusion. However, she quickly perked up. "You're new here, aren't you? I haven't seen you before."
"You could say that," said Kitra, who was making her way toward the tavern and doing her best to at least tolerate the inquisitive Sister.
"I am Leliana. Please to make your acquaintance...?" she said cheerfully.
"Kitra," supplied the mage in question shortly.
"Kitra," said the woman as though tasting the word. "That's an unusual name."
Kitra sighed. "I like to think it suits me. I'm not much of an Ophelia or a Mirabelle."
The Sister, Leliana, cocked her head as though trying to consider the tall, boyish-looking woman in mismatched armor as a Mirabelle. Apparently the image didn't fit, because she shook her head soon after. "That is true."
They reached the tavern and Kitra pushed the door open, walking inside and straight into a group of armed men.