Well I have my Deviantart account up and running again, I have drawn Makatza in a rather weird pose lol, its a bit rough but if you do want a look there's the link on me profile page. That's all.
Chapter 37 – Instincts.
Much to Makatza's surprise everyone slept at Merrill's house that night, even Fenris, he didn't even kick up a fuss. Merrill set up a bed on the floor and he took it with no complaint. Varric fell asleep in his chair, Sebastian and Anders were in made up beds of their own and Merrill put down a couple of Blankets for Makatza underneath the table, Merrill, Isabela and Hawke all bundled into the little bedroom in the back. Makatza blew heavily through her nose. The imprint was becoming harder to ignore, he's inches away from me, I mean like inches, would you get it through your thick head that I'm not moving any closer! Her body almost ached with the want of his touch, it wasn't even sexual, it was just a need. Makatza vowed to speak to Bubble and learn some tips on how to control what was going on.
She couldn't sleep, everything was just too interesting, even though she had her eyes closed she could hear and smell everything that was going on, every breath, every movement in the air. It was causing a headache, there was just too much information running through her mind.
'Sleep Makatza,' Fenris muttered turning toward her. He brushed the fur on her ear and petted her gently. Makatza could have bit him, because he told her to sleep she instantly felt tired. She wanted to stay awake just to prove to herself that the imprint was rubbish, she didn't even think to the end of her sentence before she drifted off.
… … …
'Let's just say mother wasn't very happy that Katza's coming with us but I said she had to,' Garrett said grumpily. They were walking out of Kirkwall, it was only Fenris, Hawke, Merrill and Varric. Makatza wandered in between Fenris and Garret, he had brought Bubble along as well and he was sniffing some bushes, she had barked a hello and that was that, she was kinda scared about what he might say. She swallowed her doubt and loped over to where he was marking his territory. She waited till he had finished and did the canine version of clearing her throat.
'Um I was just wondering what it was like when you imprinted on Garrett?' She barked the inquiry. Fenris turned as she spoke, he looked like he was going to say something but thought better of it, the morning hadn't been an easy one, he found himself automatically doing things that she asked and he had gotten some looks for it, he then remembered that only he could understand her and played dumb afterwards.
'Master? Oh um well I never thought about it really, I mean I feel complete I suppose,' Bubble replied.
'Is Katza really talking to Bubble?' Varric said amazed. Garret turned to Fenris.
'What?' Fenris asked.
'Well is she?' Garrett said with a smirk on his face.
'How in the damn fade should I know?' He lied. 'Probably, I mean she is a canine now.'
'No need to get your underwear in a twist Broody, you seem to understand her better that's all,' Varric smiled, 'just asking, maybe you have a secret way with animals.'
Fenris huffed and kept walking. His mind was reeling, he was going to have to be more careful about how he acted around her from now on. He hated to think about what Hawke would do if he found out that his sister had imprinted on him. Or Leandra for that matter. Makatza watched the conversation but turned back to Bubble.
'Does the imprint wear off after a while?'
'Why is yours annoying you?' Bubble grinned walking beside her.
'What are you on about?' She tried to sound confused but her whine came out with a worried undertone. She hung her head, fuck should have known better than to think that he wouldn't be able to tell.
'You know what I mean, and no it doesn't, but the feelings won't feel as strong as they do now, your body will adapt,' he explained, he told her about his time as a puppy and how he wanted to be around Garrett all the time and cried if he wasn't, but over time he didn't feel the need as strongly.
'I don't want it to adapt I want it to go! I want to be me again,' Makatza grumbled. She wagged her tail in a vain hope of cheering herself up.
'Sorry Mistress, but if you need anything else I'm here.'
She thanked him and sulked off to walk next to Fenris, imprint be damned. Yes I'm walking next to him, feel better now body? God damn it this is annoying. Any other time she wouldn't have minded walking next to him, but when she was being forced she felt slightly bitter about it. He didn't verbally acknowledge her presence but he did let his hand drift over her ear, she was quite tall being up to his hips so it didn't look too suspicious.
The Dalish camp came into view and Merrill became more twitchy the closer they got. She ended up hanging off of Hawke's arm.
'It's not too late we could still turn back,' she said to Varric. Makatza growled and bumped her forward with her head, Merrill walked reluctantly and every time she stopped she got nipped on the bum by Makatza.
'Oh Lethallan! I am sorry but I don't want to do this...' she complained quietly.
'Tough one Daisy but I don't think you've got a choice' Varric chuckled as Makatza sent her a glare. Merrill sighed and entered the camp passing the guards, they widened as she passed them and gave the others a once over. A young woman with short blonde hair kept her arrow trained on Makatza. Clearly they weren't convinced that she was safe. They watched as Merrill approached the keeper, a few words were exchanged and Merrill showed her back to the companions.
'Hello child, Merrill tells me that there is a problem with the young lady we brought through the fade.' She raised a brow. Hawke nodded, Marethari regarded them her eyes drifting over Makatza, 'well child you had better enter the camp and tell me what the problem is.'
… … … …
They sat around a fire, Merrill was nervously telling the keeper about the situation. She didn't interrupt but sat there while Merrill explained herself. Makatza noticed that there was a young elf watching from the other side of the camp with a bow and she had a arrow held loosely in the string. Fenris had noticed her as well, they exchanged glances. Things could go wrong very quickly if they thought Makatza was dangerous.
'Ah I see,' Marethari turned to Makatza, 'so this is your new form? Come here,' she didn't ask, she commanded. Makatza slowly stood, Fenris didn't take his eyes off the archer, Makatza didn't really want to be hit by another arrow. She walked around the fire trying to make herself the least threatening she could. Bloody archers and their sharp arrows! Why couldn't she have moved to where I was sitting? Wouldn't have hurt her.
She sat gingerly in front of the keeper, Marethari gripped her snout gently twisting her head left and right. Makatza sighed and allowed herself to be poked, prodded and observed for the second time in twenty-four hours. Marethari was muttering under breath the whole time. She took off Makatza's bracelet, she traced the runes and slipped it back on.
'Well it seems that Makatza is still in there,' she confirmed. 'I know what has happened,' she said letting Makatza go.
'Can it be fixed?' Garrett asked, Makatza slunk back to her seat between Fenris and Hawke, she laid down and put her head on Fenris' knee. Everyone else be damned, I'm fucking miserable. Bubble woofed reassuringly from the other side of Hawke, she whined a reply.
'Yes it can, but it will take time, you see Merrill used a change spell to revert the mirror to a time when it was completed, past or present,' she gestured Makatza, 'she is a mage, and mages can only learn what their bodies allow them, a couple of generalisations at most. She is an elemental is she not? Stands to reason that she could learn to shape change as well.'
'That's forbidden by the Chantry,' Varric pointed out, 'apparently it's black magic or something.'
Marethari dismissed his claim with a wave of her hand, 'they overreact, it is simply very dangerous. Merrill's spell forced her body forward, to a time where she learned to change, maybe it is because of this accident that she learns how, we will never know. Now Merrill's blood influence has caused her to become trapped in this form, but the spell is weakening, once her body remembers her true form she will change back. But she will be susceptible to this new shape, if she doesn't learn to control the change she may turn when stressed or afraid.'
That doesn't sound good. But at least this is only temporary.
'So that's a relief,' Merrill breathed, her stiff shoulders relaxed as the guilt lessened.
'Not so fast child, there are complications.'
'Of course there are,' Fenris muttered.
'There is a reason that the magic is banned, spend too long in the form you will become it and not be able to return, it is like water, when poured into a jug it takes it's form, your mind is the same. Spend too long as a wolf and a true wolf she will become, you must all help her to keep her humanity,' Marethari said sadly.
Makatza felt the world drop away underneath her, I'll become a real wolf? I don't want to be a fake wolf! God I hope this spell wears away soon. Fucking blood magic! Fucking stupid magic, what the hell is it good for?
'We'll go to the circle,' Hawke cut in. 'I've helped Orsino, he will help me.'
'You can't take her there,' Varric said, 'the Templars would take one look and that would be it, I'm surprised that you manage to get away with it.'
Hawke shrugged, 'I promised that she would be back to normal, can you think of anything better?'
Varric shook his head defeated, Merrill looked more worried, as a blood mage she could be killed on the spot if they cottoned on. Makatza was intrigued she had never been to the Gallows and she interested, she knew they were apparently a prison for mages but it didn't stop her from being curious.
'Thank you for your help Keeper,' Hawke nodded.
'Any time child,' she replied.
They made their goodbyes and headed back into the city with a new determination.
Well I hope that explained a bit, it wasn't too much of an exciting chapter but it needed to be written, drop a review please! xx