"Isthalla, we're going in circles!" came his continuous, maddening whine from the back of the group… again. I tensed to hold back the threat tempting my lips and gritted my teeth instead. Morrigan's hand touched my shoulder.

"He is right," she confided. Then, glaring behind muttered, "No matter how annoying and repetitive the impart."

I breathed out hard from my nose and felt my ears twitch in aggravation. I knew we were going in circles. I had known this information for the past three hours, yet I was not fool enough to admit such to my jumpy companions. And more so I had felt the unpleasant presence of unwanted company lurking in the shadows.

"The trees are getting closer, I swear it," Alistair's voice complained from my left. He had materialized beside me and took on the duty of swatting at invisible tree branches grabbing at his face. I would have been pleased by the unhappy frown bequeathing his features were it not for my own immense displeasure.

The trees were a bit unnerving. Since entering the heart of the forest, I had heard nothing but whispers and an unnatural hum surrounding the wood. All but Zevran claimed I was mad - perhaps it was too high a frequency for the rest to hear. I certainly knew the difference between the raving woman inhabiting my mind and the sounds around me. This was not an imagined fear.

I came to a stop where the trees seemed to open up a fair amount - at least enough to give our group a bit of breathing room and pause to gather themselves. Everyone seemed to understand the unspoken call for a break and plopped down in whatever open space they could find. Bodahn and Sandal led the cart to the far side of the open expanse and began pulling down everyone's travel packs for food and water. I myself decided I needed a moment alone.

After waiting for the others to preoccupy themselves - Sten cornered by another tale of Leliana's, Wynne and Morrigan both assisting Sandal to look at the cart donkey's sore foot, and the rest busy with ration handouts - I turned and slipped through the underbrush to another part of the forest where I might clear my head.

As I walked away from the group I realized just how dark it had become. Wynne had sought to light a few torches to help us see through the falling sunlight, rather than deplete our magic in the chance we might encounter unfriendly parties in the forest. Away from the chatter and glow of our traveling camp, the world again was a dark monster opening its teeth to devour all that dared explore it.

I continued on until I found myself at a decent pace from the others, though within shouting distance should I find the need. I pressed cold fingertips to my bare arms, shuddered, then attempted to adjust my eyes to the fading dark.

The woods were unnaturally still. For the first time I noticed the entire absence of life to the forest. Without the noise of my companions to drown out the warning, I could sense just how frightfully still the trees were. No small game, no birds, not even a chirp from the underbrush. A ghost wind rippled through the outlying trees and made the flesh of my body prickle in apprehension. That same feeling crawled up my spine - that we were not alone out here.

Need some fresh air, my lost little elf?

I perked and looked about. She sounded nearby. Narrowing my eyes, I concentrated until I could almost make out a figure's shape in the betraying darkness. She materialized effortlessly and drew forward in a weightless glide. Her dark hair fanned out behind her in a ripple of ink black. Her eyes were upon me, soft and smiling.

"I cannot find the way," I admitted, though my pride was not stung by this confession. She already knew. Smiling at me, she circled closer and ran a clawed index down the length of my jaw and circled around my collar until she stood adjacent. I turned to her.

It seems that way, my darling.

"Is there another way out?" I asked, more pressing. She knew how to leave these woods. She had to. A frown flitted across her face when she regarded my hostile thoughts. I corrected myself.

"You know there is something different about these woods, don't you?" I tried, my eyes narrowed. Her smile returned as she circled around my front again and danced before me.

Yes, of course.

You hear it, don't you?

The singing, the whispers.

The cries of the trees.

You hear them whispering

Little Isthalla

Her riddle-some speech ended with a cheerful cackle. She was toying with me, though there was a confirmation within her jest. The trees had been whispering - this I could not deny. She came forward then and placed her long fingertips on either side of my face, gently coaxing me forward. I obeyed as always, like a weak-minded dog at the will of its master. My mind fogged for just a moment, then she released me and I stumbled back.

Sweet Isthalla

Sweet, Foolish Isthalla

You will find what you seek

In the cries of your company

The darkness will find you

I raised a brow at her and crossed my arms. "What a poetic statement," I remarked. She did not like my sarcasm. Her dark hair evaporated into flames and lit her black eyes with the same fire, burning into my own.

"If you do not like my advice, then do not take it," she hissed at me. Though her physical presence disappeared, I continued to hear her venomous tone ringing in my head.

Go, foolish girl, if you think you are so smart

And stumble upon your own death

I was compelled to apologize for my actions when I heard the distinct and loud shuffle of underbrush behind me. I looked over my shoulder to find Alistair stumbling brutishly through the trees, no doubt catching every thorn and snag along the way. After a few more curses he pulled his leg free from some nasty tangle of roots and casually strolled forward. I turned back and dropped my arms back at my sides, attempting indifference.

"Who were you talking to?" he asked me while shaking a boot to free himself from some stray leaves. Once he was done foolishly twisting about to check for any more, he looked up to find my invisible companion. His brow crumpled when he could not.

"I was contemplating aloud," I decided with a tensed expression, still keeping my eyes to the spot where she had disappeared. So help me - if she thought it would be funny to appear in front of him…

For the moment, she had absented herself from my company. My subconscious was gratefully silenced.

"Oh," Alistair mouthed before settling himself beside me. I looked over to find he had importantly crossed his arms and surveyed the darkness as if he expected to unravel its secrets any more than I had myself. Stupid oaf.

"It's getting dark soon," he noted. Did he really expect to form a conversation this way? I sighed to voice my aggravation, then answered.

"As I can clearly see," I retorted.

"Do you really suppose we can keep walking through this after dark?" he asked me. I bristled in anger.

"No, Alistair. Obviously that's why I stopped to make camp, isn't it?" I snapped back at him. I found myself surprised by the genuine confusion on his face. I was getting irritable. My fun-loving and haughty spirit companion was no more use than the rest of this whining group. We were lost and hungry and tired and probably miles from the nearest inkling of civilization.

I sighed and pressed two fingers to the bridge of my nose, trying to collect myself.

"I'm sorry," I forced the words from my lips, "These woods are driving me mad." Alistair, as quickly as he was to be wounded, I commended for his short emotional attention span. He perked up in an instant and moved on from the conversation, eager to continue.

"As much as the rest of us, I suppose," he shrugged. "There's something… weird about this place, y'know?" he hunched into his shoulders and wrinkled his nose. "And after what you said about the trees whispering earlier-" he said in a half-laugh that I took as condescension, then glanced at me and coughed. "I mean, I just get the creeps from being here; it's like we're being watched or something."

As much as I hated to admit it, I felt the same way. I twisted my mouth into a detesting look of concern and again strained my eyes to the dark. My skin suddenly bristled when I swear I caught the sound of something in the brush just ten yards away. There were no creatures, at least not from what I'd explicitly listened for earlier. This was something else.

I waited and hunched while Alistair babbled on. When no other sounds obstructed the woods, I hesitantly straightened and turned to him.

"Really, Alistair, you mustn't scare like a frightened child from every little bump in the woods," I chided. "It's nothing more than a fo-"

I was not allowed to finish my sentence. Alistair's hand was on my shoulder and I only caught a second's glimpse of his terrified face before my own slammed into the ground. I heard his horrible scream, followed by an inhuman snarl as the creature twisted over him and dragged him to the ground.

I was on my feet in an instant with threatening hands raised towards his attacker. There was a split second - a brief shock of horror where I witnessed his torn arm gripped in the fangs of the beast. It's beady yellow eyes dared me to take its meal. I didn't mind tempting its offer.

With a quick swing and snap of my wrist I tore the Fade violently open and felt the rush of wind explode beneath my feet and uproot the monster. He released Alistair with a howl and was knocked back, though only for a moment. Alistair took this opportunity to jaggedly crawl to his feet and draw his sword, though his arm would be useless. He was bleeding too quickly - he would pass out before he could make one swing.

I stepped in front of him, then felt his good arm grab my shoulder again.

"Isthalla, your left!" he shouted. I swung around in time to see another beast thundering towards me on all fours, jaws open and claws ready. I raised up my hands in time to bind him in a temporary state of sleep, then turned back to the other creature, who had since taken the opportunity to climb back to his hind legs and tower over us both.

I had prepared myself for the inevitable lunge when an arrow struck it through the skull. Three more followed - two in its throat, and one in the eye. They materialized from the shadows like vapor, bows drawn and ready. Two more beasts I hadn't even seen suddenly burst from the brush, and I only had a moment to decide that I was of more use protecting Alistair and grudgingly stepped back to allow these strangers to take over.

They downed the beasts in only a few seconds. One managed to come so close it only fell with a fourth arrow to its skull, just inches from the feet of its opposition. I was still trying to help Alistair regain his balance (and consciousness) when the supposed leader of the intruders stepped forward.

"I am Mithra, and these are my scouts," she gestured to those behind her - another one flanked beside her. I surveyed their odd armor and tattoos, then reconciled that they were elves. "We are the Dalish," she answered my question before it could arise, "What are you doing in our forest?"

It was then that Alistair slumped again, finally too weak to stay conscious, and nearly yanked me to the ground with him.