Hunger's Melody

(Varric's POV)

The rest of the evening felt uncomfortable at best, Buttercup kept shooting the Seeker dirty looks and the Dragon Slayer was far more irritable than usual. Jay-Bird stuck by the woman for the most part, but after the taller of the two snapped when the elf asked a question she too abounded the warrior. They were leaving for the Storm Coast in the morning and things needed to cool down if anyone was going to sleep. Apparently, their newest recruit felt the same and had snuck a suspicious vial into Varric's pack when she thought the dwarf wasn't looking. He decided to play along and give it a few moments before putting his work away and pretending to discover the mysterious flask. He didn't plan on dragging Jay into whatever this mess was, but when he plucked the thing from his pack and acted surprised by its supposedly sudden appearance his Dalish friend made her way over to investigate.

"What's that? Yeah, buy some Acid vials at the Market?"

"Nope, didn't really pick up anything while we were out," he could just make out Buttercup's grin at the corner of his eye and sent a silent prayer to Andraste that Jay-Bird would find this funny.

"Huh, should yeah be opening that?"

"I like to live in the mentality that if someone was trying to kill me they'd do better than a mysterious flask."

"It could be a demon..."

"In a bottle?"

"Why not?"

"Because there's a giant hole in the sky and currently a thousand other easier ways to sick a demon on somebody."

"Fair enough," he took that as his cue and popped the cork, only for his visions to fill with pink as a wet squelch sounded from the vial. One minute he and Jay were standing by the kitchen perfectly clean and the next the two were covered head to toe in thick drippy frosting. Not exactly what he expected, but good enough. He glanced at his friend and watched as she wiped enough of the crap from her face so that she could see. Ice blue eyes staring at him in shock as her ears droop down from the frosting's weight. Varric just manged a smirk and was about to comment only to be interrupted by loud laughter bouncing off the safe house walls. Both currently goo coated Inquisition members slowly turned to spot the Seeker doubled over, tears streaming down her cheeks and the only smile let alone the biggest the Story Teller had ever seen plastered on to the woman's face.

The Rogue responsible for their current predicament sauntered over, ran her finger through the icing on Dune's neck before popping the glob of pink into her mouth and shooting the Seeker a wink.

(Dune's POV)

Dune's stomach felt sour, initially, she was fearing the begging of an illness. But after chewing on some ginger and having the effects wane and flow for seemingly no reason she gave up on that theory. She continued to guide her horse along the path while debating whether or not to ask Baldy for a remedy; only to flinch when a particularly irritating laugh and rich deep chuckle echoed from ahead. She glanced up at the rogue and warrior, ever since Sera's little prank the two had been neigh inseparable. Cassandra even invited the younger woman to share their tent, Dune had taken to volunteering for watch to wait out the pair's evening chatter. The scouts didn't seem to mind her company, though they did shoot her concerned and knowing looks every time she gritted her teeth at Sera's obnoxious giggling or stabbed her supper a little too aggressively whenever Cassandra would respond. One of the scouts, Cotton if she'd had to guess, spent most of their watch trying to keep Dune focused on her, though no amount of card games could distract the small warrior from the all too buddy buddy Inquisition members.

She had caught herself glaring at the back of Sera's head as she waved her arms about dramatically and gave the Seeker a friendly shove. The two had only known each other for a few days and yet, were acting like they had grown up together. Dune couldn't help, but curse under her breath. Cassandra had tried to kill the fool on their first meeting and the rogue had gotten over it remarkably quickly. It took Dune weeks before she was even on tentative friendly speaking terms with Cassandra, she couldn't understand how the elf had let things go so fast. The Seeker hit like an angry druffalo and she knew that from experience.

Dune had taken to spending her evenings as far away from camp as possible sparring Blackwall, which wasn't anywhere near enough distance to ignore the others as Cassandra had berated the smaller warrior for running off out of her line of sight. The previous night a particularly loud round of chuckles had made Dune lose her cool and she cringed at the memory. Blackwall had already been relatively worn during their sparing, Dune's strikes coming rapidly as well as aggressive and the man far more used to sparring the much more collected Seeker. But, after a whispered joke and the loud result Dune had seen red. She went from sloppily swinging Baxter and trying to work out some unbridled rage to calculated and murderous in seconds. Unfortunately for the Warden, he was the one at the end of her emotional slip. She had blitzed him. Switching to fly by his shield arm last second and swung her blade with such force that he flew off his feet and collided with one of the logs by the fire. There had been a booming clang as his armour came into contact with the deadwood and the wheezing gasp from his lungs clued everyone in to the fact that the warrior had been winded. Dune had apologized profusely as her face glowed red and Blackwall continued to compliment her on the hit but humbly requested that she find a different sparring partner.

Now the warrior had nothing to distract her and as the party pulled their steads off the road Dune quickly snatched the empty water skins from Cotton and made to go fill them. Cassandra called out and ask where she thought she was going. The elf sighed as she tried to come up with an excuse for the Seeker to let her wander off, only for Varric to save her.

"Don't worry Seeker, I'll go with her."

"Last time the two of you wandered off together you led three large bears back to camp."

"True, but the scouts haven't picked up on anything but a couple stray dogs since we left Denerim and I'm pretty sure that me and Jay-Bird can handle ourselves against some mutts," the Storyteller replied. Cassandra merely grunted in response but did not continue to protest as she turned to tend to her stead and Dune sent out a silent prayer as quick short strides trotted to catch up with her. Neither talked until they reached the tree line, Dune tossing a quick thanks over her shoulder before perking up her ears as she tried to locate the source of a nearby stream.

"I figured that you wanted some space," he said sounding tired.

"I did," she rasped back before leading the dwarf towards a relatively small water source.

"You know I've seen something like this happen before."

"A Dalish elf and dwarf stumbling through the woods looking for a stream to fill close to ten canteens?"

"No, I mean what's going on with you and the Seeker-"

"Nothin's going on with me an' Cass'!"

"Really?"

"Yup."

"Are you sure?"

"I-"

"Because last I checked nothing didn't cause people to glare at someone like they were trying to set their hair on fire."

"I ain't-"

"Look," he placed a hand on Dune's arm and she turned to face him. "Just listen ok? I've seen this sort of thing happen before and I'm pretty sure how I know this song and dance goes."

"Then skip to the end," she said as she shrugged out of his grip. "If you don't let me tell the whole story it won't end how you want it to Jay-Bird." Dune threw her head back and let out a long exasperated sigh before gesturing for him to continue.

"Fine Era'Falon share your experience."

"Alright if you insist," she pinched the bridge of her nose before stalking forward and forcing Varric to jog after her. "Anyways, like I was saying I've seen this sort of thing happen before. Remember Daisy?"

"The elf who couldn't wield a bow to save 'er life?"

"That'd be the one. Though what you didn't know was she left her Clan to join our merry band of misfits. Gave up freedom and relatively clean mountain air to live in the Kirkwall Alienage."

"What really?"

"Yes, would you stop interrupting me? If you keep cutting me off we'll never get to the end and no life lessons will be learned," Dune frowned but nodded for him to continue. "Alright, so she left everything to join us and Hawke was well aware of that. The woman spent the majority of her time after Daisy moved in at the Alienage just making sure that our newest member was settling alright. I'm pretty sure that she spent the most of those first two weeks with the Dailish, was around the elf more than her own family and sure as shit spent more time there than with anyone else in the party. They grew close really quick and all Hawke would talk about when not with Daisy was Daisy-"

"I don't only talk about Cass'-"

"What did we say about interruptions?"

"Right sorry," he shot her a look before carrying on. "One day Hawke makes her way to the Alienage and an elf who'd lived there had worked up the courage to talk to Daisy. The two about hit it off right away and Hawke couldn't figure out why. It didn't take her long to start resenting her friend. She stopped visiting Daisy or even taking her out on missions do you know why?"

"No."

"It's because she was jealous, Hawke was jealous that somebody else was getting Daisy's attention. But the problem is the more envious she became the more she avoided Daisy. All of us were pretty sure that the elf was gonna pack up and leave, head back to her clan because of Hawke's continued cold shoulder. Andraste's tits we even had a betting pool going on how many more days the mage would last-"

"Wait mage?"

"What did we agree on-"

"Yeah I'm sorry, but mage?"

"Yeah-"

"A Dalish mage left 'er clan to join you idiots?"

"I take offence to that!"

"Says the man who went on an expedition to the deep roads lead by his brother with a history of betrayin' his own family."

"Ok, you know what? Fair."

"I can't believe the clan let her leave-"

"They actually encouraged her too-"

"What? Why?"

"That's a different story for a different life lesson, where was I... oh yeah. So we were all ready for Daisy to pack up and call it quits. One night a few days later we were in the Hanged Man playing Wicked Grace, well most of us were playing Hawke was in the process of trying to turn her blood into liquor. Anyways there we were watching our friend dig herself a deeper pit than ever before and all of a sudden the tavern door slams open and wouldn't you know it's Daisy and the woman looked pissed. She storms over to our table calls Hawke every name in the book grabs the drunk ass hole by the ear and drags her out of the bar. All of us were shocked and do you know what Hawke told me happened later?"

"They went shoppin'?"

"Yes, they... what no! Are you even paying attention."

"I am, just fucking with you. What happened?"

"Smartass, anyways Daisy had reamed Hawke out and told her to grow the fuck up and start taking her on missions again. Hawke apologized after Daisy kicked her ass straight into next week and eventually things returned to normal. Hawke got over her jealousy and the two went back to being joined at the hip."

"That's a nice story but why are yeah telling me this?"

"Because the Seeker isn't like Daisy, she'll never go up to you and demand to know what's going on. It just isn't in her nature."

"Your point being...?"

"My point! Is that you need to either grow the fuck up and deal with Buttercup's presence or lose the Dragon Slayer forever. I'm not saying that you and the archer need to be the best of pals, but if you don't pull your head out of your ass and stop acting like a spoiled fucking brat, the Seeker will be nothing more than your bodyguard and we both know that you don't want that!"

"I-"

"Look," Varric sighed and scratched the side of his face before waving his hand. "I'm sorry for yelling, but someone needed to say it. I'll see you back at camp..." and with that, he turned and left her to finish filling the water-skins.

Dune took a little bit of time to consider Varric's advice. She didn't want to lose Cassandra their fragile friendship was quite new and had a lot of growing to do, but she generally enjoyed the Seeker's company. She liked their talks, making the taller woman smile and if she had to endure a relatively chatty rogue to continue it then by the gods she would heed the dwarf's words. She was growing to fucking hate Varric being right.

The Hike back to camp was short and she heard the dwarf's breathing before spotting him post up against a tree hiding just out of Cassandra's line of sight. He raised a brow as she approached and she sighed before nodding. He clapped her on the back as they made the rest of their journey back together. Once in camp, Varric wandered off to where ever he goes when he's done being all-knowing and Dune handed off the now filled canteens to Cotton. She was hesitant to say anything and opted to sit by the Seeker in silent solidarity instead. Cassandra shot her a small smile as she sat down and began caring for her gear while listening to the rogue prattle on. It didn't take long for Dune to drop her guard and relax, a lazy smile dancing across her lips. One particular raunchy joke from Sera had Cassandra grunting in disgust while Dune barked out wheezy laughter.

"Look at that, not too elfy there are you Lady Herald?" Sera asked while leaning over to shoot shorter woman a grin.

"What?"

"Yeah haven't said a word since we sprung, figured your head was crammed up a thousand years."

"Um... No?"

"Well can't be, shit the pisser," Sera gestured to a glaring mage sat across the fire.

"Acts the same thought that you were a judgy lot."

"Yeah thought that me an' Baldy were what? Conspirin'?"

"Course, can't blame me with your funny walk," Dune chuckled and shook her head.

"The two of us don't exactly see eye to eye."

"That's a shock isn't it, though I guess now that you're talking you don't sound elfy. Voice is all wrong."

"My Clan used to say the same thin', drove Deshy mad."

"An elfy elf who doesn't like being elfy, Andraste's tits! You ain't pulling me?"

"Naw was voted the worst Dalish three years runnin'."

"Ha! You're not taking the piss are yeah?"

"Meh... depends on who yeah ask," Sera threw back her head and laughed at that.

"You know what Lady Herald? You're alright," Sera shoved Cassandra by the shoulder and caused the taller warrior to bump into Dune.

"Guess you were right about her Lady Seeker." A light blush dusted Cassandra's cheeks as she rolled her eyes.

"I told you that Dune was more than she seamed."

"Oh Dune now is it? Not Herald? You two real close ain't yeah?" Dune could feel her face flush as the Seeker turned away, though she met Sera's raised brow with her signature grin.

"Real close, we slew a dragon once!"

"Really-"

"We did no such thing!"

"Well, it was a bear named dragon."

"I knew that you were pulling!"

"Hey, it was a really big bear. Big enough to carry me at least."

"You road a bear? A bit touched aren't yeah? But in a good way," Cassandra covered her eyes with her hand and let out a groan.

"Please do not encourage her..."

Dune was the first one to wake, something that had become quite a common occurrence ever since the parties stint in the Hinterlands. She slid underneath the tent's canvas, what noise she made muffled by the snores of her and Cassandra's newest bunkmate. She easily dodged past the horses and shot Cotton a subtle wave, the scout merely nodded as the warrior passed. With bow slung across her back Dune was debating on whether or not to go hunting or simply explore the nearby forest before the others awoke. Though as she made her way to the tree line something caught her eye, a carving midway up an evergreen's trunk. Stepping into the underbrush and pulling what branches were there aside she was able to decipher what was written.

"Felondin'isa Shia (Felondin's Path Roughly)? A trail marker?" She ducked past a few other trees and was able to find a thin dirt trail weaving between the trunks. "Hasn't been used in a while, but if the Southern clans are anything like my own this should cut straight through the woods," Dune smirked before turning and making her way back to camp, they might be able to beat Scout Harding to the Coast if her hunch was right.

(Varric POV)

He initially thanked Andraste for the return of his pony when they were leaving Heaven, horses were just far to high off the ground for Varric and he couldn't reach the stirrups on most saddles. Though now? He was regretting the change. That morning the dwarf awoke to find Jay-Bird cheekily waiting outside their tents. The Seeker hadn't even been able to ask the elf what she had done before the smaller warrior announced that she had gone exploring and found something. After leading them to a hidden relatively unused path, while ignoring the Dragon Slayer's lecture about running off unsupervised, and stating that it would probably cut their travel time in half. A couple of the scouts had done a brief cover of it and deemed that the thing did appear to cut straight through the woods proper and now here they were. Travelling single-file through the overgrown hunting pass, everyone enjoying the supposedly shorter trek that they were now on, everyone but him. As his stead was short enough that twigs and thorns from the nearby underbrush kept scraping against his legs and occasionally poking him in the eye. His pony kept huffing in what he could only assume was annoyance and due to the nature of how they had to travel the Story Teller had a front-row seat to whenever Hero's horse relived itself. Varric almost let out a cheer when their forward scout returned and announced that he had found a place for them to camp. The urge to weave around everyone in front of him and race ahead was strong, but he managed to keep his composure, at least until he spotted the clearing. He was first to arrive, dismount and unload.

"What's wrong Varric?" Jay-Bird asked as she trotted up to him before dismounting herself, "not a fan of the scenery?"

"You know, I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy watching a horse shit and now I know for a fact that it ain't for me." The woman chuckled before shaking her head and wandering off, probably to bother the Seeker or coarse Buttercup into causing some trouble. He was just happy to be off the road for the night and even volunteered to take first watch with the scout who had lead them to their sanctuary. That night it was quiet, as most of their nights on the road had been since parting with the caravan, and the clearing they were in provided him with enough light to jot down some story ideas. He might be able to see through the darkness with his dwarven eyes adapted for the dark caverns of the Deep Roads, but details and colour were still impossible to pick out. He worked for a good hour before the shuffling from his watch partner was finally enough to fully distract him.

"Is there a reason why you're so jumpy?" Varric asked inadvertently causing the young Scout to twitch slightly and swallow hard.

"Just quiet is all," came the lad's shaky reply.

"Yeah kid, if you hadn't noticed it's a bit late for a show."

"I know but," the kid sighed. "There should be something. Moon creatures rustling or at the very least the breeze moving the plant life, but it's just silent."

"You don't say..." Varric took a moment at that. He closed his notes and actively listened, nothing was tipping him off before. He had done enough shady dealings in Kirkwall to spot the difference between unsettling noises and just general jargon; to be alerted even when not fully focused. He'd never really payed attention to silence before, but the kid was right. It was far too still.

"Sister Nightingale always says that silence is usually quickly followed by violence..." The Story Teller hummed at that and the two of them spent the rest of their watch on edge. Nothing happened, but Varric could have sworn that he had caught sight of something tall and quick at the corner of his eye when going to wake Hero, but when he turned to look nothing was there.

(Cassandra POV)

The Seeker was unnerved, after the reveal of how watch went the previous night and the goings-on, or lack thereof, she had begun to notice the eerie silence that greeted them during the day. The scouts that remained after one had volunteered to be their Forward along with the Herald and Solas were both jumpy. No one was speaking, even Varric's usually chatty nature had been altered by their current predicament. Blackwall kept his hand on his blade and Sera showed to be quite proficient with steering her horse while keeping her bow drawn. Everyone was on edge and Cassandra was no exception. She had insisted that Dune ride behind her after they received the news that things weren't quite what they seemed. She would occasionally glance back at the Herald, the woman would always be staring off into the very nearby tree line ears thrust upwards and already large eyes impossibly wide.

They had voted to continue towards the Storm Coast the trail should have lead to them arriving well before evening, but do to the party's frequent stops and slower than average cautious passe they were nowhere near their goal. It felt like an eternity passed before the sun began to set, the Seeker sighed and relaxed slightly, expecting the Scout or maybe a search party to return. Having no desire to spend one more night in these woods. Though relief never came, as the dappled light barley breaking through the thick canopy began to vanish nobody else approached the party. Cassandra frowned before raising a closed fist and signalling for those behind her to stop. She called for one of the Scouts at the back and waited as the elven archer guided her thin relay horse threw the overgrown brush at the side of the road.

"Thoughts?" She asked upon the Scout's arrival.

"Jason should have returned by now Lady Seeker, but I hesitate to wait for him longer given what little we know about this area. " The woman stated ears drooping slowly, worried for her friend but the ability to ask questions would come later when they were safe. "I believe that we passed a break in the trees not far back, I do not like the idea of retracing our steps, but given the quickly approaching sunset..."

"It's probably for the best," Cassandra nodded before signalling for those behind her to turn around, she heard a few grumbles of protest though, for the most part, the others stayed quiet. The Herald did meet her gaze and shot her a pleading look, Cassandra dismissed her friend's silent protest with a wave before guiding Caspar into a canter after the rest.

Setting up camp that night was a tense affair, most barley moving and Cassandra found herself hesitating before snapping at them to finish. It would be nigh impossible to set up their tents in the dark, being that only one of them could actually see in pitch. The Herald and Scout she spoke to volunteered for first watch, she bid them good night and prayed that they didn't encounter anything while the rest slept. Though the Maker chose to leave her prayers unanswered that night as she was brought to consciousness by violent shaking. Before she could muster the coherency to vocalize her protest a dirty palm was slapped over her mouth. Wide panicked icy eyes bore into Cassandra's own. It was the Herald practically straddling her. She couldn't make out much in the darkness and went to remove the elf's hand only for the grip to tighten and Dune to lean forward.

"Yeah need... to be... silent and... still," the other woman hissed quietly into her ear. "We... are not... alone..." That's when she noticed that whom she thought was Sera was much too tall, their shadowed form coming across almost mangled as silver sheened eyes bore into her own.

(Dune POV)

Being raised Dalish had it's perks, she learned to pick out the difference between a nearby stream and coming storm by sent alone at quite a young age. How to tan hides and stealthily keep up with the herds during hunting season as to not spook the Clan's potential super. Though one thing that she had picked up in her later years, after Varric's city burned and the Templars flooded into her home was how to sleep lightly and how to pack quickly.

What woke her wasn't of any concern, it was the fact that she fell asleep in the first place. She had never slipped on watch before and was startled to find herself blinking sleep from her eyes. She looked over to ask the scout how long she'd been out, but the woman was nowhere to be found. Dune stood and wondered towards where she last recalled seeing the other woman perched nervously with bow drawn and wide eyes focused on the tree line. A hissing wheeze stopped her investigation. It was quiet, so much so that most might ignore the noise and blame their imagination, Dune knew better. She held still and searched for the scout where she stood, ears straining and occasionally picking up on shallow wet breaths. A sound she regretfully recognized.

Dahabana'Inan a hunter of her clan had been thrown from the back of his mount, the beast having been spooked by a snarling wolf springing from the underbrush. His body soared threw the air and skewered itself onto a jutting branch. His slushy gasping breaths the last sound he made before his lungs filled with blood and he drowned in his own essence. She spotted a trail of red glistening in the moonlight and followed it with her gaze until she met Cotton's own, the woman's arm stretched out towards Dune, blood dripping from her lips and broken fingers grasping, no pointing to something behind the warrior before her beaten form was pulled the rest of the way into the undergrowth. Dune turned slowly, the hairs on the back of her neck rising as grey flesh stretched taught over a warped spine came into view. The creature's gangly figure twitching sporadically as it sniffed the log that she had been sleeping against moments prior. It's head swaying from side to side like that of a serpents, what little light there was catching it's face when it's neck twisted violently in her direction.

Ears were pointed like that of her kin, she made out faded markings moving down from it's forehead and chin to cover the rest of it's form with murky green lines. Vallaslin stretched and worn nearly beyond recognition. It's lips had rotted away teeth long and jagged looking more like shards of stone then anything that should be spilling out of somethings mouth. It's nose was a skeletal hole marking where one should be and it's eyes. Hollow pale dead the last thing she would see, as Dune froze unable to flee from the ghoul slowly clawing it's way towards her. It made no sound as it's head continued to sway and Dune swallowed hard before raising a hand and clamping it over her mouth, trying to keep her wheezing breath from the air. She closed her eyes as the thing neared and waited for the end, but it never came. Dune's eyes snapped open and she glanced to her left the creature was right next to her, it's towering body coloured a silver-grey as it's elongated neck continued to bob and weave. It kept it's path towards where Cotton had been stolen and Dune felt her shoulder's sag. It couldn't see. As silently as possible Dune picked her way threw the camp to her tent, she pulled the tarp back and froze. Another one slightly smaller but just as monstrous in appearance was twisted over the loudly snoring form of Sera. Dune needed to think fast to save the rogue's life, she reached inside the tent grabbing hold of Cassandra's shield and chucked it into the brush. The clang of metal against wood as it made contact with a tree attracted two more of the beasts. They materialized from the darkness and raced past Dune on all fours, the one in their tent looked right at her, hands clamped over her mouth and eyes wide as it's visage slowly bobbed inches from her own. Only for another clang to sound from where she had thrown the shield and it to brush past her at the noise. The ghoul paused as it's gnarled shoulder came in contact with Dune's armoured chest, but she was just able to duck out of a probing clawed hand's way before the creature opted to investigate what it's brethren were after.

Dune backed into the tent on her ass, hands still covering her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks. She was shaking to the point that she couldn't see straight. She grabbed the canvas and threw it shut before diving towards Sera and clamping her hand over the woman's mouth. Sera woke with a start and made to grab at Dune, but the Dalish used her strength to her advantage and kept the rogue still.

"We... D... Don't have... much time...," She whispered harshly as she leaned over Sera. "Grab y... your bow... and duck under the canvas... go wake the boys and be careful... they can't see unless you make noise... I'll get Cass..." The other woman nodded before Dune released her, the blond managed to just get her weapon before they heard large footsteps rapidly approaching the tent. Sera looked at her ears forward and eyes full of fear. Dune cursed before grabbing the archer by her shirt and shoving her out the tent's side.

She dove over to Cassandra before the same ghoul from before burst back into their space.

(Varric's POV)

Varric had received some rude awakenings in his time, most of which were curtsy of Hawke. The almost always bloody lady towering over his tiny bed in the Hangman's Tavern screaming at him to grab Bianca because shit had hit the wall. This was new. Buttercup was roughly shaking him with an arm slapped aggressively over his face as she whisper yelled to Hero to leave his gear and grab his blade. Chuckles was pale and cursing as he crouched peering underneath the side of their tent.

"How many?" The mage asked.

"Don't know," Sera hissed back. "It's gone all to piss, lady Herald got me up and shoved me into the fire."

"That bad?" Hero's asked, voice holding a light tone.

"This ain't a fucking laugh, bloody creatures are all over and the scouts are gone..." Varric shoved Sera off him before grabbing Bianca and checking his ammunition.

"What's the plan?" He hissed at the archer as he shuffled around the tent only to get smacked by the woman.

"Don't have one and be quiet! Things can't see, but they can hear!"

"Shit..." "Yeah..."

"What about the mounts?" Hero chimed in as he peeked out the front of the tent.

"Still tied up by the road as far as I know, why?"

"Well if the scouts are gone then we don't need their mounts right?"

"Shit no, I see where you're going with this."

"Piss off or fill me in, but pick one and do it quick yeah?"

"I believe," Chuckles stated finally decided to join the conversation. "They are suggesting that we sacrifice some of the steeds to the Sil'Laim Sil'Ava and in the panic flee."

"It's a plan, but one problem it's piss fucking dark out, how are we supposed to get anywhere?"

"I'll handle that Buttercup, dwarfs are known for navigating pitch after all."

(Cassandra's POV)

Cassandra could feel Dune shaking as she clung to her, the creature's wiping neck and twitchy head creaking towards their direction. She didn't recognize the beast but was able to make out purple swirls dancing along it's melted flesh similar to the designs plastered along the Herald's skin. Whatever this thing was it used to be Dalish and if the claws coming from it's knuckles were anything to go by it was deadly. The Seeker reached with her right hand hidden by Dune's form and snaked up underneath her pillow where she kept an emergency blade. Though when she gripped the handle she shifted the woman on top of her and the beast cocked it's head before lunging.

Everything happened in seconds. She flipped their positions and long claws racked across her shoulder and neck before she sprung upwards off the balls of her feet and logged the dagger threw the beasts chin and the tip blade came jutting out the top of it's head. Black iquor soaked her clothes and drenched the Herald where she was lying as Cassandra twisted the blade and pulled it out from the creature's visage. Dune sprung upwards, her hair brushing against the Seeker's bare and bleeding collar bone, catching the beast before it's body hit the ground.

"Get... your sword... and let's... go," she hissed as she guided the twisted corps down silently. "Sera's... waking the... boys..."

"The scouts?" Dune didn't reply, so Cassandra assumed the worst. She leapt to her feet only to sway and grip at her wounds with a hiss. Sticky read rivulets coated her arms and mixed with black putrid slime as she collapsed. The Herald cursed before grabbing the Seeker's blade with one hand and slipping into the taller woman's side. She took most of her bodyguard's weight as they stumbled towards the tent's exit. Cassandra clinging to Dune as she held her knife in a white-knuckled grip. A shrike of panicked horses bounced around the clearing, but the hollow clicking from behind is what drew the Seeker's attention. When she turned and peered back into the tent she could just make out the twisted corpse twitching as it's chest lurched upwards and it's shattered head turned to stare them down.

"We have to go now!" She whispered, Dune cursed and began to hobble them across the camp. They made it halfway before something barrelled into them, the elf rolled them as they fell and cried out seconds later. The surprisingly lively corpse of their hunter had sunk it's claws into the smaller woman's side. It's jaw hanging open as a grey tongue slashed back and forth flicking iqure with each lash. Suddenly it's head snapped back once again as a bolt struck it between it's sightless eyes. Hooves crashed into it before it could regain it's footing as Caspar charged into the fight. His massive body rising into the air before crashing down onto the things head. Crushing the creature and leaving the body decimated.

"Sorry for borrowing you're mount," Blackwall called from the back of her stead as the horse chuffed.

(Varric's POV)

The hike out of the winding woods was far worst then their stroll in, they began with five horses the Seeker and Blackwall having doubled up. The taller of the two refusing to let Hero steer her stead as they galloped towards the exit a loose rope slipped between each horses stirrup as Varric guided them threw the darkness. They had to stop three times to cut horses loose, the soft thuds and distant creaking of their pursuers gaining ground causing them to stall in their escape. They'd developed a system relatively quick. Whoever was at the back dismounted grabbed their horse by the reigns and turned it quickly before Buttercup fired a shot into the beast's hunches and sent it careening with frightened cries back the way they had come. After that they would slow to a trot, trying to keep quiet while waiting for the ghouls to take the bait only to sprint once again when the wounded animal's screams ceased, repeat.

It wasn't long before they ran into a problem. Jay-Bird was too injured to continue on foot and Hero had to trade spots with her. The entire switch slowed their escape to an itchy halt, the creatures nearing quicker then anyone wanted to admit as Hero slipped from the saddle and Jay struggled to climb the massive stead. Eventually, the Seeker hauled the elf up plopped the other woman down in front with clenched teeth and muffled curses. The Dragon Slayer then chucked her knife into their remaining horse and sent it panicked sprinting off to the right. Varric could see a beast in the brush change it's course and took off after their offering.

Not that it would buy them much time, they had been slowed right down to a slog with two people stranded on the ground. Buttercup and Hero clung to the saddles as the party continued onward. Stumbling and tripping threw the forest as they stuck close to the one person who could see.

Though eventually Varric too had to dismount, Hero caught him as they had no time to wait for the short dwarf to clambered off. Jay passed down her reins and Hero caught them before placing a hand on Varric's shoulder. He chanced a look at their wounded while unsheathing Bianca, the Seeker was fully lying on the smaller warrior. Her arms loosely wrapped around the elf's waist and if it wasn't for Jay bird's death grip on the Dragon Slayer's shirt he doubted that the woman would still be in the saddle. Things were not looking good, they had very few weapons, no one was wearing armour, their two heaviest hitters were out of commission and most couldn't see. It was his job to lead them out of hell; to say that the pressure was intense would be an understatement. Varric wondered how Hawke was able to do this bullshit for so many years, being the one person everyone seemed to constantly rely on to save the day. He made a mental note to ask.