"Destruction"

Liz felt it before she heard it, to be honest. In the distance, calling out to her. She'd gone to investigate, still in her crow form up in the air. Smoke rose and the trees gave way to farms and a burning village. Raiders, from the looks of it, threw torches on the roofs and gave chase. Looting. Screaming. Pain. Please help, please help. Why?

She could hear their internal cries for help. For everything to stop. Their homes. Their lives. Their family. Gone. Run. Run.

Help? Protect?

But she felt it again, the dull ache in her chest. Why should she? She would likely just get killed, in the process. It's not like anything she'd ever done in this world has helped any. What has this world ever done for her? Other than hurt. Maim. Steal away everything that she ever loved?

So why?

The young mage was yanked out of her self loathing when her sharpened vision caught sight of something near the town square of the little farming village. A woman, protecting her kids and telling them to run. Clothes torn as the raiders grabbed hold of her, keeping her still. Leering grins on their faces—their intent like sludge in her veins.

Something about that set the inner rage from before on fire.

'How dare they? These people are innocent. Just trying to live. How dare how dare HOW DARE!' She screeched inwardly, diving and transforming behind them. Her arm was through the back of the man's torso before he even got to say or do anything. His friends, who were too distracted by the woman to notice her sudden appearance. Too late, did they turn to see their buddy fall to the ground.

The hot blood gushed down her arm and splattered onto what remained of the brunette farmer's dress. Her body was frozen in terror as she stared up at the young mage, clothes a disheveled mess. Torn from their disgusting hands trying to grope at her.

Safe. She was safe, now. They wouldn't hurt her. Not if Liz had anything to say about it.

"Run." Liz said. She didn't have to say it twice.

Another group fell, almost easy pickings so long as she put enough power into her spell. If there ever was a time she was grateful for Athras' harsh teachings, it was now. At least this way, the villagers wouldn't get hurt by a stray bolt of electricity. The woman from before had long since gone, running after her children.

Good. These raiders were preying upon those weaker than them. She heard them. Felt them. They wanted to harm these people. Sought to take advantage of the rifts opening up and causing chaos.

Absolutely disgusting.

'Just trust that it will flow for you. Direct it. Don't force it.' She chanted Athras' teachings, watching the men fall at her feet. Blackened husks, still twitching. The smell of burnt flesh filled her nostrils and she fought the urge to vomit. Just a few more groups to go, then. The raiders were thinning out. Some were even turning tail to run and she heard screams about demons. Monsters.

It was always demons, wasn't it?

She felt a tug, causing her to blink. She suppressed the urge to wince at the familiarity of it, hoping that he wasn't too mad about her fleeing for the time being. She turned in the direction of the tug and almost turned to run the other way. Especially with the way Sera and Cole were both looking at her like—like.

Her eyes flashed with hurt as she dissipated her spell, feeling her hair fall at the sides of her face.

Cole was looking at her like she was a monster, too.

Of all the people to look at her that way, she never expected him to. Never him. Instinctively, she lowered the wall to their connection. Hoping to explain. But he flinched back, holding his daggers tightly.

'Am I really that monstrous?'

"Y-Y-You. D-Did you do this?!" Sera called out, aiming her bow at her. Liz gritted her teeth, but focused on the small group behind them. The raiders. Did they not hear them!? "I knew it! I knew you would-"

Liz pulled at her inner reserves, opening her connection to the Fade once more. Feeling it widen and her mana flow forth, brimming with power. Her hair began to float, again. 'Snap!' 'CRACK!'

She flew forward, her version of the Fade Step. She appeared between the group of men and manifested the whips she'd seen Pride demons use. The little mage barely dodged a mace as it swung at her in retaliation, surprise on their features.

They obviously hadn't expected her to appear next to them so quickly.

With a flick of her arms, both whips snapped and sent a few of them stumbling back. One had been unable to move and his arm fell to the ground, lopped completely off. The blood sprayed like a macabre sort of waterfall, hot against her skin. Liz tried not to gag at it all and barely succeeded.

'I hate this world and what it's done to me...'

"What the Hell are you guys doing, help me!" She yelled back with urgency, ignoring their dumbstruck faces. A talk for another time.

The young mage let out a snarl that could rival a great cat, barely registering the blow to her side as it sent her skidding to the side. Just as the man was about to send his mace toward her face, which she was ready to dodge, two arrows hit the guy in the head. A splatter of blood spewed forth as he fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

She felt Cole's presence behind her as he danced forth with all the grace of a feline. When focused, he seemed to have a sort of strut. A way about him as he sliced and stabbed, the quickest way to kill an enemy. As painless as he could make it.

Even with his enemies, he was the very essence of Compassion. Without even thinking.

Sera pelted the men with her arrows. It was not lost on Liz, during her quick glimpses in her direction, that the young woman looked like she was ready to puke. She wasn't sure if it was because of her horrid cooking earlier or perhaps Liz herself.

A stab of guilt scratched at her insides, but she ignored it. 'Crack!'

More screams.

Fade Step. 'Crack!'

Without even thinking, she threw her arm forward toward Cole as a few men closed in. Lightning encased his body and a purple-blue sheen appeared over his form. Much like Solas' barriers. Huh.

It wasn't long before the rest began to flee. A lot were already dead, either riddled with arrows or cut up from Cole's deadly dance. The others? Sides seared shut. Chests blown wide open. Limbs lopped off. It was absolute carnage. These raiders weren't nearly as well equipped as they should have been, fighting against the three of them.

Cole looked heavily injured, despite her efforts to keep him shielded. She purposefully didn't do so for Sera. Not because of her grudge against her or any form of anger, by any means. But based on how their relationship was, right then. Casting magic in her direction would only cause more issues than needed.

The three panted, looking absolutely exhausted. The only sound left being the crackling of buildings as the fire began to completely engulf them. Liz swallowed, turning away from the red doom and ignoring the way the heat seemed to cause her skin to feel like it was bubbling up. Even though it wasn't.

'It's just in my head. It's not real. It's not real.'

As calm as she could, she walked toward Cole. The scraggly rogue was standing further away from the buildings in the middle of some dead enemies.

It didn't get passed her how he seemed to flinch when his gaze caught sight of her bare feet.

"….Cole?" Liz rasped, hands coming up to cup his injured face. To attempt what little healing magics she knew. But he just turned away, gritting his teeth. He was angry.

'That's fair...'

She didn't blame him. But it still hurt.

The little mage heard the sounds of feet approaching. Just as she turned, catching a glimpse of Sera and her absolutely livid/terrified face, Liz opened her mouth. To apologize, maybe? To what? What could she say?

She didn't get to, though. She barely even saw the fist as it collided with the side of her face, sending her onto the ground.

And holy shit did that woman know how to throw a mean punch.

"What the FUCK is wrong with you!?" The blonde elf screeched, thin frame looming over Liz. Sera wasn't done, though, as she nearly dove on top of the freckled girl and began to punch and kick her. Not even giving her time to recover.

At first, Liz began to squirm and try to push her off. But… then she remembered that she'd literally tried to kill the woman. Because why? Guilt? Anger? That was no excuse. Thinking it is one thing. Trying is another. So the little mage stopped fighting back and let Sera continue to beat on her. Her ribs. Her stomach. Her face, a couple of times.

She just stared up at the woman, wide blue eyes brimming with tears. Tears of anger? Resentment? Hate? They fell onto her face and they felt like bitterness, animosity, fury. 'It should have been you. It should have been you.'

Liz caught a glimpse of Cole, pain on his features. She could tell he wanted to stop Sera, but he was torn. Or perhaps frozen in place. She couldn't tell. 'Do I deserve this? Is that why you're looking at me like that?' She wondered.

The question seemed to cause the rogue to appear as though he ate a lemon, his body immediately grabbing Sera's arms. He held her back as she continued to scream. Still wanting to attack the little mage. She bore her teeth, much like an animal would. The orange glow from the fires of the burning buildings danced across Sera's face. Highlighting her expression even further.

Anger, abhorrence—a blazing sort of fury.

"Yes… it should have been me." Liz warbled, still limp on the ground. She could feel the blood running down her face and her nose had hurt so much that it went numb. Probably broken.

"Sera, please." Cole said, gripping her tightly. His voice cracked and she heard his hurt.

'Gods I'm an idiot….'

"Fuckin' fight back, ya cock suckin' piece of shite! Ya ain' got 'ny more of tha' magic shite, now! Fuckin' fight back!" She screeched, still struggling against Cole. The scraggly rogue refused to let her go. She was wrong, though. Her body felt exhausted, but she still felt like she could keep going. Her magic felt nearly limitless, ever since her realization. But she didn't say anything.

"I'm sorry." She said, instead.

"Shut the fuck up!"

"I'm sorry, Sera." Liz spoke again, shaking. She stopped to let her yell it again, then continued, "Would killing me make you feel better?" And she honestly debated letting her, to be honest.

Cole made a noise of protest from behind Sera, holding her tighter.

"Might. Ya think I ain't notice how these raiders were conveniently killed tha same way the ones that killed Auri were? All of 'em?!" Sera wasn't struggling so hard against Cole, anymore. But she let out a mirthless laugh, "Back then ya killed 'em all, didn' you? All of 'em. Even the ones forced to work with the group. All of 'em."

Liz gripped the grass as she looked up at the furious elf, eyes wide, "But… I didn't..."

"Bullshit! Ya knew! YOU KNEW AND YOU STILL DID IT! Revenge is one thing, but that? It was a slaughter. This… I know, now. If I didn' see this. Today. This. Yer a feckin' monster. A MONSTER!"

She wasn't wrong… but the words still stung worse than the blows from just moments before.

Liz just peered at the ground, thinking back on it. She did regret what she did. Revenge isn't the right thing to do, even though a majority of the bandits in that group did deserve it. If, perhaps, she had stopped to make sure they were all working with them willingly. Thought before did. Maybe… just maybe she wouldn't have just-

Sera must have been looking into it using her Red Jennies. That's how she knew. Shit.

But there was no point in thinking of the what if's and the alternate possibilities. Liz had done something awful and it was time she reap the consequences. She knew that Leliana knew about her sordid past. There was no way she didn't. She still didn't know why the Spymaster hadn't approached her about it. Was it being held just in case she needed blackmail? Did she deem her a nonthreat? Was it because of the agreement she had with Maxwell?

Sera didn't even look pissed, anymore. It was more disgust, than anything, as she looked down at Liz. Her body went slack and Cole eventually ended up letting her go.

He was still quiet and it bothered her.

'Why are you quiet? Could you at least… talk? Even if to yell at me, too. Just… don't… ignore me.' She thought, body quaking.

"An' now, ya tried to kill me." Sera said, wiping away at her face furiously, "Yer stupid attempt at revenge can't bring 'er back. So, no. I won' kill you. I ain't you."

Sera stomped passed Liz, leaving her sitting on the grass and looking at a very still and silent Cole.

His icy gaze said many things. Disappointment, anger, fear. All of which, she reminded herself, was reasonable. But it still hurt…

"Cole." Liz's voice was small as he knelt beside her, hands coming up to cup her cheeks gently. His thumbs brushed against her newly forming bruises and wiped away blood and tears. When they were this close, she could hear the worry radiating off of him. But it was almost completely clouded by his pain and anger. Directed at her. "I'm sorry. What I did was wrong."

"Yes. It was." He said gruffly, though not unkindly. Even when he was angry, he was so gentle and soft with her. Liz's chest clenched when he pulled out a cloth and wiped her face off a bit.

The duo was quiet as the fire began to taper out, unable to find anything more to eat. Liz felt a fresh wave of tears bubble forth, but she refused to break. Not here. Not now. Perhaps later. Cole finished, setting the dirtied cloth in her hands. A frown still marred his face and she knew. She really did fuck up if Cole, of all people, was this pissed at her.

"Don't leave, again." He rasped and it almost sounded like a demand, icy gaze pinning her down.

Liz felt her shoulders slump and she looked away guiltiliy, "I won't."

"Good." His clipped speech still dug into her like a poisoned knife. Did he hate her now? Would he eventually leave her, too? Once he realized how awful she was? She certainly felt like she deserved it. She didn't deserve him. She didn't—his hand gripped her chin and pulled her face up, gaze meeting his just before his lips crashed into hers.

It was all tongue, teeth—taking her breath away. An action that she returned fervidly. Liz could taste the desperation, fear and a hint of something else… an emotion she couldn't quite place. It was hot, like a blazing inferno. Cole pulled her against him, chests flush together as one of his hands held the back of her head. Gripping her hair and refusing to release her. Not that she wanted him to. Oh, no.

His tongue claimed her mouth and the heat in her chest blossomed as if he'd dumped oil on a fire. A fire that dropped to her stomach and left her trembling in his arms. Liz knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that if she were standing her knees would have given out.

It was unlike anything she'd ever felt. A kindling she never knew she even had. A fire inside of her, threatening to melt her inside out. Liz whimpered, out of breath, as he pulled away and looked at her with an intensity that caused her heart to stutter. That. That was not a look she ever thought she'd see on Cole's face. Cole, compassion and kindness. But it wasn't the kind of possessive look that Despair had given her. No, this wasn't that.

It was anguish, but it was also passion. An ache. A need. His hands still clutched onto her like she would disappear any second. Cole rested his forehead against her own, both of them panting breathlessly.

"Don't go." A plea.

Liz found she couldn't tear her gaze from his, "I won't. I'm sorry I ran. I won't run anymore."

"Good." He nuzzled her, still holding her closely, "…..I'm still mad at you."

The little mage chuckled at that, then winced at the jab of pain in her ribs.

"Yeah. I know."

"Andraste's tits, ya burnt the food!" Sera snapped, causing the young man to flinch.

"I'm sorry… Sera." Cole's voice wobbled a bit, eyes still puffy and red from obvious crying, "I was trying… but I can't cook. I-"

"Shite. No I—" Sera hesitated, unsure, "I shoul' apologize, ya know? I lashed out. That ain' okay. Yer…Ya don't have ta cry, okay? Iss' okay."

Liz almost wanted to rub her eyes just to make sure she was seeing things right. But Sera actually patted Cole's shoulder and went back to work on cooking the rest of the food. Though still with her scowl. Still pointedly ignoring Liz.

If there was one good thing that came out of this situation, it was at least that the two of them were now getting along. Sort of. From the looks of things.

Liz's eyes flicked to the ground and she fingered the thread in her hands. She was in the middle of patching up Cole's shirt as he currently wore one they'd scavenged back in the burning town. As she worked on patching it up, she was lost and stuck in her thoughts.

What she did was probably one of the worst things she could have done. She realized this, now. She still wasn't sure why her link with Cole had caused her to spiral so quickly. Her emotions were usually sort of slow going, moving like slow waves. She anticipated them. Rode them out.

That? That was like…. The crashing waves of a storm. She couldn't hold on. And it felt like she almost got swept away. Like she almost lost herself.

The very thought… terrified her.

What had caused that? Why had it happened? Is it possible for the same to happen to Cole?

'I'm sorry, Cole. I'll try to be a better person.' She thought to herself as she sewed the shirt. Near the crackling fire, the rogue in question peered over at her. As if hearing her comment. Liz paused and looked up at him, 'I messed up really bad, didn't I?'

'Yes. Yes you did.' She heard, or rather, felt Cole answer. His long fingers played with the dirty hems of his longsleeve, the bags underneath his eyes especially prominent that night. Even through their link, she could feel his exhaustion, 'But Varric said that sometimes people make mistakes. 'What matters, Kid, is how you overcome them. How you decide to get back up and move forward. Sometimes people ignore what they did and refuse to believe what they did was wrong. And some… can't even think about it. Because it hurts so damn much. But in the end? It's always best to meet things head on. And just keep trying.'''

Liz could practically hear Varric saying those words and she closed her eyes, a small smile spreading on her face. She nodded.

He obviously hadn't forgiven her, yet. But she didn't expect that to happen, right away. Right now, she needed to work on the task at hand. Getting back together with Maxwell and the others. And report to them about the rifts opening up in this area.

That night she dreamt of the beating of drums and the sounds of singing. Powwow singers always did have the best voices. The beat of the drum always seemed to resonate in her chest in just the right way, sometimes rocking her to sleep.

This time, however, Liz was in the bleachers watching Grand Entry at the powwow. Looked to be the one that happened years before the incident that brought her to this new world. Dancers of all kind stepped to the beat. The jingles on the dresses clinked with the sound, feathers in their braided hair. Some twirled, a colorful display of frayed fabric flowing with their movements.

And then, there was her sister. She wore a colorful shawl, the frayed edges bobbing as she twirled around and danced. She always did have a bright look on her face when she was out there, surrounded by all of the other dancers. The drummers and singers in the middle.

Liz, herself, was never really a dancer. Much preferring to watch from the sidelines as her family geared up and went out to dance. Or helped when they needed things to be tied on. Or the food trucks. One of the best parts about powwows was the food trucks.

In that moment, she even had a piece of fry bread with sugar on it sitting between her fingertips.

Everything here was painful. The sight and sound of it all. It hurt, so so much.

It was in that moment of feeling the aching chasm opening up in her chest that she felt the presence of another. Unlike the flitting spirits that seemed to stand in the crowd on the bleachers or out in the arena. Flitting back and forth. Curious about the scenery. She saw the muted form of her ancient feeling friend.

Solas.

At least he asked. With a wave of her hand, his muted form became more colored. His ears twitched upward and shock registered on his features, yet again. His eyes darted around as he watched the display in the arena, the colorful dancers and the beating of the drums. People were even standing, in the bleachers, bodies bobbing with the beat.

"I seem to do this, a lot." Liz commented, loud enough for him to hear. Solas looked down at her, blinking and unable to hide his interest in the culture and displays around him. "Surprise you, that is."

"It is… unlike anything I've ever seen."

When the song ended, so too did the dancers. They all seemed to stop, freezing in place with the memory. Liz closed her eyes, thinking about something else. Her brows scrunched, as she heard the sounds of her parents arguing in the background and the whisper of Elise, "Do you think they'll ever shut up? Wanna sneak out, Lizzy?"

No. Not there.

Then the world shifted again, this time she focused on the sound of the water calmly lapping against the shore. She remembered and so it was. When she opened her eyes, she was watching her family laughing and playing at the beach. Her sister, now much younger than she'd seen her in a long time, was building sand castles quietly and humming. A smile on her face. She couldn't have been more than 8 years old, there.

Liz nodded and looked to the side, smiling up at Solas from her spot in the sand.

"It's quieter here." She said, observing the almost alarmed look on his features. Relishing in the fact that she could get him to react so openly. He seemed to sense her smugness and smirked, looking down at her.

"You've certainly grown in power, my friend. Your will and grasp on things is certainly stronger."

"My grasp on things. You've said that, before. Is it because you think I am a spirit? Is that why you treat me differently?" Liz wondered aloud.

"I don't think you are a spirit, I know you are one." He responded and Liz made an 'oooohhh' noise.

"So speaking the truth finally, are we? Surprise me again, Solas. Shall we speak our minds finally instead of dancing around the subject?" Liz snarked, then blinked and tilted her head. That was… unlike her.

"Perhaps."

"Sure, I'll humor you." Liz shifted, pushing her hand through the sand beneath her and feeling the warmth seep into her skin. She already knew she wasn't a mortal, because she remembered her past life. Unless it had been a lie. She can never be too sure. "If I am a spirit. Then what am I?"

"Protection." The elven man took a seat beside her his eyes focused off into the distance as Liz peered up and stared at him. Doubting him. "Protection corrupted from it's purpose can turn into doubt, uncertainty. Harming those around it, as it wrought destruction upon that which it once cherished and sought to protect."

Liz seemed to freeze in place, at that. Thinking on all the times she'd doubted. Of all the uncertainty she'd faced since she came into this world. The last dregs of what she once was, flying out the window once she abandoned her purpose to protect Cole back in that tower. Leaving him to the templars.

Or so she'd thought. He'd been fine, of course. But…

"Am… am I a demon, then?" She spoke quietly, then thought back on the destruction she's also wrought upon the world. The people she's killed. Willingly or not. Those men… those bandits that had been responsible for killing Auri. Her friend. Sera's friend.

She'd gone out of her way to kill every last one of them. And anyone that'd gotten in her way. It had been a very dark time. And since then, she feels, she hasn't been right. Even from before, she'd been fighting and fighting. And then...

She began to shake, the contents of the dreamworld rumbling as she did so. The images of the people flickered for a moment.

"No." Solas spoke, almost soothingly, "I don't think it's that simple, anymore. From my experiences walking the Fade, it was indeed possible for a very old spirit to become more tangible. To be… more. Spirits are just, by their nature, easy to corrupt. Easily malleable. So it was a rare occurrence."

"That obviously doesn't happen, anymore." Liz concluded, doing breathing exercises as to not lose herself in her thoughts. "I would wonder if perhaps it was the Breach that caused this. But Cole and I were around long before then. He and I… even met, before. And tried to kill one another, in our desperate states to remain alive. Clinging. But onto what?" She held the sand in her hands, watching it slowly fall through her fingers, "Do you think, perhaps, it might be the circumstances of my arrival? Who I was before?"

She saw him shift in her peripheral, but she felt him nod. It was her dream, afterall. She could also sense his unease. That hadn't changed since his arrival in her little bubble. He always seemed to have his guard up, around her. Even more so than usual.

"Perhaps. From what you've showed me, you died desperately trying to hold on to what you held dear. You died protecting your sister. And thus, you appeared. Attracted to someone in need of that protection. And was pulled through. Along with all of your memories of your previous life." He explained, then turned to look down at her, "Do you not remember your time in the Fade?"

"No." Liz peered up with a frown, "Cole doesn't, either. I… for the longest time I actually thought I was possessing Erin's body."

They were silent for some time, the scene before them on repeat as they continued to play. The sun beat down on the two of them, warmth there but not unbearable. As the minutes ticked by, she thought about waking up and leaving. But Solas spoke, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"How...how did you overcome such loss? Of losing your world, your family? Your sister?" Of all the things to ask, she never really thought he would ask that. Though it should have been expected. He was always all for asking the academic questions. His words always having a sort of angle. But these words seemed… genuine. The words felt almost vulnerable, in a way.

Liz's gaze flicked to his for a moment, thinking.

"I didn't. I don't think I ever will." Her eyes showed her pain, no doubt, "I still see her, everyday. Pieces of her. Memories of what was and what could be. What ifs that will never come to see the light of day. Because she's gone. But I have learned to move passed it, because she would give me shit if I lamented over her death and gave up. But it doesn't stop the pain, Solas. It never will."

Solas was staring at her and she could feel something inside of him shattering, almost like he was remembering something of his own. He knew. He could understand. Liz stared at him with interest and he seemed to take note of her shift in demeanor. Everything clamped shut and she couldn't read him like before. Like there was a wall.

"You understand, don't you? The loss. The pain of losing your world." She poked, hoping he would open back up. Was he like her? Was he from Earth, as well? Was that why? "Are you like me?"

"Not quite."

"….oh." She almost seemed dejected, "So not from Earth, then. But you're not from here, either. I can tell." A sigh, "We all have our secrets, I suppose. You came to me in understanding, all I can do is offer you the same."

"It's more complicated than that, Liz." His voice was quiet, almost inaudible, "If you could go back, would you?"

"I …. I am unsure."

"Why?"

"Ever since I've arrived here. All I've been doing was making sure I stay alive. Fight fight fight. That's all there was. It's tiring. Is it really living, if all you care about is staying alive? Why live in the past, when you can own this day?"

"I see, you have a fair point."

A pause.

"But I've had ideas on how to get back." Liz admitted. He looked at her curiously. She'd contemplated it, at one point. Trying to turn to blood magic for it. Learning about it first, of course. But… "I-I've thought about it, before. But the only ways I could think of would come at the cost of other people's lives. I don't know if I could live with myself if I did that."

She didn't even know why she was spilling this to him.

Liz paused, expression carefully blank. Solas, too, seemed tense as he stared at the young woman. The young mage turned away, sadness in her eyes as she looked at the scenery. Her world.

"I can't say that I wasn't tempted. I wanted to do it." She admitted, hands fidgeting with the blanket beneath her, "But is it really … the right thing to do? I asked myself this many times."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I don't know. It just felt right, I guess. You're probably the only one that truly understands, now that I think of it. Other than Cole, that is." She relayed, thinking on it. It sort of did explain his odd mannerisms, didn't it? The distance he put between himself. The doubt on his face when he was with Serana, even though she knew for a fact he loved her with everything he had.

The fact that he didn't even deny that he wasn't from here, moment's ago.

Was it common for people to arrive here, in this world? How many times has a person been reincarnated, only to not remember because mortals aren't meant to? How many times has a spirit, like herself, manifested and moved about the world. Searching for its purpose?

"Would you?" She also wondered. Would he? Kill everything he loved to get back to his home? Would he? Was he that kind of person? Her questions prodded as she looked at him. He seemed almost baffled.

"What?"

"Would you? Even at the expense of those you've come to love?" She wondered again, elaborating on her thought.

He, of course, didn't answer. He just sat up straighter and looked out at the water, an almost stiff look on his face. She hadn't expected him to, obviously. So Liz simply accepted his wish to not answer the question and turned away, herself.

She, at least, understood what it felt like to think about her life before. Of all that she lost. Or the things she thought she might do to get it back. It was… a difficult question, anyway.

Cole

Cole woke up to the sound of arguing. He winced and sat up from his bedroll. One that they'd, thankfully, been able to get from a nearby town. The group has been making steady progress on one of the main roads as they made their way through Orlais.

The rogue sat there, blonde hair disheveled as he glared at the two women bickering. His face, no doubt, showed his utter irritation at the fact that they were arguing. And it wasn't even daybreak, yet.

"Nuh uh, I set up traps las' time! You get it this time!"

"Would you rather I cook? Because I can't cook, Sera. My cooking tastes bland!"

"I ain't care! I've been doin' the damn snares e'ry day since you woke! You do it!"

"Snares." Cole said, feeling a sneer form on his face. The two stopped bickering and turned to look at the man. Liz blinked, looking almost taken aback at the look on his face. "You're arguing about… snares."

"….She started it!" Sera accused, jabbing Liz in the stomach. The small human looked ready to zap her. He wanted to tell her to stop and to not zap her. But … he couldn't find it in himself to care. Not at this hour. Cole groaned and curled up, covering his head with the pillow Liz had given him.

He grumbled quietly, thankful that they'd at least stopped in their bickering.

The next couple of weeks were trying. It was slow going, as the three of them had to set snares and hunt for their rations. They had no horses. Though, they did eventually make it to the Imperial Highway. Which made things faster going.

Cole even helped Liz gather supplies to create potions of healing, so that they could sell them for crude armors and rations for the road. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.

It was after those few weeks, that they made it further down. Growing ever closer to Lake Celestine. The scraggly rogue didn't like the varying reports of the goings on of the areas. The Nightmare Demon was evidently trying to sink it's claws into the Material World, ever since Adamant.

"So apparently there's an Inquisition encampment at the town of Adachester just a few miles ahead." Liz says, pointing at the map. Cole peered over her shoulder, tilting his head and trying to make out the lettering on the faded material, "We can stop by and assist them in what they need and hopefully get into official contact with Inquisitor Trevelyan."

"Ain't there those rift thingies nearby, though?" Sera sounded scared, her bow held tightly in her hand as she looked around. As if expecting to hear the crackle of the green tears nearby. The trio stood in the middle of the Highway, staring at the map and communicating ideas.

Cole was just happy that the two women weren't glaring or plotting one another's demise. It had been getting tiring.

"Probably. If you don't want to fight demons, just remain back at the camps then." Liz shrugged, rolling up the map and putting it back in the scroll tube.

"Yeah, Wha'ever. I ain't gonna back down!"

Then it was settled. There wasn't much argument, after that. About what the next step was. These people needed help and Cole wanted to help. His evident want and need to help seemed to seep into Liz, too. He could tell.

The medical tents were pretty full by the time they got there. Cole knew he couldn't help much, considering he had no training in the matter. But he remained close by, to ensure no demons slipped by into the encampment. Or rabid animals. So the young rogue acted as a sort of scout and guard on patrol with the other Inquisition soldiers.

Sera did much the same, conversing with a few people she was familiar with. A smile set upon her bright face once more. Dirtied but relieved to finally be around those she recognized. She was being taken to a tent for some spare armor and weapons that they had on hand.

Meanwhile, Cole walked around the camp and looked about. Casual.

Then there was a spike of recognition emanating from someone near one of the fire pits. The dying embers crackling as a rather large Qunari poked at it with a stick. Cole turned to look at him curiously. The man was staring at Cole with wide eyes. He blinked his purple tinted eyes a couple of times, as though trying to clear them and be sure he was seeing the right thing.

So Cole approached, fidgeting nervously. He'd never seen this man, before. "Do you know me?"

"Eh… uh, yeah. The name's … Kaaras Adaar." He almost sounded unsure, for a second there. Even so, within such a close proximity of the horned man, he heard the lie. Felt it. And instead heard the name 'Ian Walters'. This only seemed to further confuse the young rogue. The man in question set the stick down in the fire pit, "So, you're Cole right? Why are you here? I thought you …. like… you know, traveled with the Inquisitor and stuff."

"We fell out of the ship and washed ashore." Cole answered, simply.

"Washed…. Ashore?"

"Yes. Sera was mad at me, but she fell in and Liz rescued us. We almost died. How do you know me? You feel like recognition, 'Not supposed to be here. What's going on?' I can still hear, but not a lot. It's just loud. Sorry." Cole pulled on the frayed ends of his half gloves, biting his lip. Knowing now that most people didn't necessarily like it when he pulled at their threads. Or read their feelings.

"...Liz?"

"The Inquisitor's sis-" Cole was cut off as Ian stormed passed him and toward the medical tents, his larger form almost imposing as he loomed behind the smaller woman. Cole was tempted to push himself between them, but refrained from doing so. He didn't mean any harm. Liz didn't even realize he was looming behind her, like that.

All he could hear as he walked by was, 'So she's the one who messed up the timeline.'

Cole didn't understand. He just rose his eyebrow and tilted his head at the odd thought.

'….Timeline?'