Morrigan led the way through the Kocari Wilds with ease and that was to be expected considering she had lived there all her life. Those following her did not seem to have too much trouble keeping up with her even though she was sure that they would having lived a cushy life outside the trees and marshes, unlike her. She realized that out of the two, Alexandra seem to be a better example of what she thought a Grey Warden was suppose to be: strong, smart, and practical. She was all those things and that was surprising to Morrigan since she knew that this mage was born within the Circle. She always assumed that those mages heads were filled with Chantry's lies and hardly an original idea of their own to speak of.
Alexandra did not appear to be as self-righteous and incapable of decision unlike the simple-minded fool that followed her. He did not seem to decide to do anything by himself. He always referred to Alexandra while speaking, looking for her guidance, looking for her approval. She could scarcely believe that he was a Grey Warden, not to mention that he was apparently one even before Alexandra. 'My, how the standards of Grey Wardens has slipped since their glory days.' She could not help but think as turned to look them back at them.
They were following in single file as they passed through a particular narrow path through the forest with Alexandra behind Morrigan and Alistair behind her. Alexandra did suggest that he could have gone after Morrigan, but he just gave her an excuse about being able to protect them if darkspawn approached from behind. Although perfectly logical, she could not help and wonder if the real reason was that he did not want to be anywhere near Morrigan and her shape shifting magic. He probably thought that it would allow her to have an easier time of making him into spider or something, before feeding him to the darkspawn.
Alistair would admit secretly that thought had crossed his mind, though he knew that was only one of million possibilities with Morrigan. He felt better trailing after Alexandra. He knew what her magic could do and she would not use it willy-nilly like he pictured apostates doing. Besides, there were other perks from following Alexandra. However, if he thought about them, it did cause his face to get hot again. Luckily, it was darker in the Wilds then mid-morning sky and that covered his blushing from the women in front of him.
"So, Morrigan, what exactly did your mother give you so the darkspawn don't smell us?" Alexandra asked, although she was not that curious. In truth, she just hated the awkward silence that fell over them. She hated all types of silence. She always had, even at Circle Tower--Especially at the Circle Tower. At night, lying on her bed hearing nothing, it just made her want to scream sometimes just to know someone, somewhere, was still alive and she was not alone. She would never do it of course. She had too much self-restraint to do something like that.
"I have no interesting in answering a question you don't want to know, mage." Morrigan answered flippantly, picking up on the fake interest on Alexandra's part. "Well, excuse me, I was just asking a simple question." Alexandra replied, sorry she even brought up the question in the first place. "No need to mean to her, Morrigan. I bet your getting all testy is because even you don't know what it is. Flemeth probably just gave it to you and then set you on your pretty little way, without so much as an explanation." Alistair added quickly as he couldn't help but try to stick up for his fellow Warden and take a jab at Morrigan at the same time.
"I do know what it is! It's dra--Never mind. 'Tis was a nice try, fool, but it failed, miserably." She retorted just as the narrow path began to open up around the trio. She threw Alistair an icy glare before she marched further ahead. In the distance, she could just see the road that would lead them directly to Lothering. She really couldn't wait to get away from that fool. How could Alexandra stand to be around him? He was always whining and making stupid jokes. She would never understand what someone could see in him, especially Alexandra. She could see there was a connection there between the two was brewing.
"Alistair!" Alexandra scolded upon seeing Alistair begin to laugh at Morrigan's reaction. "What?" Alistair responded as innocently as possible looking towards her. She sighed, shaking her head. Although, she did find his antics funny, but he did have to learn when he took his ribbing a little too far. Alistair knew she disapproved, but he had a feeling it was only because that was expected of her. Her stay at the Circle Tower made her seem to always be aware of what other's expected of her and never waver from letting them down, unlike himself.
Besides, he saw the smile she was desperately trying to keep hidden from him before she followed Morrigan. It made him smile as well. It did give him a secret thrill every time she called him name like that anyway. He knew it meant that she was watching him, paying attention to him and to have such a lovely young woman giving him that kind of attention was scary yet amazing. He could feel blush beginning to form so he quickly pushed those thoughts away before doing the same as women way ahead of him, walking towards the road to Lothering.
Argus had been running ever since the events at Ostagar. The tan mabari had only survived through the war because he used his head. He was with most of his fellow hounds during their first charge at the darkspawn. Most of them died then while he managed to stand his ground for a long time before he realized there were just too many of them. Covered in blood of the creatures, he simply played dead next to one of the corpse of the human warriors and the darkspawn never realized it. They were too busy going after the humans to wonder if the mabari was dead.
As soon as they past, he opened his eyes as far as he could without being seen. He watched as all the men fall including the man in shiny gold armor. Argus felt very bad for him as he watched the ogre squeeze the life out of him. He knew he was special as the man with stern face got so angry and flung himself at the ogre killing it with such determination. His fearlessness reminded Argus of his former master, the one he lost the battle before this. He closed his eyes shutting out the rest of scene.
Argus didn't want to think of that anymore, it was his entire fault that he lost his master anyway. He had been a coward not deserving to be called a mabari and he deserved to die at the hands of creatures that killed his master. If not for that kind woman he would have given up. She had showed him kindness when he thought he deserved none. She made him want to live through the battle and he was sure that she would not go down without a fight either. She would have lived through the battle as well, especially if the puppy did his job at protecting her like male mabari do with females.
When he escaped under the cover of night and into the Kocari Wilds, he knew all he had to do now was find her. Being a dog and trained in using their scent being a war hound, he smelt her scent all over the forest but it was from much earlier he could tell. He just hoped that it would still give him some clue as to where she had gone. It took him a while to figure out which way she went with all her backtracking and stopping to do things. He eventually found his way through what he thought was a deserted part of the woods until he got to a clearing with a wooden building.
He sniffed around, nose to the ground. The woman's scent was strong as was the scent of the human puppy that was apparently alive as well. He could smell two new scents: one, old and decomposing, while the other young but dangerous. The last person's smell mingled with his new master and her friend as they set out in another direction. He was about to follow it when he smelt freshly cooked food. Argus could hear his stomach growling making him decide to take a closer look at the hut.
The door was ajar and it made it easer for him to see inside. A grey haired woman sat on the bed holding a bowl of the food in question. Her yellow eyes sparkled dangerously as she stared at it apparently seeing something in it. "Hah, yes, Morrigan do just as your mother asked. Poor child, she does not even know she shall bring me a far better host for me, hah." She laughed heartily. It was a cackling laughter that chilled Argus to his very bones even though he had no idea what she was talking about. Suddenly, he wasn't very hungry anymore and he tore off quickly into the woods after his new master.
He was going so fast that he almost didn't realize it that he stumbled into a darkspawn band. Luckily, he caught himself in time and they didn't seem to notice him. Argus noticed the Hurlocks seem to be following very closely the trail that he had been following to get to his master. He couldn't let them surprise her, especially from behind. So, he thought quickly and barked turning all their attention on him. He watched biggest and ugliest one grunting out some order before pointing at him.
Before the other Hurlocks could reach Argus, he was gone. He ran as fast as he could while they chased after him. His four legs gave him the natural advantage over their two and soon, he was ahead of them leading them around where he could smell his master was to a point much further down the road. He then turned back towards his master, running faster then he thought was possible with the darkspawn following unwittingly like lambs to slaughter. As he turned the corner of the wooden fence, he could see her, his new master.
She was a sight for sore eyes and she seemed to spot him too as she bent down to his level. He ran towards her skidding to a stop wanting nothing more to jump on her and bark madly, but this was no time for that as the darkspawn behind him were approaching. He began to jump around and bark at the same time hoping she would try to get he message that something was wrong. However, she didn't seem to understand until the second the darkspawn showed up a few yards down the road. When he saw them, he stopped everything before turning to them growling.
After a threat from Hurlock Alpha, although Argus couldn't be so sure who was the intended target for that was, his master or him, the fight started. Argus stayed close to her as she switched into close combat, more to protect the new mage that joined them. He didn't approve and apparently, neither the puppy as he threw Argus a look as if to say 'We need to protect her.' Argus did everything he could to keep the attention on him especially from the large sword wielding Alpha.
Eventually, the Hurlocks lay slain and everyone else was not any worse for wear minus being now covered in blood. He panted as he wagged his tail looking at his new master, happily. He was glad to hear that she remembered him from their time to together at Ostagar. The puppy was smarter then he thought as he picked up on the fact that Argus had chosen the woman in front of him as his new master. He didn't seem to mind that Argus wanted to tag along. However, the dark mage didn't seem to like him and Argus didn't like that at all. He made a mental note right there to try to make friends with her, especially if she was going to be hanging around his master all the time.
Argus was thrilled to hear his master say that they were meant to be together as he believed it was the same. Mabari hounds were smart dogs. They could believe in ideals of fate just as well as any human. His master studied him a long time before speaking again, "I think you should be named Argus. He just looks like an Argus to me." He cocked his head to the side in surprised. He had not expected that from her at all. He had just thought she would have given him a new name but somehow she managed to pick his current name. He had picked the right master after all.
Argus was amazed by her answer, but apparently the puppy couldn't let her statement go. "How exactly does one look like Argus? Is it written somewhere on him that you come to that conclusion? I thought your name was something your parents gave you. Next you be telling me that I look like an Alistair because of my blonde hair and witty personality." The puppy remarked with chuckle, running his hand through his hair. "He does look like an Argus. He's vigilant and he is a guardian as he warned us of the danger approaching. And yes, Mr. Smarty-pants, you do look like an Alistair. It is not because of any reason you suggested, but because you defend us and also holds off the enemies. Isn't that what your name means?" His master fired back with a sly look over her shoulder at the puppy.
"I-uh, right." Argus hear him stuttered, much to his surprise. That caused his master to smile as she turned her attention back on him. "Now that, that is settled. Argus, I don't think we introduced ourselves earlier. I am Alexandra. That stuttering man is Alistair and don't worry you'll get use to his jokes really quickly like I have." She said with a laugh. "I'm not that bad, am I?" Alistair asked and wrongly looked to Morrigan for confirmation. "Yes, I guarantee you are, fool." She remarked, relishing in the chance to get him back from earlier.
Alistair was about to respond to her when Alexandra stopped him, "Guys, please stop fighting...I swear I'm starting to think I have a much better chance against the Blight with the dog by my side then you two." She mumbled the last part under her breath which only Argus could hear. Argus would have laughed if he could as Alistair and Morrigan turned away from each other in a huff. "Anyway, Argus, that woman and apostate over there is Morrigan, she can be a little ill-manner on the surface but she probably has a good heart somewhere...way deep inside...where the light of day hasn't been seen for a long time." She stated still in low voice, more a comment to Argus, but she knew the others could hear her.
"I heard that." Morrigan stated in a cool tone, confirming her suspicion. Even if Morrigan pretend not to be upset with her, Alexandra knew that she was angry at her comment, but she couldn't help to be a little bit annoyed for Morrigan's response to her earlier and now with her comment to Alistair. But she was their leader and there was no time to be petty, so she pushed her feeling to the side about the apostate and returned to what they had to do which was go to Lothering. "Argus, everyone, we better get a move on if we have any hope of getting to the village before sunset." She commanded back into leader mode as she stood up.
Everyone nodded and before long they were back on their way. There was still an underlining tension between the two mages, Argus could feel it. None of them said very much as they walked. He was glad that he found Alexandra as maybe he could offer her someone to talk to that wouldn't judge her as seem to be the case with Morrigan and her. Alistair seemed to be stuck in his own head thinking about something to be too concern about them fighting. From the sadness in his eyes, Argus knew it must been painful, a fresh sort of pain that had nothing to do with the situation before.
Argus' presence was much needed now. He had a feeling that they were going to be many fights and arguments with this diverse group of characters. They were only held together by the thin thread known as the Blight. Argus going to have to try to keep them all together and not help unravel the reason they were brought together. Alexandra could not do this alone and she would need his help. He planned to do just that. He just hoped that whatever was in this new village would make their mission more present in their minds and why they need each other to get through this to hopefully and eventually save the world...He could only hope so, right?