insert golden props to BioWare here

They had turned towards Highever from the North Road, and started to make the climb westward towards the labyrinth of caves at the base of Soldier's Peak. The weather so far had been good, and if it stayed clear, they would reach their destination late the next evening.

The group made camp with efficiency and soon dinner was heating over the campfire. Alistair found Calitae in only her leathers, stringing a menacing longbow. He admired the form-fitting outfit briefly then sat on the log next to her, "Going somewhere?"

She stood up, slinging the bow across her back, shrugging until it lay comfortably next to a small quiver. She had had the dragonthorn bow made specifically for her size and strength and he knew the damage she could cause with it. "Hunting." She gestured towards the south to the wooded foothills, "I won't be long, it gets dark early enough."

He stood up, reaching to unbuckle his plate armor, "I'll come with you."

She smiled and tucked her gloves in her belt, "No, someone needs to stay here."

"Alder will be here. I - ."

She began stuffing a small sack with supplies as Meron Dryden, Levi's nephew, walked up, interrupting Alistair, "Ah, wardens! We were wondering if you would be interested in joining us for a game of chance tonight. Last one of the trip!"

She finished securing the sack to her belt and checked her knife, "That answers that – Alistair will join you. Don't lose all our money, and watch out for Sivan, he cheats." She grinned at Alistair and gave him a wink.

Alistair spread his hands, giving her an insistent and questioning look before turning to the merchant, "I guess I'll be joining you. Tae, be safe." He looked troubled and more than a little irritated. The burly caravan master just chuckled at their exchange.

She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and stepped back before he could grab her, "Don't fret, I'll have Fifth with me." At the mention of her name, the mabari came bounding out of the bushes, tongue lolling happily.

Without a backwards glance, the pair jogged southward for the distant tree line. Alistair watched for a moment but the scrub brush swallowed them up and he had little choice but to seek out the source of shouts and laughter at the main campfire.

The pair had been unable to find any fowl or other small game by the time they reached a dense stand of trees. Calitae glanced at the sky, the sun was sinking fast, but Fifth seemed quietly intent on leading her forward. When the dog dropped to her belly and started inching forward, Calitae unslung her bow, nocked an arrow and followed in suit.

After a few minutes of slowly pushing aside fallen leaves to crawl forward in silence, they were rewarded with the sight of a medium-sized black bear snuffling at a berry-laden bush. She admired its thick coat of fur as she slowly stood up, using a tree to shield her movement.

Drawing back, she steadied her breath and looked down the shaft of the arrow. Fifth was as still as a statue; she never understood how a wardog was so adept at the finesse of game hunting, but she wasn't going to complain. Twilight was beginning to fall as elf and dog stood frozen in place as they waited for the bear to turn in a way to offer a clean shot. Sweat beaded on her forehead from the strain of holding the draw and she was about to give up when finally she had the shot.

The string gave a low hum as the arrow hissed through the air; the bear roared in pain and anger as the arrow passed behind its front shoulder. She frowned as she shook out her arm, it had looked like a perfect shot, and hopefully it would bleed out fast. They backed up as the animal roared and stumbled around, rising on its back feet and dropping back down to all fours again, showing no sign of weakening. She nocked another arrow and moved sideways away from Fifth, hoping to expedite the process.

Her movement caught the bear's eye and in a flash the bear was suddenly bolting towards her. "Maker guide me," she muttered and let loose the next arrow but it only glanced off its thick skull; the next heartbeat she was sprinting. She tossed aside her bow, dropped her quiver and was reaching for her knife when it ran her down. The wind was knocked out of her as she was crushed into the ground. Dazed, she could hear Fifth barking as pain exploded through her body, the bear tore at her back and hip with its' claws before biting down on her left shoulder. Its breath was loud in her ear as it shook her, its teeth digging deeper as it tried to tear her in two. Yelling in pain and fear, she drew her blade and blindly stabbed over her shoulder at the black muzzle.

Surprised at the pain in its nose, the bear dropped her back to the ground as it roared again loudly; Fifth took the opportunity to launch herself at the bear's throat. Calitae whimpered and tried to pull herself away with her one working arm. As she pulled herself into a sitting position slumped against a tree, the bears growls suddenly became a wheezing gurgle. Through the haze of pain she could see the form of the bear laying still and Fifth was at her side, whining and licking the blood away as it oozed through the punctures in her armor.

Gasping, Calitae gingerly probed the wound; her collarbone didn't seem to be broken but she was having trouble moving the fingers of her left hand. Her hip also was throbbing with pain from where the bear had stomped on her and her back felt wet. She leaned her head back against the tree trunk, "Alistair is going to be insufferable." With some effort, she shifted to reach the sack of supplies. At the bottom of the bag she found a scrap of parchment paper and using her blood as ink, she scratched a quick note onto it then tucked it in Fifth's collar. "Go find Alder, bring him to me. Good girl."

Edit: wrong Al_