Say what? 50 reviews? (Dances around house to Queens We Are The Champions)
Thank you to all who reviewed. Thank you to everyone else for your support in your own ways.
A special chapter to mark this exciting day!
Bioware owns the place, I dance to the tune.
A Hound at my Side
"Got you now!" the ash warrior boomed, cutting down the hurlock with ease.
His mabari barked in excitement, and tore off another fiends leg, spitting out the blood quickly. If they had not been fighting, the warrior would have laughed at his hound's comical posture.
"Captain! Help! I'm being overrun!" another warrior yelped.
The warrior and his hound tore through the darkspawn like a machine. The warrior would attack and the hound would defend him. Then the warrior would block a sword and the mabari would lunge underneath and rip at the offending darkspawn. They were one being, shielding and attacking as a team.
When they reached their comrade, they found him almost unable to lift his axe to defend himself. His war hound bravely fought five darkspawn herself to save her master.
"Come on boy! Let's show these bastards what we are made of!" the ash warrior cried. The dog gave a ferocious bark and sprang into action, toppling a small monster, a genlock.
The fight was long and tiring. Too many darkspawn had ambushed the small scouting party. But there was a sudden change in the battle. Little remained of the darkspawn.
"We have them now men! To me!" The captain yelled, swinging his sword in the air.
"Ser! Look out!" a voice yelled.
The war hound turned in horror to find himself very far from his master, and was rooted to the spot as he watched the scene before him.
His master did not even have time to turn as a hurlock brought down its sword onto his back. The jagged metal sliced clean through the hide armour, blood splattering the darkspawn's body. The offending creature looked viciously triumphant. It was the man's face that struck the mabari the most. First surprise, pain, sadness, and then a horrid scream.
The hound threw itself across the battle field, its long and lean muscles bringing it to his masters side in four great bounds. The dog did not even notice when a blade sliced at its side.
No longer in control, the war hound ravaged the darkspawn, tearing at its face and chest. Even when the beast fell, the dog did not stop.
"It's okay…" his master whispered. He sounded weak, but the mabari could not have heard him more clearly if he had shouted.
The hound leapt to his masters side and began to whine, nudging him gently.
"Your such a good, brave boy." He coughed, spraying both him and the hound in his own blood.
"Ser! Maker's breath." The remaining warriors from the contingent surrounded their captain. They knew no potion or matter of magic could save the man.
"Captain," the man that the two had saved had pushed his way to the front. "I am so sorry ser." The man looked devastated.
"Not…your fault…Is your hound fine?"
"Yes ser. She has a nasty scratch on her, but she is going to be okay."
The mabari in question nudged the captains dog. The other did nothing to acknowledge her.
The captain coughed again. "Listen, I…I need you to do something for me."
"Anything ser."
"Take care of my hound, take him back to Ostagar. Make sure…he is taken care of." His eyes never left his war hound.
"Of course ser. Maker watch over you, and may He have a place at your side."
The hound whined again painfully.
"Don't…you need to be strong…your life is still worth something…find another…be happy…be strong," he sighed. Then he was gone.
The ash warriors said their rites and started one by one to come and say a personal goodbye to their valiant leader.
The hound felt sick. The man had imprinted on him when he was a puppy. They had trained together, and traveled on grand adventures. Now he was gone. He had failed him.
As the warriors lifted the shell of his master on their shields, the mabari howled into the cold, unforgiving Wilds, the others joining him in his mournful song.