They continued their journey the next day, Caylus informing them that they would see the tower the next afternoon if they made good time. A short while later, Arella began to notice an acrid smell in the air. It quickly became stronger as they neared the source. The three began to see the flames ahead of them and rushed forward to find a large campsite in cinders. Strewn about were the bodies of giant horned creatures and corrupted, vile things known as darkspawn.

"Sweet blood of Andraste... Qunari and darkspawn? Shit, this is not good... Come on, we have to move!" Caylus swore, pulling his charges away from the wreck. Muffled shouts came from their right and Arella broke free, heading towards them.

"That sounds like fighting... If there are any survivors we have to help them!" she cried, drawing her daggers.

"Arella!" Caylus shouted, "Stop! We don't know how many there are, we could be vastly outnumbered!" He cursed more as Anders ran after her. He drew his own sword and followed, praying that they were not heading straight to their deaths.

Arella reached the battlefield and saw one of the giants, qunari as Caylus had named them, fending off a group of darkspawn by himself. The girl barely regarded her own safety and hurled herself into the fray. She tackled one darkspawn to the ground and sliced it's neck open, being mindful of its blood. The others realized they were being flanked and quickly turned to fight her instead. The nearest one swung down at her kneeling form and she whirled to face it, using a rising block with her dagger to keep the sword above her head. Almost simultaneously she thrust with her left hand and impaled the darkspawn through its stomach. More took its place as it fell to the side and Arella stood, bit by bit, parrying countless blows haphazardly thrown her way. Suddenly the one directly in front of her was blasted with ice and froze over. She glanced over her shoulder to see Anders holding his stave out in terror. She winked at him reassuringly and turned back, cutting through four more of the group before coming blade to blade with the qunari. The giants blow knocked her dagger clean out of her hand and she jumped back. He stared at her for a moment then looked around, realizing all the darkspawn had been defeated. He slung his war hammer onto his back and bowed his head at Arella.

"I thank you, bas, for your assistance"

Arella couldn't help but stare, "What... are you?" she asked. Just then Caylus came running up.

"Maker's breath, you two run fast!" he gasped, then noticing the qunari and the dead darkspawn, "Arella, come here! Get back!"

"Be silent, Caylus. I do not think he means us harm." the girl said and stepped tentatively closer to the giant, "Are you all right? That was quite the battle."

"I am Karasaad and I do not require your concern." the qunari grunted.

"Well, nice to meet you, Karasaad." Arella smiled, "I am Arella. I have never seen your kind before, what... are you?"

"He's qunari," Caylus cut in, "Alright, you've saved the survivor. Let's move, Arella."

"Hush, you."

Karasaad observed the two, then glanced around at his fallen unit, "I am not qunari. I have left the Qun behind as my beresaad lies dead. I am Tal'Vashoth, but I still need order. You, Basvaraad, worthy of following, would you accept my steel?"

"You want to come with us?" Arella asked incredulously, "Why not? We could use a strong pair of hands, with Ser Useless over here." She rounded on Caylus, "Where exactly were you during that whole fight?

"I was watching our backs for any flanking attacks, thank you. While you ran head first into danger, not caring about your own safety at all!" he shot back.

"You wanted to run at the first sign of danger! How cowardly is that?" The two bickered continuously as they scavenged what they could from the ruined camp and set out again, a new kossith friend in tow.