Poor Anders, she thought as she carefully made her way back to Lowtown. What happened to make him hate himself so much?
She had forgotten why she came to see Anders in the first place. Just being around him made her feel better. She took the lift up to Lowtown when she opened the door the city was dark. Damn, I didn't mean to stay out this late. She looked around and brisky walked back towards Gamlen's hovel. She heard scuffling near her. She turned looking around, there were few people off in the distance but no one nearby. Probably rats, they litter the city. Though she picked up her pace and nearly scurried through the winding walkways for the poorer district of Kirkwall.
Another scuffle and she panicked; she bolted forward diving behind a large crate. Her heart was pounding and she cursed herself for forgetting her maces. She tried to make herself smaller hoping that whatever was persuing her would pass by or turn around and forget her. The scuffling came closer. She closed her eyes tightly and covered her ears willing whatever it was away. Her body shook with tension of fear, a fear that grew with every passing moment. When something cold brushed against her knee she nearly jumped out of her skin, letting out a loud yelp and plastered herself against the wall. Her eyes flew open, and there between her feet, sat a small, whimpering puppy.
She laughed hysterically at herself for being such a chicken. The small canine whimpered, peering at her with large grey eyes. It brushed its nose against her leg again. She reached out with her hand and the puppy gave a tentative lick at her fingers. She smiled brightly, scooping up the poor thing in her arms and standing. "What are you doing out here? Silly thing, you're going to get kidnapped and put into a stew or a taco." The puppy yelped and barked, huddling in the crook of her arm. She smiled again and rubbed her fingers through its hair.
"Would you like to come home with me? I don't know if Gamlen will like it, but I know Leandra won't mind." The puppy yipped and wagged its stubby tail excitedly. She rested her cheek on its head. Its ears twitched and she hurried the rest of the way to her new home.
When she stepped inside, Leandra rushed out and hugged Jennifer tightly. "My dear girl, you had us all so worried! Garrett and some of his friends are looking for you. Where have you been?" She pulled away when the puppy whimpered and squirmed under her crushing embrace.
"What have we here? A mabari?" She looked down at the mabari and smiled. "Where did you find it?" She retrieved it from Jennifer holding it under its front legs before her. "Excuse me, him."
"Just outside as I was walking back from Anders clinic. He looked so scared and lonely." She patted the mabari's head and smiled. "At the risk of sounding six years old, can I keep him?" She held her hands out before her in a pleading gesture and gave Leandra her best puppy eyes.
Leandra laughed, a happy and soothing sound, and nodded. "Yes, it's a very good thing. Mabari aren't just owned by anyone. They only have one master, they imprint themselves and become extremely loyal. You are very fortunate, Jennifer."
Jennifer blushed, holding out her arms for the mabari pup and held him close against her. The dog yipped happily and licked her nose. "What will you name him?" Leandra asked.
"I don't know. What name would you like, cutie?" The mabari squirmed and Jennifer set him upon the floor. It rolled while groaning, itching it's back, then bounded around the main room of the hovel, yipping. "You're a little rascal aren't you?" The pup's ears perked and it bounded towards Jennifer sitting expectantly at her feet. "What." He yipped. "Rascal? You like the name Rascal?" It bounced around her feet before settling on spinning and chasing its small tail. "I suppose Rascal it is." She clapped her hands and Rascal jumped into her arms and licked her chin.
"Mother! I can't find her anywhere! Anders said she-" Hawke paused in the doorway looking at Jennifer and Leandra. Jennifer smiled sheepishly and Leandra only laughed. Hawke walked up to Jennifer and placed his large hands on her shoulders. "Where have you been? Mother was worried and yelled at me." He mock pouted at Jennifer which enticed a giggle.
"I'm sorry, I went to go see Anders and I didn't realize how long I had been down there. Look, though, I got a puppy!" She smiled so wide her eyes couldn't be seen and her teeth flashed brightly. "His name is Rascal."
Hawke chuckled and Bethany walked in with a bag and a handful of letters. She set down the bag, an apple rolling along the floor. "Oh apples!" She jumped on the fruit swiping it into her hand and chomping on it. She chewed happily as Bethany giggled at her.
"So they have apples in your world?" Bethany asked, heading to a small larder in the back of the hovel.
"Sure do! Red apples are my favorite, though the darker red ones are sweeter." She took another bite of the apple and gently placed Rascal onto the floor. He happily padded his way into the bedroom laying on Jennifer's palette.
Bethany handed the stack of letters to Hawke. He opened the first on and tossed it down after quickly skimming it. He did the same to all the letters but one, a letter from Varric. "Great…"
Jennifer tried to peer over his shoulder, but seeing how he was much taller than her, he settled on looking over his hands. "What does it say?"
"Varric says there's a rumor going around about the Knight Commander. Templars are disappearing and a woman named Macha is looking for someone to find her older brother who is a Templar." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Damn dwarf never could stand to see a human cry. I'll head out in the morning. Bethany, I want you to stay here. I don't want you dealing in Templar business." He stood next to Bethany and hugged her tightly.
"Trust me, I don't want dealings with Templars any more than you do." Bethany replied, somewhat muffled by Hawke's thick arms.
"I'll come with you." Jennifer smiled.
Hawke smiled and ruffled Jennifer's hair. "Alright, I need to go speak with Varric at the Hanged Man. Why don't you come with me and meet the remainder of my friends?" Jennifer's smile brightened and she bounced happily on the balls of her feet.
-ooo-
Apparently there were several people Jennifer hadn't met. There was Merrill, a very delightful, albeit ditsy elf. She was so sweet and instantly Jennifer felt friendship blossoming between them. Her eyes were as big as Fenris', an elven trait it seemed. Her hair was tied in braids laden with flowers.
There was Sebastian, or supposedly, Prince Sebastian, though he claims to have taken vows as a brother to the Chantry… Blech. He was kind, handsome, and had the most astonishing blue eyes Jennifer had ever seen. He wore gleaming armor and sparkled in the firelight.
And Isabela, when Hawke introduce her, he turned to a pile of goop, and with good reason. Isabela was gorgeous, confident, and easy to get along with. She eyed Jennifer blatantly and Jennifer felt herself blush under the gaze. Isabela then turned to Hawke and smacked him upside the head. "What in Andraste's panties is the matter with you?"
Hawke recoiled and rubbed his head. "Me?"
"Yes you. How can you let a sweet thing, like that, walk around looking like an old woman?!" Isabela grabbed Jennifer's hand and marched her to the room she was occupying at the Hanged Man. She fussed over Jennifer good naturedly and pulled clothes haphazardly out of the truck she had at the foot of her bed.
"Oh, no. I can't wear that!" Jennifer exclaimed.
"Oh just try it."
When they walked back into Varric's sweet, more than one set of eyes widened at her knew attire. Jennifer wore an off- shoulder short sleeved white shirt with a burgundy colored bodice. They had managed to come to an agreement that not everyone likes walking around pantless and so therefor Jennifer donned a pair of tight brown leggings and the tall knee high boots. Her holster of her maces rested sturdy on her curvy hips, and Isabela also supplied her with fingerless gloves to grip the handle of her weapons better.
Sebastian sputtered and choked, his drink lodged in the back of his throat. Fenris turned away quickly, a slight pink tint on the tips of his ears and Hawke openly gaped. Anders blinked and smiled. Even Varric was at a loss for words at the change.
Jennifer looked around, blushing deeply but laughed. "Come on, then! Are we playing Wicked Grace or not?"
AN: Another one bites the dust. Sorry I got a bit lazy on Jennifer being there for the other introductions, I just like the conflict of Fenris'. Anyways, should be updating soon, leave me a review if you enjoy!