CHAPTER 5: WHAT IS REAL

Death, no one knows when it's going to happen to them. But it's inevitable to occur. You either run from it in terror or embrace it and just let it pass. Some chose to fight back and others try to stop it completely.

If I had known what would happen I wouldn't have followed after Garrett, Anders, Fenris and Merrill. Then again I suppose that I wouldn't be normal again. Let me start from the beginning of the day, Garrett had came and gotten Anders with the other two in toe asking for their help.

Someone had apparently been kidnapped, again, and their family wanted them rescued. They had been dragged across Kirkwall and to the Wounded Coast sometime during the night. Or at least so their family had told Garrett, they were going to pay him a whole hell of a lot to get their son back. Something tells me that the kid was just being a rich spoiled brat trying to make mommy and daddy mad and ended up with the wrong group of 'friends' and now they're holding him ransom.

It wouldn't surprise me in the least to be honest.

"Meow..." I scratched at Anders boot making him pay attention to little old me.

He smiled kindly. "You want to come to Lady?" I meowed again climbing up his leg before he reached down and then sat me on his shoulder. I suppose that this brings us back full circle now.

I had managed to survive for nearly three months like this. I guess it must count for something right? To bad I can't say goodbye to them, looks like I'll be forced to never utter those words to anyone again...

…

Anders stopped glowing and panted heavily. He had almost forgotten why he was so upset in the first place. The look on Garrett's face was one of understanding, Fenris just disgusted and Merrill looked away, she couldn't meet his eyes.

Narrowing her large green eyes, she was unsure of what she was actually seeing. Her mind could just being playing strange tricks on her, or not, she couldn't be really sure herself. The guys apparently hadn't noticed so maybe there wasn't really anything there to begin with.

She knew an abundance about demons, but she never sensed anything about the tiny cat being one. Its body warped like it was being possessed, and she could only watch intrigued to what would come out of it. A desire demon came to mind at the humanoid body, but that thought soon stopped. It was a human, she, was human.

"Oh no..." Merrill was at a loss for words as she quickly dashed over to where the cat turned human lay. Her eyes darted around rapidly as she placed a hand on her bare back. Instantly she hoped that the woman was breathing, and was relieved when she felt the rise and fall of her chest through her back.

The men almost hadn't turned to see why Merrill had ran off, they had become used to her random strangeness.

Garrett's voice died in his throat as he let his call fade. He just watched Merrill clutch the woman to her chest.

"Garrett! The cat wasn't a cat, she's as human as you. How did this happen? I've never heard of anything like this..." She trailed off for a moment. "She's alive! We need to help her."

Anders' robe was then draped over the sleeping human in the elves arms and he knelt down placing his hands on either side of her face. Merrill watched the confusion pass across his features as he clenched his eyes in concentration. Her own face scrunched up like she was about to sneeze, but relaxed soon after as Anders hands glew softly.

"I can't find anything wrong... perfectly healthy." He still couldn't help but take a glance around the area for any signs of his little companion. Besides the blood stain on the rock and ground there was nothing.

"We should leave..." Fenris stated finally bored with the event and took a look at the frightened runaway/kidnapped child. Heaving a sigh he stalked past Garrett, just wanting to get away from all this magic that seemed to follow him no matter where he went. Being with a group of mages didn't make it any better.

…

I've never slept so soundly before. Slept like the dead I suppose is the phrase for it. Nice, warm and comfortable. I feel like I'm flying, or floating at least. My body feels lighter than the air around me. The first thing though I became aware of is the fact that I must still be alive. Unless hearing voices is apart of being dead. I thought that I would be alone in my own little world wherever I may be.

That and the fact that I can recognize the voices I hear.

Garrett's being snappy about something, Varric's trying to calm him down and Anders is unusually soft spoke. Merrill chimes in a few times, her words are rushed and confused.

"She can't stay here, and she can't stay in the Alienage Merrill." Garrett's voice calmed down as he talked to her. He was always kinder in his dealings with her. She was one of the few that could actually calm the man down.

Opening my eyes their forms were blurry, but sure enough they were all there. Even Fenris who had yet to say anything besides stand in the back with his arms folded.

"I do not want her to stay in Darktown... my clinic is safe enough, but what if she wanders off..." Anders sat down holding his head in his hands. "This just got far to complicated..."

"Just let her rest here for now. I'm sure she'll be fine soon." Varric placed a hand on his shoulder giving it a little squeeze. "We can figure out something then."

Merrill shifted around on the corner of the bed leaning on her knees, and looked down to me for a second. Then had to do a double take. A wide smile claimed her face. "She's awake, how do you feel? I gave you something to wear, is it comfortable? Are you to warm or is it not enough? I can find more blankets if you would like." She stood up placing a hand to my forehead. "Perhaps another pillow? Oh, dear I'm rambling..." She turned a slight shade darker.

"How do you feel, kitten?" Varric stood beside Merrill and smiled down warmly. I opened my mouth slightly, but then settled for staring up at him blankly. He wouldn't understand a meow as an 'I'm quite alright, thanks for asking.'

"Drink this." Anders then took Merrill's seat and pulled me up. He seems smaller than he used to for some reason. He's still huge, don't get me wrong, but something's off and I can't quite put my finger on it. I see the cup in my face, but the blanket slipping from me is more intriguing. It's to much to hope for what I'm looking at is really me.

"I don't think she's realized yet, Blondie." Varric chuckles holding a hand over his mouth as I watch one arm lift up and wiggle it's fingers in front of my eyes. Is it a figment of my imagination, or am I the one doing this?

The other hand follows to meet the other and flex. I look back to Anders, waiting for him to say something about his precious little kitty, but he doesn't. He just gives a faint smile. It vanishes as the ghost hand reaches out and touches his chin. But I'm the one that feels the prickly stubble under my finger tips. I can feel the warmth of his hand on the middle of my back where it's resting. I'm, no longer a mangy feline...

I retract my hand back to myself and study it rubbing my finger tips together. I'm me again, that part of this nightmare is over. I'm so happy I can cry, I don't want to exactly, but it's what I do anyway. I guess the fact that I'm laughing, abet strangely, must let the others know I'm not actually sad.

After some time Varric speaks again from his chair beside my bed. "How did you end up like that, kitten? I bet it would make a great story."

I scratch at my throat, I haven't tried to talk in the last three months besides 'meowing' at everything thrown my way. "I'm.. not sure." I can honestly barely remember what had happened. All I remember was the house shaking and nothing. And that's all I could tell them.

"If I didn't know better I would say you had angered a mage." Fenris had finally spoken making me remember that he was still here in the first place. "But even they shouldn't be capable of that." I'm not going to agree or disagree with him. I have no idea what mages can do, let alone what they're capable of.

"Why does everything have to be at the expense of mages with you?" Anders stood and pointed an accusing finger at him. "Not all mages are out to seek harm."

"Please stop." My whisper was ignored and my voice rose slightly in agitation, but that too was discarded.

"Yes, and I've seen enough of those to prove your point."

"They fight for their freedom just as you had!" Varric by this point had to step between the two and push Anders back.

"Out both of you!" Garrett's voice was stern and commanding. "Or maker have it I will beat both of you to the brink of death." Anders backed off immediately and left the room. Fenris as well began to leave, but stopped soon after to face me.

"I apologize, I should not have succumbed to his taunts in your presence." And with that he left the room closing the door behind him.

Varric grumbled loudly and flopped back down in his seat. Clearing his throat he leaned on the arm of the chair giving a kind but mischievous grin. "You know our names, kitten. What's yours?"

That's right, all they know me by is Lady Whiskers... I still hate him for that.

"Valerie."

Merrill cooed. "Such a pretty name. Valerie!" She sat down on the bed grabbing me in a bone crushing hug. She babbled on for a good minute in her weird little language, giggling every few words. She was stuck to me like glue for the longest time, I guess she was just happy to have another gal pal to hang around with besides Isabela and Aveline.

They tried figuring out where I should stay, but no one could come up with anything. Apparently Anders didn't want me staying at the clinic. It would be to unsafe if someone came looking for him, or if I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time there. It wasn't that he didn't like me at least, as far as he was concerned I was still his friend I suppose.

Merrill was out of the question for much of the same reason.

Garrett didn't want me around his uncle, and I agreed wholeheartedly with that. The man was a complete ass.

All it left was staying with Isabela and Varric or Fenris. I never liked the Hanged Man much, it smelled and not to mention the patrons. At least though with Isabela there, they'd be to busy ogling her assets set on display for the world to view.

High Town would be the safest place to stay, and Fenris has a gigantic mansion all to himself. Garrett wouldn't have that either, he liked, well when I say 'like' I mean he tolerated, Fenris but he wouldn't have me staying with him either. So we're at a bit of a crossroads with this situation at the moment.

If I had a choice I'd rather stay with Anders, I knew him the best, but then again now that I'm back to the way I should be. It might be a little awkward.