God I hope I get everyones character right, let me know if someone seems to out of order. I'll try to fix it, or make sure it doesn't happen again! And sorry for such a late post again... I'm such a bad person haha

CHAPTER 6: FIRST IMPRESSIONS

After a few days I eventually decided to just stay in the Hanged Man with Isabela and Varric. She had at least promised to warn me if she had any plans of 'unexpected' late night 'visitors'. Somehow I think she might conveniently forget to warn me, she was a strange lady with strange fetishes. She didn't make me feel unwelcome at least. And I didn't feel strange being around her, but if I hadn't met her before I probably would be a little more than freaked out by her.

The thing is though, she guarded over Merrill and I like a stubborn mother hen. If some man even looked at us for longer than a second she would be up and in that guys face. She never ceased to amaze me with her so called logic. She was quick to teach me where to stay away from, and reteaching Merrill to avoid the places like the plague. Isabela knew she didn't have to worry about the elven girl, she could fight well enough for herself without anyone there to protect her.

She wouldn't let either of us out of her sight when we wandered aimlessly through Kirkwall. I still remember paths that Anders had taken with me on walks. It was like seeing the place through a whole new set of eyes though. Sounds were different and smells weren't as bad. It was great to not be on ground level anymore. Although at a whooping 4' 9'' it's not much better.

The fact that I'm so much smaller than even Merrill causes the pirate to harp on me to be cautious even more so. I'm an easy target for my size, but being the size of a dwarf and thinner had it's advantages though I suppose. So long as I don't get myself caught in a position that I can't get out of.

But the thing is, I'm not so defenseless. I trained since I was eleven years old in Tae-Kwan-Do. I've been Yi dan, second degree black belt, for years now, but that doesn't mean that I'd exactly win bringing fists to a sword fight. If it came down to it though, I would much rather run than stay and fight. I'm not stupid enough to go looking for trouble. Even though as of late it seemed to just find me. I just needed to stick with Isabela for now though.

When she wasn't at the Hanged Man or with Merrill and me, she made Varric watch me like a hawk. I hate being such a burden on him, but he doesn't seem to really mind. He often asks me about where I used to live, but I don't know if I should really say everything. It'd just either blow his mind or he'd think I belong in an insane asylum. Sometimes I think the same thing to be honest.

He tells me it's because he wants new ideas for a story. And the idea of a person turned into an animal appealed to him. I've only gotten vague ideas of where his story is going. And needless to say I have no idea what's really going on in that warped dwarven mind of his.

"Come on, kitten. I need more info for my charming heroine. I promise to split all profit on this one with you fifty fifty. How does that sound?" He asks over the roar of the tavern.

"Varric, as kind as your offer is. I'm no hero; I'm not really even a fighter." He shrugs off my statement, only wanting to hear what he wants to. To be truthful though, it would be kind of fun helping him write a story about a hero that was, but wasn't, me at the same time. He wiggled those bushy eyebrows just waiting for me to spill the beans. He was to charming for his own good.

"You know you want to, don't deny it." Rolling my eyes and shaking my head I couldn't help but smile. I just know I'm going to regret telling him anything. So I told him a bit about where I came from, and the look on his face was concern.

"Where did you say you were from again?"

"Far away." I huff laying my arms on the table. "Varric... can I talk to you about something." I can't help it I need to get this off my chest before I think I've gone completely crazy.

"Fire away, kitten."

"It's... just, it's going to sound weird. Borderline insane."

He only laughed at me and leaned farther back into his chair. "Kitten, I highly doubt you can surprise me." Alright Varric you asked for it, 'challenge accepted' I guess would be the situation to use that in.

"Okay, before you call me crazy I've just spent the last three months as a cat. So here goes." I lean forward and he does the same. "I'm from Tennessee, which is in North America... on another planet..." With each bit of information he just continued to stare at me, and his brow rose higher up his forehead. "See, you think I'm nuts."

"Kitten, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but do you think you may have just hit your head a little to hard? Even I can't come up with something like that."

I think I know where I spent my entire life up until this point. I wasn't just imagining the last twenty-one years. "If... I could just get my stuff. I could prove it to you..."

"Where is it?"

"Back where I first woke up here... but it's probably gone by now." I don't even think I could find that little place again if I tried. My clothes and bag had to be taken by the first passer by that came across them.

"Think about it. It'll come to you." He reached over patting my arm giving a warm smile. "Ah we have a visitor." I turned in my seat to see Fenris stalk across the room glaring at anyone who even attempted to cross his path or get in his way. Such a grump, he makes the Grinch look benevolent. "Ready to lose again, elf?" Varric asked producing a deck of cards from out of nowhere.

"I do not plan on losing." Varric snickers under his breath and begins shuffling the cards up before dealing them out between the three of us.

I've watched them play a lot since I had been with Anders... hell he even tried to teach me to play as a cat, that didn't really work out to well needless to say. I don't get the concept of the game, I've never really been into card games since middle school. Even then it had only been games like Uno or solitaire.

Thank god they're not making me play for money. Not that I have any though... I have no poker face at all, grinning maniac or blank confusion is about all I can muster with that.

I think that Varric just dealt me in so I wouldn't be sitting there like a giant bump on the seat. Just when I think I get a good hand, it comes crashing back down when the two of them crush my horrid card skills.

"I'm out..." I mutter and lay my remaining cards on the table and let the two finish out this round. Fenris gives a little smirk, but it vanishes as soon as he notices I've seen it. To late caught it, where's the camera? He and Varric go into an all out card war from then on out, and I can only watch in amazement at them.

Even just a simple card game with them, the group entirely to think about it, is very cut throat. Not that they would hurt each other over a simple card game. Sometimes though I think that a few wouldn't mind gutting the other...eww... I won't name names, it's to obvious who.

In the end though, Fenris loses. He takes it with much more grace than even I would think him capable of. Well it's not that hard to think. He's very well behaved when magic isn't involved; then he just goes into berserk mode and hates everyone and everything.

Varric though can't help but rub it in his face that he had won. "You're lucky that wasn't a real game."

"Which is why I didn't try."

I snorted and throw my hands over my mouth and nose as they look at me.

"See even kitten knows a bull-shitter when she hears one." Fenris shakes his head.

"Just deal the cards again."

I passed on this one, letting the guys have their fun without having to take it easy on me. It was more fun to watch the two bicker at one another as they play. Fenris got along so well with Varric, I'm not going to go as far as saying he 'liked' the dwarf, but at least he tolerated him. I don't really think I've heard him say anything particularly bad about him. At least to my knowledge.

By the time they decided to call it quits Varric had six wins while Fenris only four.

"Getting better, elf. Maybe you will be out of debt by the end of the month?"

Fenris didn't reply to him and just stood. "Leaving already?"

"Yes, did you need something?"

I started to reply back, but Varric beat me to the punch. "She needs help finding her old things. I would help, but I need to clean Bianca. She's awful fussy when she's messy."

I thought I had already said I don't remember where they were, or if they were even still there... He pulled me down close to his mouth to whisper in my ear.

"Give him some company, he spends all his time alone in that big house. He needs a friend."

"Okay." He did have a point. "If you don't mind helping that is." Fenris only stared back waiting for me to tell him where to go. "I think it was somewhere around Darktown."

"Lead the way." And so I did. All across Darktown with the elf following close behind me. I couldn't find anything that looked familiar, it all looked the same actually. Nothing stood out in my mind except the stench. I know so long as I steer clear of Anders' clinic Fenris won't make any negative comments and remain silent. And I won't accidentally run into the other man and have a small war start.

They only seemed to behave when Garrett was in the immediate area. I would hate to see what happens if they meet and he's not around to stop them from killing each other. No chance in hell that I could stop them if they chose to fight.

"Do you know where you're even going?"

"Not really, no." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, obviously trying to keep himself calm.

"Keep searching then..." After about an hour or so I just gave up for now. It was pointless, I would never find my things. They were as good as gone. "What was it you lost?" He asked as we made our way up to the lift.

"Some clothes and my bag." I motioned the size of the bag with my hands. "About this big, made of leather... well when I say 'bag' I mean its more of a suitcase."

"Were it's contents important?"

"Yeah." I know I should be more involved in wanting to find it. Pictures of my family were in there, my grandmothers necklace was mixed in with my clothes, my wallet and ID, not that those would be any use here. I'd still like to have them back, it was my last reminder of where I came from, and that I'm not a complete imbecile.

But anyway I am close to where my friend is, if I could just get away without Fenris following me.

"Thanks for the help again, I just remembered I have something to do here." Backing away as he turned I waved. "See you later!" I smiled and turned off toward the clinic. After a few glances behind myself I took off into a run. At least Fenris hadn't decided to follow after me, so far as I could tell.

I should have stuck with him, like I had promised Varric, but I wanted to talk to Anders since I was here.

I haven't talked to him, since well, ever. I don't count 'meowing' as talking either.

It would be nice to get to see him again. I just hope he won't be to mad at me for coming down here. I was his friend after all, shouldn't I be allowed to see him whenever I wished? Yeah I thought so.

x-x-x-x-x-x

Anders wasn't really mad per-say, a little irritated that I put myself at risk by wandering around alone in Dark Town but that was about it.

"I didn't come alone really." I kicked my legs as I sat on the edge of the table Anders' was working at.

He sat the potion he was working on down, and stared at me incredulously. "Who may I ask accompanied you, and then left you alone?"

"Fenris." I know they didn't get along, but I didn't expect Anders to jump up from his chair, sending the wooden object nearly half way across the room. I swear his eyes flashed blue for a moment before he let out a heavy sigh and went to retrieve the chair.

"Stay away from him. I do not trust him, and you shouldn't either."

Hate really didn't describe what the two held in opinions for the other. I'm not really sure if there even is a strong enough word that could describe it. Most of the gang was at one anothers throat it seemed, but none more so than these two.

"He's not that bad, Anders." I shrugged. "You just have to get to know him. He's quite nice when he wants to be." Ahah... wrong thing to say.

"He claims I am the monster! You have not seen what he can do, and all without a single regret." Again that chair was sent flying this time hit the far wall and splintered against it.

"Woah, blondie. Are you trying to redecorate, because you're just making it worse." Varric opened the door again and stepped over the broken pieces of the chair. Anders' grunted beside me and tried to calm himself down. I really should watch what I say around him if it concerns that particular elf. "Lets go Kitten. You've got Rivaini all worked up." Varric gave a low chuckle motioning me to follow him. I couldn't move though, Anders' little out burst was kind of frightening.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. "Please just promise me you will stay away from him."And he disappeared into his room, the door slamming behind him.

I followed behind Varric through Dark Town, and into Low Town. Just trying to figure out what happened. I knew exactly what, but at the same time it all seemed so foreign. This world wasn't any different from where I came from, well the obvious not withstanding, but prejudice and it's nasty friends were all the same.

Fenris hated Anders because he was a mage, and Anders hated Fenris for just living. Well probably not entirely just for living, but just because Fenris hated mages that meant that Anders had to hate him. Good God this is all to confusing. They despised each other, that was all anyone really needed to know.

Foot meet mouth.

I really need to watch what I say, and who I say it to. But coming from America that would be a tough lesson. Coming from where I could just say what ever I wanted with almost no consequences.

"What's on your mind, Kitten?"

"What isn't lately?" Varric just laughed loudly as he usually does. "Do you think Fenris is really as bad as Anders makes out?"

From the corner of my eyes I could see Varric just shrug. "I don't think so. Don't get me wrong though, he's still dangerous. But what Blondie can't see is he is just as dangerous."

Varric pulled me to a stop forcing me to look at him.

"They're more alike than they want to see. But hey, what do I know." Come on Varric we both know that you're the smartest one of the group. "Don't worry though, if I thought he had a few missing screws I wouldn't let you go anywhere alone with him."

"Right it's been duly noted." We both had a little laugh before he led me down the brightening streets of Low Town.

"Try to see things from his view. Try to be his friend."

I just had to quote Yoda here, it seemed fitting. "Do or do not, there is no try."

"That's my girl."