The life of the Dalish was one of extremes. Necessities were never taken for granted and hard, honest work did not secure survival. Sources of food were scarce. The Darkspawn had either scared or killed off most wildlife in their path. Some speculated Orzammar had fallen at last and that the Deep Roads were now open for any and all Darkspawn summoned to the surface. The clan's best hunters were usually sent ahead in hopes they would find food to feed themselves and the rest. Amongst the best was Isa. Several days could go by before Lea saw him again. While Isa spent his time hunting, Lea spent his time looking at the horizon for the hunters' return. Though most elves were civil with him, they lacked a welcoming quality Lea had only experienced with Isa. Leaving the Circle was for a mage perhaps like a chicklet coming to the world. They would imprint on the first nurturing soul that came their way. Lea spent every possible moment with Isa, fawning over his endless skills, speaking to him as though he had spent a lifetime saving every word he could utter. Isa had yet to show annoyance with him, he prefered teasing Lea instead.

Walking for miles and miles on end had taken its toll on Lea's feet. His soles were turned to blisters and his shoes were splitting at the seams for the misuse. Life outside the Circle was an exhaustion Lea had not known until now. Everything ached; legs, arms, back, feet. There were no walls to put an end to their walking, no templars to tell them where their world ended and where it began. Nights were even worse than the days spent in hunger and aches. Exhaustion was not enough to assure him a night of sleep. Nightmares haunted him. Every night was another failed attempt at saving Roxas from the templars' clutches and every morning was a bitter reminder.

"Could you teach me how to use a bow?" Lea asked Isa late one evening as they leisurely walked back to the tents. It was one of the few luxuries the Dalish had, to not lay under bare skies when rain fell. Isa had showed him a map of the Imperial Road. The sea lay mere miles up north. It made the weather unpredictable.

"Are you not supposed to wield a sword?"

"With these threads for arms?" Lea countered and held his arms forward to show Isa what he meant.

"You have to start somewhere," Isa smiled. "I'm sure if we could get you some food, you would grow into the size of a Qunari in no time at all."

"That's not a bad idea. Let me come with you on your next hunting trip. I'll bring back a kill. I swear on it."

"You and those threads?" Isa huffed and earned a playful shove. "Leave the hunting to me. It would be a shame were you to fall before we made it to Denerim."

"Right, because the Archdemon will be a sight for sore eyes. Let me come with you. If anything it will give the rest less reason to glare my way should I bring back food."

"Fine, but you will have to follow my lead."

Two days later the hunters stood ready to leave. It was before sunrise. The dew on the grass dampened Lea's shoes and the chilly breeze had him shiver. They walked through dense forest in silence for hours, tracking for animals. There were scarce birds let alone any larger animal with more meat on their bones. The hunters did not want to waste any arrows for naught.

Lea found a small stick that fit in the palm of his hand. Back in the Circle, Lea had been messy. His books towered over his chaotic desk. It had been near impossible to find anything of his. Roxas, being one of little patience, taught Lea a hex to find what he sought. As a novice he could only find smaller things. Roxas had been much better at it. The stick levitated, the three hunters oblivious to it as they soldiered ahead. Lea deviated from the path once given an indication from the stick. He would not need bow nor sword for his first hunt.

A lonely ram stood by a small pool of water. It dug in the wet moss restlessly as it drank water. Years had gone since he had seen an animal in anything other than books. The foreign smell of its wet fur and the sound of its growls had Lea's heart beat with the force of thunder. Lea took a deep breath and held it in. A flame licked the palm of his hand. The ram looked up, startled, but it was too late. The flame in Lea's hand exploded from the ground underneath it and engulfed the creature in merciless fire.

The smell of burnt fur lay thick over the ram. Its legs jerked as if it was still trying to run. Lea walked up to it slowly, holding his hand over his nose. The Dalish hunters were yelling for him, but Lea could not find his voice. He stared at his kill, trembling at the scene. The templars never missed an opportunity to tell the mages how destructive their powers were. Mages had brought about Darkspawn. They were the reason there was a Blight. And now proof lay before Lea as a testament to the monstrosity that resided within him.

"Lea!" Isa came running toward him. He grabbed Lea by his shoulders to help him stand straight. He only glimpsed at the animal at first, much too worried about Lea to question the smoulders left in its remaining fur. "Are you hurt? Did it attack you?"

"I killed it," Lea said weakly and shrugged. "It was having some water and I just..."

"Just what?" Isa walked around the animal. "Lea, it's… roasted. What... what happened?"

"Is this bad even if my intentions were good?"

Isa did not answer. The frown on his beautiful face said it all. Lea's secret was out and he would have to face the world's reaction to an apostate in his own flesh.