The Brecilian Forest

They were so noisy!

Epona was due to bang her head off a tree, the only things that stopped her was how amused Morrigan looked by her frustration, and how Lawrien tried to get in between Epona and the trees, a bit panicked. Really, Epona should have gotten used to this by now, but apparently she must still be used to her own clan's professionalism in travelling through the wilderness.

"What part of being a Grey Warden meant we were going to have to go through creepy forests and fight werewolves?" Faren groaned. "This is the start of every adventure tale I used to hear as a kid."

"It's exciting, isn't it?" Leliana smiled.

"I don't know, a lot of those tales ended badly for the adventurers." Faren squirmed at the thought.

"Yes, many do have sad endings, but they are so romantic, aren't they?" Leliana said.

"And deadly," Faren deadpanned. "Don't forget the deadly part."

Epona paused. Cobian had stopped, and looked a little embarrassed.

"Epona?" he asked, hesitantly.

Epona sighed. "Yes?"

"Is it a mark of disrespect if Calenhad tries to claim everything as his territory?" Cobian pointed to where Calenhad had once again stopped to pee.

Epona stared blankly.

"That's it, Calenhad!" Lawrien cheered. "Claim the forest. This is Grey Warden property now!"

"Then we can rent it out and make money." Faren grinned.

"We'll be rich!" Lawrien cheered. "I can finally stop stealing!"

"I think what you do is looting," Faren corrected.

"There's a difference?" Lawrien blinked.

Why was this her life now?

Morrigan shook her head. "And these are our Grey Wardens."

Leliana giggled. "It's adorable."

Lawrien straightened up and Calenhad abruptly stopped peeing. Epona whirled round, bow at the ready, but Lawrien stepped out in front as the werewolf who attacked them both earlier approached, two others flanking his side. Calenhad growled, teeth bared, but Cobian patted his head to soothe him.

"Don't be reckless, Lawrien," Epona warned.

Lawrien who was between her and her shot.

"You followed us into the woods," the brown werewolf snarled. "I had hoped that you would have taken our attack as a warning to leave." He stared down at Lawrien. "Why is the human leading this time though? Have you come to hunt us with your Dalish girl?"

"Grey Wardens aren't so easy to scare off," Lawrien said, her brow furrowed. "And I have a lot of questions. I'm sure Cobian does too."

"Many." Cobian smiled.

Epona rolled her eyes. Yes, of course.

"But first, Ciara would tell me off for not being polite," Lawrien huffed. "I'm Lawrien Amell, Commander of the Grey Wardens of Ferelden."

Epona blinked. She hadn't even hesitated with the title. Lawrien threw her a grin at that.

"I can't hesitate when Duncan and the others died for us. I am the Commander now, and that's that. I'm the one who holds the responsibility now."

The werewolf paused. "You are young for a Commander of the Grey. Very well, Lawrien, I am Swiftrunner. Now turn back. Tell the Dalish you have failed. Tell them we will gladly watch them suffer the same curse we suffer!"

"You're angry at them." Lawrien's face scrunched up. "He's angry at you. You all hate each other because you all hurt each other."

Swiftrunner snarled. "Zathrian started this!"

Epona scowled. "He didn't attack you."

Lawrien froze, eyes wide. "He did..."

Epona paused. Zathrian attacked them? No, that wasn't possible. Why would he bother doing such a thing? He was usually the voice of reason in conflicts, especially during meetings between the clans.

"But he didn't. Not you exactly..." Lawrien shook her head. "I don't understand, you're emotions are all over, just like Flemeth, there's too much of you and-" Lawrien snarled. "Dammit! You're giving me a headache, Swiftrunner!"

Swiftrunner startled, then snarled. "You know nothing do you? Your master sends you without a clue!"

Lawrien growled. "I will kick your ass if you call him my master again-"

"You only attacked the hunters."

They all paused, as one they turned to Faren, who flushed and smiled sheepishly. Swiftrunner stilled as well, seemingly quiet for now.

"You only attacked the hunters." Faren tangled his fingers in his hair, embarrassed. "No children were harmed nor were the adults who couldn't fight back."

Cobian gasped. "Ah, yes, I didn't think of that! None of the younger ones were harmed. Nicely spotted, Faren. Had not thought of it. Too busy thinking of treaties."

"Guess you'll have to write all about my genius now," Faren joked.

"Indeed. You do notice things many others wouldn't," Cobian mused. "A good trait."

Epona groaned. "This is not the time!"

"I want to know what's going in," Lawrien insisted. "I want to help."

"No. Go back, tell him you failed. Do not interfere," Swiftrunner growled, but it was soft, somehow kinder than before?

"I'm not turning back, and I don't want to fight you," Lawrien said. "Just talk to me. I want to help. You're all in so much pain and it hurts."

"I do not wish to fight you either," Swiftrunner admitted. "But we cannot trust you. The forest has eyes of its own, it shall keep you out! Come brothers and sisters!"

The group turned and retreated. Epona raised her bow, ready to fire, but Lawrien yanked it down.

"Seriously? Swiftrunner is our enemy. He's insisted upon it," Epona scolded. "Don't be soft, Lawrien."

"I don't want to hurt people because they are scared and in pain," Lawrien said.

"I don't understand," Leliana admitted. "But we cannot just abandon the Dalish to this horror."

"No, we're not." Lawrien's eyes hardened. "We're going to find out what's going on."

"Shouldn't our focus be on the Dalish treaty?" Morrigan raised a brow.

"True, but the situation is truly fascinating." Cobian beamed. "I already have a new notebook set up for this. I would love to complete its study."

Epona groaned. "Just..." She shook her head. "Lawrien, my people have been through a lot. Please don't get them killed over this. If its between them or the werewolves, please, for me, help the Dalish."

Lawrien blinked. "Well duh, we don't have a treaty with the werewolves."

Epona bristled. "Then why are you butting into their affairs?"

"Because they're giving me a headache!"

"You're giving me a headache!"

.::.

Leliana sighed. "I had to admit, I was expecting a heroic speech."

Faren laughed. "Lawrien has never liked overly complicated emotional situations. At least for as long as I've known her, which hasn't been very long admittedly. She threatened to punch Flemeth last time she got this worked up."

"Flemeth?" Leliana startled. "The Witch of the Wilds?"

"Mother was amused by that," Morrigan agreed.

"Mother?" Leliana gasped.

"Our Grey Warden career has been quite eventful thus far," Faren admitted.

Cobian blinked. "True. My family was murdered, we were sent straight into a war zone which was conquered by darkspawn and now we're fighting werewolves."

"I wonder if this is normal for Grey Wardens," Faren laughed nervously.

"I highly suspect not," Cobian mused. "Although, Lawrien does in fact seem quite calm about all this, so perhaps it is."

"Yes, but it's also Lawrien. She seems to have this link to trouble and chaos." Faren shrugged.

He heard a faint whimper. Faren paused, then looked around. "Anyone hear that?"

Epona and Lawrien grew quiet. Epona drew closer to him, her eyes closed, before another groan made them pause.

"Okay, so I'm not going crazy?"

"Evidently not," Epona said.

They followed the noise, the others trailing behind them. Lawrien's face twisted, she looked pained and uncomfortable, but Cobian drew close to her and nudged her, murmuring something. She grinned and laughed.

It wasn't long before they found a Dalish hunter sprawled on the ground, bleeding and unconscious in the dirt. He was pressed tight against a tree's base, shivering weakly.

"Can I loot him?" Lawrien whispered.

Epona kicked her shin, earning a yelp. She then knelt by the hunters side, checking over his wounds.

"I think this is Deygan." Epona began to drag him up, slinging him over her shoulder. "I have to return him to camp. No hunter should be left alone this injured."

"Wait, if hunters weren't allowed in the forest, what is he doing here?" Faren asked.

"Not allowed doesn't mean someone won't sneak past the patrol anyway," Epona huffed.

They took their original trail back up to Zathrian's camp, but thankfully Mithra was guarding the pathway.

"Ah, Deygan!" Mithra rushed over and examined him. "He's badly hurt, but it doesn't look like he'll turn into one of those beasts. I'll bring him to Keeper Zathrian. Ma serannas, Epona."

"The Maker must have watched over this man!" Leliana smiled. Mithra paused, glaring, but Epona shook her head, gestured to Deygan instead.

"Or perhaps their own gods were watching first," Morrigan argued.

"Or maybe they just know the Maker by another name."

"Unless your Maker has multiple personalities, likes to trick himself often, and change genders, then no," Epona said sharply, hands on her hips. "They're not the same. Now stop trying to shove your Maker down our throats."

"Yes, believe what you wish." Morrigan smirked. "It seems to me that they should be thanking us, more than some absent gods, but who am I to judge?"

"I still have yet to discover proof that any gods exist!" Cobian complained. "So far their acts seem more like miracles on the part of people themselves, but I will continue to investigate."

Epona sighed. "You do you, noble. So far you have yet to offend any of my people, somehow."

"Nor the werewolves." Faren grinned.

Cobian's eyes brightened. "Speaking of study, I discovered some of the Dalish mating customs, so perhaps I should also investigate the werewolves as well-"

"No!" Epona bristled.

Lawrien cackled.

"Let's go," Epona ordered, marching off back into the forest.

She really hoped that the others were having an easier time in Redcliffe. Although, maybe they shouldn't, maybe they should suffer as she is now.