Dragon Age Origins: The Tale of Solana

Chapter 18: Hurlock and Genlock

The group walked guardedly through the dense Kocari Wilds. Solana found the setting sun frightening. Would they have to camp in the forest over night for these vials? Test or not, Solana found the strange singing from before wasn't a happy warning sign for those wolves. Something about this place was echoing with some kind of lost song that practically seem to thrum the woman's every thought!

She swallowed the feeling. "Does anyone feel like we are being watched?"

Alistair shrugged and looked around. "I don't sense any darkspawn, nor do I see anyone. You're just paranoid. It'll be alright."

"Says you," Ser Jory mumbled next to Solana. His head was dipped in a distracted stare towards the ground.

Down the path was forgotten pillars of what the elf could only assume was part of the buildings used for the Grey Wardens. They fought through brush, and briers. Solana gave a great heave as she swung her small dagger to cut back more thicket. "There is no easy way about this place, is there? Maybe a well-worn path by the locals? No?"

"Look over here!" Daveth stood by a fallen log. He pointed to a strange flower growing from the side of the tree. It appeared almost like a white orchid, but with a sweet scent like honey and with a blood red center. It was just like the one that the Kennel Master was looking for. Solana reached out and plucked the only bloom and stuffed it into her pouch.

Daveth gave her a strange look. "Why did you do that? If I had known you would just stuff it into your bag, I wouldn't have said anything."

Solana crossed her arms. "It's a medical flower. The Kennel Master said he was looking for one to cure a sick Mabari."

Daveth frowned, followed closely behind with a grumble. He didn't appreciate seeing such delicate, beautiful things go to waste. He looked up at Solana who walked ahead, leading the pack of them. He admitted to himself the woman was beautiful, but he wasn't really an elf man. He didn't mind to flirt, but that was about as far as he went with the race. He cocked his head as he watched her hips sway side to side.

Ser Jory nudged him hard with his shoulder.

Suddenly, as if Solana had become possessed, her breathing slowed and her stride halted. The song had returned. The gentle, far-away voices blended to form a melody that she could almost faintly remember. Her heart pounded and she shakily took her sword. Alistair was doing the same. "Get ready everyone," he advised.

Suddenly, an arrow came zipping by. It narrowly missed Daveth's feet and he let out a squeak. An ugly roar erupted from ahead atop a hill. Alistiar watched as the blood drained from the young woman's face beside him. She looked frozen to her spot as the large, decaying Hurlocks came charging their way.

Solana had to shake away her fear for now. She must! She drew her her dagger out too. Her arms shook but she forced them to be steady. She gritted her teeth and was the first to run into the battle. Alistair stayed behind, yet not so far that he could not intervene if he needed to.

Solana swung out her sword like her mother had taught her to. She missed and the monsters fist came into view. For a second, all the woman could see was black spots as she fought to regain her vison. Green ooze marked her cheek from the skin to skin contact. With a quick movement she wiped it away and swung her sword again. It imbedded into the darkspawn's side. She tugged, but the sword had found it's way too deep.

The monster turned, not even fazed. Its head was like a man's, yet the once pale skin had begun to turn green and rot off in some places. The muscles in his jaw line were visible to all, and the stench of it all was sickening. What Solana found the most unnerving was the man's eyes. They were so human: brown, big and they held a fiery temper unlike she had ever seen.