Walk the Dinosaur

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Morrigan came to a stop in the camp, changing from hawk to human as she touched down. It was a remarkably swift transition; Jennie wondered how many hours of work it had taken to learn to transform that seamlessly. What would it be like to take wing and soar high above the treetops? She caught Fergus's eye, and then looked hastily away, blushing. A romantic part of her that persisted despite her attempts to quash it thought being with Fergus might be like that—a feeling of flying safely across the sky, with him to support her.

"Don't be foolish," she whispered to herself.

"What's that?" Isabela, standing closest to Jennie, leaned over to ask.

"Nothing. Talking to myself."

"Inner badass need a pep talk?"

"Something like that."

Morrigan cleared her throat, and the assembled group fell silent. "The Driazi are on the move; I almost pity Leliana should they find her. However, they are simple people, who live largely without trickery. Her stratagems may take them by surprise, and that is where we come in." There was an undoubted smirk on her face as she surveyed the faces in front of her. "We are all more than used to treachery and the devious methods of certain humans ... It is our task to protect the people of this forest from anything that might come to harm them. They would not be in danger were it not for—me."

"For us," Wulfric corrected, taking her hand.

"It is not the time to quibble, my love, but no, this is my doing." She glanced sharply at Jennie and Fergus. "And theirs."

Jennie opened her mouth to argue—after all, how could they have known that Bethany and Leliana would follow them into the forest? But of course, they should have known. Zevran and Varric had suspected, that much she knew, and she and Fergus had been painfully naive. At least he had the excuse of barely knowing Leliana ... Jennie should have seen her sister coming miles away. "What do you want us to do?" she asked instead, and Morrigan looked at her approvingly.

"I will ask Fergus and Wulfric to remain here in order to guard Arthur. We cannot take the chance that this may be a distraction while others of their party circle around to capture him. Perhaps Zevran would be so good as to remain as well?"

Zev's mouth tightened a little, his mouth opening and closing without words, and Varric spoke up for him. "I think what Flash is trying not to say is that he would like to be there to make sure Jitzal's found safe and in one piece." The Antivan looked gratefully at the dwarf, but with surprise, and Varric grinned. "I've told you, I'm very good at this," he said to Zev, and then, to Morrigan, "I'll be happy to stay here and help keep an eye out. Bianca's got dead aim."

"Very well. And thank you."

Zev took Varric's hand in his, bending over it and kissing it. It was a courtly gesture, not a sexual one, for once, and demonstrated the deep appreciation Zev didn't feel comfortable putting into words.

As such, Varric didn't snatch his hand back the way he might otherwise have done, wiping it off ostentatiously and making a joke. Instead he let Zev finish, smiled at the elf, and said, "You're welcome."

"And the rest of us?" Jennie asked.

Morrigan brushed a stray feather off her shoulder. "I shall accompany our native friends—magical assistance will not be amiss, since the opposing party has mages and they do not. Isabela and Zevran, circle in each direction. The Chantry and the Wardens are ahead of us, that much I could tell by my flight. Our old friend," she glanced at Wulfric, "did not appear to notice me, as she was in the midst of a heated argument with your sister, Hawke."

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