By Blood & Lyrium {Dragon Age: Inquisition}

Chapter One: The Blood of Home Near

It was raining yet again. Not even a light drizzle, but a steady downpour of fat rivulets that soaked through even the toughest leather to chill the skin. It darkened the sky deeper than the swirling grey clouds above, tinting the whole world into monochrome, and making the whole trip even more miserable. Naturally, Dorian hated it.

He had been riding for days, with the stern silence of Cassandra and the occasional uncomfortable discussion points from Cole. His hair and clothes alike were plastered to his skin. They hadn't been given enough time for a proper meal since they left Skyhold two days prior. This, along with the fact that he could tell he had only been dragged along because their Inquisitor felt it was to bring along another mage, but had grown frustrated with Madame de Fer and developed a growing discomfort around Solas.

It certainly didn't help that the Inquisitor's mood was plummeting with every passing minute. Leliana's spies had been adamant about the information that had started them on this mission in the first place, but the party had yet to find any trace of the handful of Dalish elves that amounted to the last of Clan Lavellan. Every now and then, Cole would open his mouth to speak the emotion of where they were, making Inquisitor Lavellan look up hopefully. Cole had yet to say anything fruitful, however, and it was beginning to put a strain on them.

"Perhaps it would be wise to reach out to one of Sister Leliana's scouts," Dorian announced, throwing caution to the wind in preference of some semblance of conversation. "If only to have at least one person skilled in tracking."

The second he said it, Dorian realized he had made a mistake in calling out the foolishness of their party. The Inquisitor scowled at him, the twist of her features pulling the fluid blue lines of her vallaslin into strange knots. It rather complemented the disgust she held for him, he thought sardonically.

"We have no way of doing that - which you'd be aware of if you thought for one second before opening your mouth," she snapped. "And we have Cole."

Cole, as if triggered by the Inquisitor mentioning him, spoke up, "Rage like fire. Not at a person, but at a people. 'Your kind are all the same'. Wanting for someone better."

Dorian gave a sigh, "I'm well aware, Cole, thank you."

"I follow, but I can't find. Not unless there is pain for me to heal."

"There should be," the Inquisitor said. "We just lost our clan, they're traveling through unfamiliar land. We should be able to find them with Cole."

Dorian bit his tongue to keep from arguing at how beneficial it would have been to have someone who could do a bit of scouting. Someone who could recognize tracks or whatever other things scouts look for. He supposed there weren't too many people in the inner circle who would be able to help much more. One of the Chargers, he thought, might've said something about being a hunter...

"Guilt gnawing like mabari teeth. Need washing over it like a balm.'There are children, but I have to.' Hungry mouths at home. Hungry shame at hand."

All three turned to look at Cole, various shades of alarm on all of their expressions. Still, Cole continued, his voice more pained this time.

"Cold, it's so cold here. Blankets woven in pretty colors. Roaring fire smothered in the din of laughter. Mi'nas'sal'in. It hurts low and quiet like burning charcoal. Have to keep going. Have to find her."

Everyone sat up a little straighter at that. The Inquisitor very nearly fell of her hart at the announcement.

"It's them."

"We do not know for-"

Cassandra didn't have time to finish before Lavellan dug her heels into the beast and took off in the direction Cole was facing. Cassandra gave a frustrated sigh and motioned for everyone to follow her after their Inquisitor. Dorian watched as Cole vanished from sight, no doubt rematerializing much further ahead of them, using some spirit equivalent of fade step.