a rented mule would probably smell better

Hawke had nearly stepped on and tripped over these gifts, but gladly, both remained unharmed.

The man couldn’t resist stuffing a brownie in his mouth before even getting the box inside the flat. Meanwhile, Shepard took the time to trot about in the street for a minute or two; just the prospect of getting to enjoy such a wonderful treat put a new spring in her step!

With the rawhide clamped firmly in her mouth, she made her way back to the door to follow her master inside, only to have the ends of such a large goodie bounce off the sides of the door frame and block her entrance. She stared for a moment, then sat.

"Well Hawke, never let it be said that you can’t surprise a man." The sarcasm is strong in this one.

Snow had been plentiful up high on Sundermount outside of Kirkwall, to be sure, but taking into account all the creatures there that wanted to eat him, as well as the wandering clan of elves that he wasn't sure wouldn't shoot him on sight, it wasn't his first choice of vacation spots. Here, the weather seemed to bring an air of stifled calm; it was unsettling, but not so much that it was enough to keep him from wandering out in it.

Hawke drew his cloak around his shoulders, taking in the expanse of stark white that blanketed the outskirts of the Den. A trail of large paw prints defiled the snow, courtesy of his hound, trailing far ahead of him. Shepherd could very well take care of herself, and the champion reasoned that she deserved a good romp.

As he watched her kick up the white stuff in the distance, a pair of golden, gemlike eyes peeked out from his fur hood. "I hope you haven't let the cold numb your sense of caution. You can't know for certain that no one is taking advantage of this makeshift peace to achieve their own ends."

"If I stayed cooped up inside all the time, I'd never get anything done," Hawke said, casually dismissing his dragon consort. "I know you're only looking out for me, but I'm no child." Though I don't doubt Aveline might say otherwise now and then, he mused. He heard a soft snort of derision near the nape of his neck, but no counterargument. The Champion felt a sudden pang in his chest; his friends had constantly been in his thoughts ever since he'd left home, but only now did he fully dwell on his losses.

"You worry about them? They'll be fine. They've grown infinitely during their time with you. They're no children either."

"You ask a lot of questions, don't you?"

"Naturally. I know vast amounts about this realm as I was brought into being for the sole purpose of connecting that information to my host. However, that makes you the variable. The more I know about you, the stronger and more beneficial our partnership will be."