megkenyeresedett penész

A Dog Named Ostagar

He was a scrawny thing. The last left in his litter. The man swore he was descended from the heroic mabari of Ostagar, the fearless dogs who saw the Fifth Blight. But I couldn't have a dog. After that loss in the Deep Roads, what was left of my life was something I'd face alone.

That night, there was a fire. I hauled buckets with the rest of the villagers and doused the flames. I found that scrawny puppy. I couldn't find the man anywhere. I tried to shoo the pup, but two days out of the village and he came tumbling into my camp. I called him Ostagar and said he could stay "for now."

I meant to find him a place to stay--a farm, a quiet village, maybe some noble's villa. But Ostagar never wanted to remain behind. "For now" turned into months and then a year and then I couldn't imagine life without him.

I though we'd only be in Weisshaupt a week. Then came the darkspawn army, the Archdemon, that god...Ostagar and I ran through falling towers and clawed our way through the horde. Then, for the first time in three years, Ostagar wasn't at my side. I was alone.

When the wall collapsed and smoke filled the room, I pictured Ostagar running. Maybe he'd gotten away. He could escape from Weisshaupt and find that farm I should've left him on in the first place. If I was alone, it would be okay if Ostagar was safe.

I heard a darkspawn snarl, then fall silent. I was dragged from the wreckage, though I wasn't sure I wanted to be--and Ostagar was there wagging his tail.

Evka and Antoine told me there's trouble all over Thedas. They asked if I'd go to Ferelden and sen reports. I'll show Ostagar the ruins he's named for. I don't know if he's related to those Fifth Blight mabari, but to me, he's the best of them.