Turns out, playing the hero in a land where the weather and the ground seem equally determined to kill you isn't all it's cracked up to be. I mean, I knew I was signing up for some hardship when I decided not to leave these Orek'Tor to fend for themselves, but I wasn't expecting Mother Nature to get in on the act so quickly.
The ravine was narrow, with jagged rocks jutting out from the walls at weird angles, making every step feel like a gamble. One wrong move, and you were either impaled, crushed, or sent tumbling into a bottomless pit. It was like trying to navigate an obstacle course from hell—except with no guarantees there was anything good waiting at the end.
"Watch your step," I called back to Kara and Varric as I helped them over another rocky ledge. "This place is basically a deathtrap."
Kara grunted in response, her face set in a determined grimace. She was clearly in pain, but she wasn't complaining. Varric, on the other hand, was breathing heavily, leaning more on me than he probably cared to admit. The guy had to be strong as an ox when he was healthy, but right now, he was about one more stumble away from passing out.
"We're close," Kara said, her voice strained. "There's a way out of the ravine up ahead… leads back to the village."
"Good to know," I replied, scanning the path ahead. I felt that familiar tingle at the back of my neck again—my Danger Sense kicking in—and I immediately pulled them both to a stop. "Hold up."
"What is it?" Varric asked, clearly annoyed by the delay.
"Shh," I hissed, narrowing my eyes as I focused on the rocks above us. Something felt off… and then I saw it—a loose boulder perched precariously on the edge of the ravine wall, just waiting for the right nudge to come crashing down. "We need to move carefully. That rock up there looks like it's ready to fall."
Kara followed my gaze and nodded. "The ground's been unstable since the last tremor. We should go one at a time. It'll be safer that way."
"Sounds like a plan," I agreed, though I wasn't exactly thrilled about splitting up. "Kara, you go first. I'll help Varric along after."
She nodded and started making her way across the unstable section of the path. I watched her closely, my heart in my throat as she gingerly navigated the treacherous terrain. Every step she took seemed to make the ground shift a little more, sending small rocks tumbling down the ravine walls.
My Danger Sense was on high alert, practically screaming at me to stay vigilant. I could feel the tension in the air, like the whole ravine was holding its breath, waiting for something to go wrong. But Kara made it across, breathing heavily but otherwise unscathed. She turned back to us, motioning for Varric to follow.
"Your turn," I said, helping Varric to his feet. "Take it slow, and keep your weight balanced."
Varric grunted in acknowledgment, and we started making our way across. I could feel the ground shifting beneath us with every step, the loose rocks grinding underfoot. My grip on Varric tightened as we moved, trying to keep both of us steady. But just as we reached the midpoint, I felt that tingle again—stronger this time.
"Move!" I shouted, pushing Varric forward with all my strength.
He stumbled but managed to keep his balance as a massive boulder came crashing down from above, hitting the path right where we'd been standing a moment before. The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, causing more rocks to dislodge and tumble down around us.
"Run!" I yelled, pulling Varric along as fast as I could. We scrambled across the remaining distance, dodging falling rocks and debris until we finally reached Kara's side. We collapsed against the ravine wall, breathing hard, but miraculously unharmed.
"That was close," I muttered, wiping sweat from my brow. "Too close."
Kara nodded, her expression grim. "The tremors have been getting worse. It's making the mines dangerous, too. We need to get back to the village."
"Agreed," I said, though I couldn't help but wonder what was causing the tremors in the first place. Another mystery for another day, I supposed.
As we continued our trek through the ravine, I took the opportunity to learn more about my new companions. "So, Orek'Tor… that's your people, right?" I asked, glancing over at Kara.
She nodded. "We're miners and craftsmen. The stone and ore beneath these lands are part of us—it's in our blood. We carve out our homes in the mountains and forge our tools in the heart of the earth."
"Sounds like hard work," I said, genuinely impressed. "But also kind of… peaceful?"
Kara chuckled softly. "Sometimes, yes. But it's a hard life. The earth doesn't give up its treasures easily. We have to fight for every inch, every nugget of ore. And there are always those who would take what we've earned."
"Like those raiders," I guessed, my mind flashing back to the bloodstains we'd passed earlier.
She nodded grimly. "Drakkan. They raid our villages for supplies, take our people as slaves. It's been like this for generations."
I frowned, trying to process everything she was telling me. It was hard to imagine a life like that—constantly under threat, always fighting to survive. Then again, I didn't exactly have much to compare it to, considering I couldn't remember anything about my own life.
"And your village… it's safe?" I asked, hoping the answer would be reassuring.
"Safer than out here," she replied. "We have walls, defenses. And we look out for each other. But nothing is ever truly safe in this world."
That wasn't exactly the answer I'd been hoping for, but it was better than nothing. "Well, for what it's worth, I'm glad I ran into you two. Or, you know… stumbled onto you while you were bleeding out."
Kara gave me a sidelong glance, her expression softening. "And we're glad you did. You saved our lives back there. You have my thanks."
I shrugged, feeling a bit awkward under her gaze. "Just doing what felt right."
Varric, who had been silent for most of the journey, finally spoke up. "You fight well for someone without a clan," he said, his voice gruff but not unfriendly. "And you've got a sharp eye. We could use someone like you in the village."
I wasn't sure what to say to that. Joining a village? A clan? I didn't even know who I was or where I belonged, let alone how I fit into this strange new world. But the idea of having a place to call home, even temporarily, was tempting.
"Thanks," I said after a moment. "I'll… think about it."
The rest of the journey passed in a tense but companionable silence. My Danger Sense continued to buzz at the back of my mind, but nothing else threatened us as we finally emerged from the ravine onto a wide plateau. The landscape here was different—less jagged, more stable. And in the distance, nestled against the mountainside, I saw it: the village.
It wasn't large—just a cluster of sturdy stone buildings surrounded by high walls—but it looked solid, dependable. A place built to withstand the hardships of the world around it.
"There it is," Kara said, a note of relief in her voice. "Home."
I nodded, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment. "Let's get you both inside. You've earned some rest."
As we made our way toward the village, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was taking my first steps into something bigger than I could understand. Kara and Varric weren't just survivors—they were part of a community, a way of life that was harsh but enduring. And somehow, against all odds, I was becoming a part of it too.
For now, that was enough.