#OUTRUNNING KARMA ― v. awakening.

[alitlantern]

"One time I saw a cat and I was like 'Oh my gosh. Is that a cat?' and it WAS a cat."

          ❝ And then you gave the little darling to me~~? ❞

          ━━━ ANDERS COOED AT the kitten, held by the pits of his arms as the mage nuzzled his face into the soft, but dirty, underbelly.

          ❝ You are a little kitty, yes you are, the cutest little thing in aaaall of Thedas, mhmm, yeah, and now you're mine~~ I'm going to take such good care of you, here, you can fit right into my pack, isn't that perfect... ❞ The affectionate mumbles continued as Anders handled the kitten with gentle reverence and care.

[alitlantern]

"I don't know how I ever got on without you."

          ━━━ THE LAUGH THAT rips from his throat in response is slightly manic; a fact he can hardly help.

          ❝ You know what I realized halfway through that fight? ❞ Anders asks, but it's clear from the way he hardly pauses that he isn't expecting an answer from anyone; much less the woman his blue-hazed hands hover over.

          ❝ The Circle doesn't really teach us how to heal others in a fight! Isn't that hilarious? ❞ The flesh knits at his behest, each layer of skin pulls at its neighbor, twists and burrows within itself as the gash is filled in.

          The Spirit he had called upon to aid the Commander's healing flickers over his shoulder, its ghostly light pouring down his arms and pooling at his hands. It's difficult to call the thing human shaped, but if one looked long enough, a face may be seen through the shifting fog.

          ❝ Oh, sure, they taught us this much. Healing after the fact, but that's the easy part, isn't it? And you know, I don't even think any of the teachers realized how inept their lessons were! We can be called on for war at the King's beck and call, but I don't think even half of the mages at Kinloch would survive their first encounter with someone who only used the ass-end of their dagger. Maker's breath, but I'm tired. ❞

          He falls back on the ground, the Commander's arm red and still speckled with blood, but the hole was covered with her own flesh and that was all that mattered at times like these. Hastily, he pressed the neck of a waterskin to his mouth, leaking the liquid down his neck with a gasp at the cool relief.

          ❝ Here, you'll need it more than me. ❞ He passes her the water, his own mouth still dry. ❝ And rest. Lots of it. I can't regenerate the actual skin, you know. Your body needs to do that itself. ❞