Cole Lutare 🐱💍

“Yes! Brave Ser Pounce, good Ser Pounce, was back from the battles of the world to his master. And he healed Anders heart and purpose, a long heavy weight. There was still good in the world, and it was a small, orange cat…” Cole finished his story and tipped up his hat to the old merchant.

Cole tilted his head, rubbing her arm in soothing support. “Then, one day Ser Pounce decided to be taking a long journey. He didn’t know to where, but something pulled…years later, Anders and his love were living in a hidden cabin in the wood…They heard a light scratch…a tap… like small feet…”

*happy cole hum*

He joined the grey wardens. But brave Ser Pounce, good Ser Pounce, was given up to another…he was very sad…”

“Yes! Just like. When I first saw rabbits I thought they were a sort of cat…” Cole laughed at himself, carving into the barrel with the tip of his knife. “Their journey was long, their party parted and Ander’s life saved…

Not solid altogether and singing…the land has magic still…

“Well…” Cole perked up under all the attention and hopped onto a nearby crate, crossing his legs. “Ser Pounce proved his name, noble and true! Catching mice, even hissing at darkspawn, riding in his masters cloak…”

Water? *holds the stone up to his ear and shakes it*

I like holding them. Some are smooth. There is memory in the fade, but I can hold them here….
A purpose? *stares at a river rock with new wonder*

They are many colors! And sometimes, crystals…

He nodded eagerly. “Yes, there is more but- this can be a good ending? If it is too long…” Cole whispered, gesturing to the merchant. “Maybe he collects short stories?”

*silently shipping his parents*

You like pretty rocks too, Mother?

Cole took out a dagger and tapped it on each shoulder of a small figurine of a knight on the table. “He was given the kitten and named him Ser Pounce-a-lot!”

“The Hero of Ferelden everyone knew by then, a elven mage of the circle, she traveled still across the land with old and new friends, one, a healer mage, Anders.”

“I have a story about a cat! Many think it was sad, but it ends happy…” Cole gave Bel a reasuring smile. “It was a ginger cat, orange, striped, and small. It lived in the alleys of a town, before the blight took it and he traveled many miles…”

Cole looked at all the items, they were unclear as if halfway between the fade and the world “Lost things, my favorite! Hm.” He scratched his hat’s helmet like it was his head and glanced at Bel. “A story? Which kind? I have many…”

green forms before now had faces and were holding books in a circle. “It is busy, oh?” He tipped his hat in hello at the merchant as Bel lead them that direction, watching him blow smoke rings in the morning air. “Hello, ser.”

“She is alright. Strong. The other coast is no match for her.” Cole rubbed her hand, it did look more like a market in the real city now, some of the spirits were even wearing solid landside clothing, and some that had only been skeletal

“Yes, it is very, yes. He stared again with a smile. “It makes me want to paint you. When did she give you that?”
He looked over toward the marketplace. “More real…I wonder…yes. Does that mean there might be more like me now? That stepped wide over…”

He laughed faintly with her at the wisps,holding out a hand. “Little ones, they want to play…”

“Yes, it was hope to her. She became more than a servant. People started to see her, she was not afraid, and she moved from those that hurt her, hit, called her rabbit. She paints dreams now, sunsets and trees-ah!”

“Yes, sorry love…” He let his hand drop seeming a bit mischievous too. “Those of your parts look beautiful in a corset…”
He looked around them, it was full of many more spirits and the air…
“I’m no expert in the way schools would teach, but the air…Sunlight, it feels good, right. The magic…”

“I like being there, always.” He pressed a hand to her heart and almost tripped while he was walking beside her. “Not magic before, the fade-could it be healing? Turning the world more like it was…when it was whole?” He pondered out loud, thinking

Cole grinned, picking up one of the most troublesome ducks and setting them back down on the path home. “If I was a treasure… I might be… like my hammer, an ancient artifact? Live in your pocket! Snug and warm- More artifacts than before lately?” He stepped through with a hop after her

Cole stared at her for a long moment, finally returning to the here and now by shaking his head. “You look like a pirate…a…very pretty pirate…” He took her hand full of good cheer as they started off, some of the ducks following them to the end of the lighthouse path. “Is the vault well?”

“Yes. I’m ready. Ah! I can bring cake too…” He wrapped the rest of the cake in a clean linen and added to the food with growing excitement. “A surprise…of the landside or-?Hm, best to not know. I like not knowing, if it is good…”
He quickly fed the kittens and threw Assan a fish, zipping back inside

“Mixed together. Hope, determination despair, love. That is what it is to be real, Lou. To be a someone! You are there, nearly.” He squeezed her hand, keeping a watch on the road incase anything else might threaten. “ A courier. It is…like a scout, except they carry letters. Yes, I loved skyhold…”

“Determination, maybe? My mother is purpose, that fits too.” He stared at her for a long moment drifting near. “Yes! There was a servant at Skyhold… she came from Haven. She was always nervous, shy, she became a courier… and then an artist…”

“Alright, I can carry what is needed, I am strong!” He watched her go into the pantry with a wistful sigh and stepped off to get the sleeping bags tucked into what used to be Tash’s room. He was back eating cake before Bel returned, watching her pack

Orange… chocolates?…. 😮*stares in quiet reverence that such a thing exists*