Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

A half-truth at best, Wynne notes. But at the same time... Carver seems more shaken than anything else. a touch of guilt, yes, but... "What else happened, Carver?" the elderly woman asks gently.

[Carver Amell]

"I-- I--"

He looks up, pale, and swallows. "I'm sorry," he blurts. "I just, he stabbed Niko and, he was coming for-- and I had to, I had to stop him, and I just, I started hitting him and, and I, he... I..."

[Bethany]

"Hitting him? How did that-" Bethany's eyes widen a bit. "You- did you- like when you were arguing with Varric? After- on the way here, at the stream?"

[Carver Amell]

Carver blinks, trying to remember. Then, slowly, he nods. "Yeah."

[Tethras Clan]

"What-"

[Bethany]

Bethany talks right over Seli, not even noticing. "Can you- can you control it? Can you... change your hand again? Now?" Do you have magic too? Different but real magic, just like me and Mar...

[Carver Amell]

Carver stares at her in horror. "No! I won't-- what if I hurt you?!"

[Bethany]

Bethany snorts. "One, we're surrounded by healers. Two, I'm not helpless. Three, you would never hurt me like that. Not ever. Remember? Even- when you were upset with me, about... on our way here, even with all that going on and being in an argument with Varric, you were there, helping me, the second I slipped."

[Carver Amell]

Carver takes a deep breath, nodding, steadying himself. "Okay. Okay." Some part of him rejoices in the fact of Bethany's acknowledgement -- that she sees him, that she understands he would never hurt her, that she trusts him. He holds out his hand, closing his eyes and thinking of that wild, terrifying, untamed place inside him, the place that quiets to hear Beth call him 'packbrother' and stirs when she's in danger. 

The tips of his fingers darken, sprouting soft, brown fur. The fur ripples back along his fingers, along the back of his hand, up his wrist, where it stops. His nails lengthen, thickening and growing wicked-sharp points, darkening to a jet black like a dog's nails. Suddenly, he's armed, dangerous, part-wild.

[Tethras Clan]

Seli leans back a little, unable to stop herself. "Some kind of primal magics," Wynne comments lightly. "Druidic perhaps."

[Bethany]

Bethany doesn't say anything, instead reaching out to carefully run her hand down Carver's arm. Probably should have asked or at least warned him, but at least she goes in the right direction, fur-wise.

[Carver Amell]

He shivers, eyes lightly closed, his breathing catching. Bethany. 

Then he sees the look on that boy's face, and his stomach churns. He pulls his hand back and it snaps back to normal, human, harmless. "I.. I need to lie down."

[Tethras Clan]

"Shower first," Wynne orders him crisply. "You'll want to be clean when you wake up."

[Bethany]

Bethany nods, moving to slip an arm under Carver's to support him. "Come on, I'll help you get washed up," she murmurs.

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, leaning on his twin. "Okay. Okay. I love you."