Blood from Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"-- so that's the final cost I came up with," finishes Carver, pointing to the sum on the page Varric is looking over. "I'm not sure, ah, if this item is going to work, so we might get that cost back."

A True Resurrection is an odd line item, especially since he pointed out separate ones where he broke out the cost if they can recover Gamlen's body and Mriy's, or if they can't. So who's the third resurrection?

[Varric]

''Looks pretty good all told.'' What is that line for? Who is missing? Leandra is alive, I've seen everyone else but... One of the Smiths or Aveline's spouses maybe? ''What is this for?'' He finally just asks.

[Carver Amell]

Carver takes a deep breath, steeling himself, closing his eyes against the pain. "Hunter," he says, finally. "He was at the guard camp that fell."

[Varric]

''Damn,'' Varric says softly, reaching over to grib Carver's arm. ''Are you... sure?''

[Carver Amell]

"No," he admits. "I haven't asked Helene. But... he was tasked with protecting Liz. He'd never have left her alone if he could."

[Varric]

''He could be just lost or held up. The Bin is half a day on foot, it's only been a day and a half or so. Easy enough to lose a day,'' Varric says softly. ''Worth a try at least.''

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah," he whispers, his voice gruff. "Yeah. I know. We should... we should look. But..."

But then I'd know.

[Varric]

''I'll go grab Helene from the library,'' Varric says gently, squeezing once more before letting go.

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, throat closing up. He takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself, when he stops breathing altogether.

That sound... in the distance.

It could be anything. Any dog in Nyra. It could be-- But Carver gets to his feet, moving to the window. 

[Tethras Clan]

And it isn't Hunter, despite his carefully repressed hope. It's Silence, who he realizes he hasn't seen since yesterday. The mabari is dirty, mud on her legs and... is that blood on her jaws? She slips in through the gate and takes a seat, panting, as if waiting... waiting?

[Carver Amell]

Carver moves to the door, to let her in, relief showing on his face. "Silence! Beth will be so glad," he says from the doorway.

[Tethras Clan]

Silence snaps her gaze over and leaps up to her feet. She barks twice, the bark that is disturbingly Beth-like in tone, that she uses to summon people to 'do the thing.' In this case, Carver gets the impression that he's being summoned. Now.

[Carver Amell]

Carver is jogging toward Silence before he quite agrees to move. "What's wrong?"

[Tethras Clan]

She huffs, tail wagging slightly, and she sits again. Looking out of the gates, she continues to pant, clearly exhausted and worn. Coming up the path is... is that Shadow, Seli's mabari? And another mabari, absolutely covered snout to tail-tip in mud and limping badly, leaning on her. Is... is that Beka? Or...

[Carver Amell]

Carver takes a step forward, then another. He breaks into a run, eyes clouding with tears, arms outstretched. 

"Hunter!"