Lips rough from the cold. Throat cracked from shouting at the lazy guards. Mouth dry cause he didn't plan on kissing me. We both were surprised.

The kiss was quick, firm. It almost hurt. He wanted to see me naked. He thought of me naked. He was a strange human. His thoughts were so much clearer then the others. I saw his hurt but also his curiosity.

I hadn't been paying attention when he appeared next to me. Before I could speak he simply pressed his lips against mine. Eyes closed, hoping it was all in his head. The cold was just getting to him. He knew it wasn't.

His red and golden robes kept he warm. Warmer then most could afford. He had much coin but he didn't care if others only saw that in him. He didn't care that others wanted to hurt him for his robes. For how some of the women looked at him. Lust. The gauntlets and armor he wore over his robes kept him safe. Pride. He knew they would come. Tevinter. A non-mage but they thought differently. He knew this and used it to keep them away.

All he cared about at this moment was confirming my existence. Single thoughts, single wonders. Had I seen him before? I do not recall. He is new to the camp. Maybe I'm new to the camp. The days are hard to count. The sun never staying put.

What is his name? He wondered as he pulled away from me.

"Cole. My name is Cole." I couldn't back away or else I'd fall onto the tent behind me.

He was till so close to me. His warmth felt strange. Odd. Almost too warm. I couldn't find his name. He never thought of himself.

A flicker of knowledge flashed in his eyes. He knew. A soft reassuring sigh escaped his lips before he spoke, "So you are real?".

The red burned across his face. He knew. He just thought I was something in his mind. Something not real. Imagination playing tricks. But now he knew I wasn't in his head. Not something you see that's there but shouldn't be and isn't. I'm real to his touch, to his lips. He feels like a foul.

"Of course I am real." I shrugged my shoulders quickly as I adjusted my weight across my feet.

A grin played across his face, an after thought. "What does this mean?"

Before I could ask him what he meant, he turned around and simply walked away. His thoughts suddenly locked away. A blur in the distance.

There was no time to wander after him. Some one else in camp need help. A little girl. She was lost again. She was always getting lost. The camp was always changing.

Crowded tents and fire pits littered the landscape for a mile. For them, it seemed a hassle to walk through. I liked seeing how everyone rested. How they tied their horses to the makeshift posts or threw their blankets down on the wet grass we now traveled on.

The camp formed out of necessity. The templars and the mages had brought war to so many villages. Fires that engulfed many. Flames licked at everyone's dreams. Orlais had no place to offer many. Maybe Feralden would be better. Everyone hoped so.

Tired. So many were tired. Soon they would be at rest for the sun was slowing laying down to rest as well. The women hoped the moonlight would keep them safe. I tried to keep so many safe. Sooth their fears. Ease their burdens. The little old lady was so grateful when I carried her back to her tent this morning. So happy.

I found her by the stranger's camp again. I never saw him but his feelings lingered everywhere. She followed him too often. Hoping maybe being with him was enough to bring him back. She was never hurt just scared. He made her feel safe but he wasn't in the tent again. Hunting. Children need the food.

"I lost him again." Her soft blue eye pleaded no. She wiped the lone tear from her right eye.

She wanted to cry again. Angry. Why did he leave mommy behind? Confused. Why did she have to stay with Auntie Sam and her children? Eight years of age almost nine, she felt like a baby. I kneeled beside her as I had done for the past three days. She just wanted to be with her father.

"His heart is heavy with grief. He doesn't know it hurts you as well."

I offer my hand in comfort. Silently she takes it. We both know she is safer with her aunt.

"He will come back to you when he no longer carries the sorrow."
"But why is he sad?"

I've spoken to her before. I tried my best to answer her questions. Confused. Confusing. My words never came out right. It bothered me.

We wandered around tents. Small, large and areas that were just bedrolls on the soggy grass. Her aunt always camped near the little stream we had been following. She liked to keep the children clean.

"He doesn't understand the world right now. You dad. He still loves you Mary. He just needs to think for a few more days."

Those were the right words to say. I saw it change in her eyes. She smiled. Now she understood a bit better. She didn't hurt as much anymore. Her father would be her father again in a few days. Just give him time.

I offered my own smile in return. I pushed her tight brown ringlets out of her eyes. It was better this way.

"Forget."

Softly spoken so she wouldn't be startled. I saw me disappear from her eyes. A ghost she couldn't see. I backed away slowly as she turned and happily wondered back to her aunt. Sam was always concerned for her niece but it wasn't time to explain what had happened. The children are too young to understand war.

The sun as close to setting. Peeking over the mountains one last time to ensure everyone was back. I'll stay by the stream to make sure their safe.