Snippet #1483022

Arvin had honestly meant to go hunting for food for the group, but backing up Severia and Jasper if needed took precedence. As soon as the little meeting was over, and it was obvious that the group wasn’t going to be attacked, Arvin winged himself away. He was a bit surprised the resolute dwarf had decided to come with them, still used to people believing the propaganda that Loghain had been spouting about the Grey Wardens. One more party member wasn’t a bad thing, however. The falcon’s eyes spotted a skitter of movement in the brush below, and the bird of prey dove instinctively. Arvin fluttered back to a tree branch after a few moments, clutching a bleeding mouse from his talons. Just a quick snack, then he’d go back to hunting for the group, Arvin promised himself, until he was nearly knocked off of the branch by a sickening sensation.

If the falcon could sigh, it would have. Why did it never seem to end? Darkspawn, and lots of them were near. Arvin quickly took flight once again, aiming towards the Darkspawn that he sensed. There was no way that the other Wardens wouldn’t have sensed them. A howl split the air in the direction of their camp. The shifter suspected Kujo as the culprit of that one. The falcon was quick to reach the scene of the battle, where already darkspawn had been engaged. What better way to introduce himself to the battle? Arvin dove at a Genlock, pulling up with talons outstretched to rip into the creature’s eyes. There wasn’t a safe place to land or transform, Arvin noticed as he tried to gain a little altitude. He weaved around a polearm that was jabbed his way before he was out of sight. Arvin turned about in the air, close to the ground and began to revert to his elven form.

Knowing he’d draw attention from transforming, Arvin quickly began a spell. Aiming to create a momentarily safe spot for himself to transform, the mage had landed a little ways off from the nearest member of the party. His fist clenched, he wound his arm back as if to throw something. A little glowing mote of flame arced lazily from his outstretched hand after the toss. It was easy to miss the pea of fire in the heat of battle, but Arvin had chosen where to throw it well, away from any of his party members who might get caught in the blast. The fireball exploded a few yards away, knocking any nearby off their feat and incinerating the closest Darkspawn to its epicenter. This gave Arvin a little time to chug a small lyrium potion he kept in his robes, giving him the mana he needed to shapeshift.

This little used form was his strongest at the moment, but difficult to maintain in the long run. Arvin felt his body thicken with muscle as he fell down to all fours. Course brown fur sprouted over his hulking form. A large brown bear soon stood in the elven shifter’s place. The green eyed beast trumpeted a loud roar before charging the nearest darkspawn, knocked silly by the blast of his fireball. It was a simple matter of swinging one great paw to rip the creature from life. Where his lynx form was for speed and precision, Arvin’s bear form was needed for pure savage strength. Hopefully his other party members would recognize the bear for what it was, and not another enemy.