Page 12 of Collar Me Crazy
"Ah." Varric's expression didn't change. "And how did that go?"
"He ran. Literally. The moment we touched, he looked at me like I was going to destroy his world and then disappeared into the forest."
"Interesting." Varric settled onto one of the stone benches, gesturing for her to join him. "What did you feel when you touched him?"
She felt embarrassed at the intimacy of but still met his steady gaze. "Recognition. The kind that comes before a mating bond, if both parties choose it. But there was something else, something bigger. He's connected to why my visions brought me here."
"Ryker is important to Hollow Oak's future," Varric said carefully. "Always has been, since the day I found him."
"Found him how?"
"That's his story to tell, not mine." The elder's tone brooked no argument. "What I can tell you is that sometimes the greatest gifts come wrapped in the heaviest burdens. And sometimes the people who could save us are the ones most afraid of their own power."
Sonya studied his weathered face, noting the careful way he chose his words. "You're talking about a prophecy."
"I'm talking about possibility. About choice." Varric turned to look at the carved stones. "Tell me about your visions, child. What exactly have you been seeing?"
"Ryker, mostly. Different contexts, different times, but always with this sense of urgency. Like something important hinges on him, on us meeting." She paused, considering how much to reveal. "And lately, flashes of Hollow Oak itself. Thetown, but... wrong somehow. Like something fundamental is breaking."
Varric went very still. "Breaking how?"
Before Sonya could answer, a vision hit.
The Veil shimmering like heat waves, then cracking like broken glass. Magic bleeding out of Hollow Oak in visible streams, leaving the town exposed and vulnerable. Two figures standing in the midst of the chaos—herself and Ryker, but the scene split like a forked path.
In one version, Ryker's wolf form blazed with silver light, and his howl wove the broken pieces back together, stronger than before. The town safe, the magic restored, their hands clasped as power flowed between them.
In the other, that same silver light turned dark and consuming. The Veil didn't just crack—it shattered completely, taking Hollow Oak's protection with it and the downfall of the residents. And Ryker stood alone in the ruins, her own body crumpled at his feet.
Sonya gasped, the present world rushing back around her. Varric's hands were on her shoulders, steadying her as the vision faded.
"What did you see?" His voice was sharp with urgency.
"Two paths. Two possible futures." She pressed a hand to her forehead, where a headache was building. "In one, Ryker saves the Veil, saves the town. In the other..."
"In the other?"
"He destroys everything. Including me."
Varric was quiet for a long moment, his eyes distant. "That explains his reaction."
"What do you mean?"
"Ryker has lived his entire life believing that caring about people puts them in danger. If he sensed even a fraction of what you just showed me..." Varric shook his head. "Of course he ran.The boy's been running from his own destiny since he was twelve years old."
"But the visions aren't set in stone," Sonya said, frustration creeping into her voice. "They're possibilities, choices that haven't been made yet. He doesn't have to be afraid of them."
"Fear isn't always rational, child. Especially when it's been carved into your soul by tragedy."
A cold gust of wind swept through the glade, sending the last autumn leaves spiraling down around them. Sonya pulled her jacket tighter, processing what she'd learned. Ryker wasn't just afraid of hurting her—he was afraid of fulfilling some terrible prophecy that had already shaped his life in devastating ways.
"The visions brought me here to help him," she said finally. "To help choose the right path."
"Perhaps. Or perhaps they brought you here because you're the only one who can." Varric stood, his silver braids catching the wind. "But be warned, Sonya Sibyl. Changing destiny requires more than good intentions. It requires trust, and sacrifice, and the willingness to walk into darkness without knowing if you'll find light on the other side."
"What's the alternative? Let him destroy himself trying to avoid a future that might not even happen?"
"There's always a choice," Varric said quietly. "The question is whether you're both brave enough to make it."
