Varric makes a comical oof sort of sound as a large blur of person skids down, grabs the back of the neck of his coat like a cat grabbing an unruly kitten and drags him back. But! Luckily, Varric's aim is true - and the snapping mouth bits of whatever this animal is miss him by inches - and a crossbow bolt sends a spattering of dark liquid dotting the ground where he just was.

Somehow - he'll never remember his methods - he manages to get to his feet with Bianca in both his hands and scrambles away as fast as he can manage it, right on the tail of -

"Scales?" Solid, but adaptable. Defies expectations of people who don't know any better. ...and a nickname for a guy who would probably tame a dragon if the opportunity arose. It's not always that deep.

"Hey, I can't help if I'm sodding delicious." He doesn't cast a backwards glance at the critter, which might be dead by arrow to the soft bits or might be chasing them this very second.

"Please tell me you have a hidey-hole. Or a cunning plan. Or a very big weapon."