Eternally on patrol, Resin took her son Artorias with her today. She'd smelled some predators loitering at the edge of the plains a week past and every day they seemed to be inching further inward. Still nursing an injury from the attack on the castle, Resin decided to take the boy with her as backup. With the pair of them together, there shouldn't be much problem, she thought. "Whatever has been lurking out there is in a pack. They've been killing off the alpacas." Not their alpacas, of course. They were killing off the other beasts that they might need for breeding stock in the future. Besides, with winter refusing to give up its hold on the land, the wolves of The Hallows needed every animal on the plains if they were going to make it through. With only herself and Rudy hunting, they may very well need to cull some of those alpacas before the snow season was over. When the pair neared the area where she'd last encountered sign from the intruders, Resin stopped and let her nose test the air first. The icy winter breeze danced about, unable to choose a solid direction. The sun was obscured behind winter clouds, but there was enough light to check for tracks. In the end, she heard them before she saw or smelled them. Off in the distance came the telltale cackle of hyenas. Of course it was hyenas... The Aegis considered sending Artorias back to the castle, remembering what hyenas had done to Rue. Artorias wasn't weak, however. She had faith in his abilities. Besides, she wouldn't allow anything to happen to him. Casting her singular gaze towards the boy, she silently asked if he was ready. "Speech"

Artorias hadn't walked a patrol with his mother since they had moved down to Auster. She had been far too preoccupied getting their pack on their feet and settled into their new home, but that didn't bother him nor did it deter his own training. He had walked his routes and kept to his exercises every day just the same as if she had been watching him the entire time. All his effort and Resin's guidance had begun to pay dividends as his body began to show the growing muscles along with his increasing height, the boy now standing almost as tall as his mother did. He was glad she had asked him to come along on her patrol, especially after the sabertooth attack on the castle. Everyone had sustained some degree of damage after that fight, but Resin was the oldest of their pack. While he never doubted her capabilities, it did make him concerned for her wellbeing. At least this way he'd be able to back her up if anything else dared try to bare its fangs against the Hallows.

The dark-furred young man followed close beside the ashen gray fae, keeping those flaming amber eyes turned outward to their borders when they drew near. He had mostly healed from his tussle with the dire wolf and could more readily keep pace with her with his healing leg, body tensed and ready. Nothing would be getting the jump on them again. Resin explained that a pack of something had been picking off the wild alpacas around the plains, and while they hadn't made any moves towards the pack yet, Art didn't want them to ever get the opportunity to either. "Then we cut them off at the source. Weed them out, root and stem," he replied, his voice just starting to turn husky as he went through the changes from pup to brute. He had learned so much from Resin since he'd taken up the path of the warrior; he was eager to fight side by side with her again. Mother and son... what more devastating duo could there be?

Paws only slowed when Resin's did, and Artorias kept his eyes surveilling the horizon while she sampled the arctic air. The wind was biting cold even through his dense fur, and the entire world seemed washed out from the gray-veiled sun. It all felt so unsettling and kept his nerves on edge. A distinct chittering laugh caught the boy's attention, head snapping in the same direction Resin's did, although he didn't recognize the sound. His mother's posture grew tense for a moment; he briefly wondered what could put his battle-hardened mom off like that? He didn't dare speak a word for fear of giving away their position, however, instead replying to Resin's interrogatory glance with a short nod of his head. He gripped the hilt of his sword in his jaws, slowly withdrawing the wooden weapon so as not to make too much noise when the wood scraped against leather. It was still one of the flimsy old wooden sparring swords from the castle, and Artorias had little faith it would hold up any better than it did against the dire wolf, but it was still something. Adrenaline rushed through his veins, energizing his muscles and priming his reflexes. He would follow Resin's lead to hell and back again. He would stand with her against whatever enemies they faced today.

He was ready.

"Speech" | Thoughts | ”Corbin"

One big happy family

Artorias has two ravens named Corbin and Eira and a fox named Argent. Assume they are within calling distance at all times.
As his mate, Briar may enter Artorias' threads unless marked Private.
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It would have surprised the woman to know that the pups hadn't heard of the circumstances surrounding both Rue's death and the main reason for their move to Auster. She figured word would have traveled fast. Gods knew that some wolves had a hard time keeping their mouths shut. Hyena's having murdered one of her own pack with small pups roaming the territory? It was unacceptable. Even though she and Indigo had decimated the beasts that had ended the girls life, Resin wouldn't risk losing her children due to too many packs in too small a place. Inhaling deeply, the ash and obsidian woman steeled herself. Her shoulder was still stiff from the saber fangs that had punctured it, but once the Aegis began to fight, she wouldn't stop for anything. Especially with her child present. Again the chittering and cackling sounded from up ahead and Resin's eye narrowed in disgust. Before she stepped forward into her next battle, she stopped and nuzzled behind one of her son's dark ears. In a gravelly whisper, she spoke. "Be careful. Stay safe. Be on your guard. They bite very hard and they work well in a group. Keep your back to mine if you can." With her words of wisdom imparted, Resin moved forward into open view. As Resin stepped over the dune of snow, the cackling intensified. There were several hyenas and all of their eyes were on the giantess and her leggy child. Lips peeled back from noxious bridgework and the maned woman growled low. Her pelt bristled and she stalked stiff legged a few paces, closing the distance. Intrigued by the pair of predators, the pack of spotted hyenas chittered and began to circle, already breaking down into ranks. The largest moved closer while the smaller, quicker hyenas prepared to harry and sneak in bites. The curs would be in for a surprise though. Once close enough, Resin didn't wait for the hyenas to rush first. Planting her wide, hind paws, the woman pushed off, lunging forward with jaws wide. The lead hyena met her head on, its own jaws wide. Unfortunately for it, her jaws were wider. She snapped them down, serrated teeth sinking into the flesh of the hyenas muzzle. The woman locked her jaws and, digging her front claws into the ground, lashed her head to the side like a crocodilian ripping off chunks of flesh. It threw her opponent off of its paws with a squealing yelp. Resin ripped her teeth from its face, leaving shredded meat where there had once been short brown fur. She wasted no time, leaping forward to slam her massive weight down on the beasts ribcage. It gave a sickening crack as the bones shattered. Rather than let it die on its own, the ashen woman bit into its throat, tearing its life away. "Speech"

The young man would lean his head with a gentle tilt into his mother's nuzzle, accepting her affection and advice before their battle. He had heard of the dangers of hyenas only in passing. This would be his first chance actually getting to test his mettle against the foul creatures. Eyes burning and steeled in the direction the cacophony of yowls was coming from, he waited until his mother and alpha had taken the first steps over the snowbanks and was right at her side, emerging into the open snowy area to the pack of mangy beasts. Artorias eyed his opponents warily, sizing each of them up from biggest to smallest. Although they didn't appear like much, he knew better than to underestimate his foes.

Resin charged in, lunging for the largest hyena of the group and engaging it immediately. Artorias sprung after her, kicking up the powdery snow as he leapt toward the pack of hyenas. Resin's charge had broken their ranks, leaving two segmented lines of hyenas on either side of them. Art knew he had to keep them from surrounding them or they'd be overwhelmed by numbers alone. As he drew upon Resin, he saw another sizable hyena making a move on the distracted femme, aiming for an ambush on her. Artorias intercepted the beast with a flurry of his sword, bringing the blade up to catch the hyena under the chin and flipping the scavenger on its back. Using the momentum of his swing, Art brought the sword back down right onto the hyena's throat, crushing its windpipe with a sickening crunch of cartilage and blood vessels.

The hyena flailed on the ground as it suffocated, but before he could put it out of its misery like his mother had, another two hyenas ran in, snapping at Artorias' legs and shoulders. Artorias backpedaled a few steps, making sure he moved so as to never leave Resin exposed, and thrust his sword forward, catching one of the hyena's jaws with the wooden weapon. The two fought back and forth over the sword for a few moments until, with a growl of annoyance, Artorias released the sword and opted instead to dip lower, leaping into the startled hyena with fangs bared for its throat. The hot gush of blood met his tongue while sharp teeth rent its throat into a gory mess, thrashing his head back and forth with the dying hyena still held in his jaws.

"Speech" | Thoughts | ”Corbin"

One big happy family

Artorias has two ravens named Corbin and Eira and a fox named Argent. Assume they are within calling distance at all times.
As his mate, Briar may enter Artorias' threads unless marked Private.
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With the lead hyena dispatched, the blood soaked demoness turned just in time to see one of the beasts lunge for Artorias. Sending herself into overdrive, Resin quickly intercepted the leaping creature. Rearing up, she curled her spine, bringing her head downward quickly. The woman's forehead slammed into the face of the hyena and it yelped, ducking its body low. She was on top if it before it had time to rise again. Teeth sank into flesh as her jaws locked around the base of its skull. Resin used every ounce of power she had in those wide jaws to bite down hard and eventually she felt bone crack beneath their strength. She had damaged something vital, for the hyena went mostly limp, but still weakly flailed its limbs. Deeming that one dispatched, Resin moved on to the next. The smaller beasts were all that was left, though smaller didn't mean that they were tiny. They simply weren't the hulking, muscular bodies of their leaders. One turned and ran, but the other two decided to band together and come at the woman in tandem. Before the rushing beasts were in range, Resin spared a glance at Artorias. He was doing his part and had already made one kill that she could see. The corner of Resin's maw lifted in the barest of grins. She was proud. Turning her attention to the pair of hyenas, Resin rushed the last few feet towards them, throwing the creatures off a bit. One tucked its head and faltered, leaving its companion in the lead. That suited Resin just fine. Surging forward, the scarred fae slammed her chest into the front most attacker, knocking it from its paws. The hyena crashed into the snowy ground and the second one was even more apprehensive. It stopped rushing her all together. Well... that wouldn't do. With one leap, Resin had her jaws wrapped around the neck of the hyena that she'd toppled. With all of her might, the big fae planted her paws and spun. The hyena screamed as it was raked across the ground and a moment later it was airborne. Both hyenas were surprised when they slammed into one another. With squeals and cackles, the pair tucked their tails and ran. She would leave them alive to tell the tale. Turning her attention back to Artorias the Aegis checked to see if he required aid. "Speech"

Artorias didn't release the hyena from the lethal confines of his jaws until he felt the pitiful jerking of its legs finally stop and knew it was dead. He dropped the bloody corpse to the snow with a snarl, glancing past his shoulder to make sure Resin was still okay and watched while she tossed about a terrified hyena like a rag doll. Oh yeah, she was fine. So now he could just focus on... A stinging pain in his hind leg made Artorias yelp in surprise. A cursory glance back told him that was where that other hyena had gotten to. Thankfully, it was one of the smaller ones, but it was still a grim reminder for him to always watch his back.

Art snatched up his dropped sword and jabbed it back along the length of his body, stabbing the hyena in its eye and forcing it to release his leg with a yipe. It stumbled back in the snow, but the young wolf wasn't about to give it any quarter. He tossed his sword like a spear, the wooden weapon snagging between the hyena's gangly legs and causing it to topple to the ground. With a snarl, the boy was on top of his opponent, snapping jaws and swiping claws at any parts of his opponent he could reach. The hyena yowled in a panic and tried to scramble away, allowing Artorias an opening to catch it by its thigh and toss it across the clearing like it were a toy. The hyena tumbled across the snow until it came to a stop, then it scurried to its feet and fled as fast as it could. Fangs bared, Artorias considered running it down—but felt the sensation of being watched and reminded himself again of Resin's lessons of mercy toward a fleeing enemy. He snorted, breath forming a hot cloud in the cold air, and snarled after the three retreating hyenas. They were wounded and without a pack. If they didn't kill them, the unforgiving winter would.

The plains were quiet once more, and the heavy stench of coppery blood hung in the chilly air. As the heat of battle died down, Artorias let his body come down from its battle high, adrenaline ebbing away while he took stock of their fight. Several hyenas lay dead, most of them the larger of the pack. And other than a few shallow bites on his back leg, both he and Resin seemed no worse for wear. He turned to meet his mother's gaze, breathing slow and hard to steady himself again. He was still getting used to actual battle, but he'd had plenty of tastes of it with the harshness of this unnatural season. "Think they got the message?" he asked, the wry smirk playing at the corner of his mouth emphasizing the sarcasm in his words.

"Speech" | Thoughts | ”Corbin"

One big happy family

Artorias has two ravens named Corbin and Eira and a fox named Argent. Assume they are within calling distance at all times.
As his mate, Briar may enter Artorias' threads unless marked Private.
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With the last of the hyenas dispatched or run off, the grey fae stood still, watching their fleeing shapes fade on the horizon. She caught her breath while watching Artorias' last match. While he caught his own breath, Resin moved to his side. His words brought a low chuckle from the scarred dame. "If they didn't, they're more stupid than they look." Hyenas were oddly shaped creatures, she thought. Big heads, long legs, weird thick chests and smaller hind ends. They looked nowhere near as well proportioned as wolves. The mother inspected her child for injuries. She came out unscathed, but he did not. Lowering her muzzle, Resin pulled her tongue across the bite marks on the boys leg, cleaning them of any lingering hyena saliva. Who knew where those things had been? "When we return to the castle, have a healer see to those." They weren't deep, but there was no need to take any chances. "You did well today. Your skill grows with every battle." The woman was feeling more and more confident about one day leaving the pack to Artorias. Maybe Rudyard as well. If she could get the two of them to work together, perhaps they could run the pack together. Already the gears in her mind were turning as she thought of plans to turn her boys into a cohesive team. "Come. Let's go home." The fighting was done and though the sun rested high in the sky, the clouds threatened more snow. Hopefully the blood on the air would keep any other ballsy predators away for a while. "Speech"

The smirk on his face grew to a full toothy grin as he followed his mother's gaze back out the way the hyenas had fled. He hoped for the safety of their pack that they would stay away, although a more primal part of him wished they would come back so he could finish what they started. Such strange creatures... They reminded him of deformed dogs, or maybe like that wolverine Rudy was always carrying around. He'd been lost in thought, and so didn't see Resin begin inspecting the bites on his leg until he felt her tongue cleaning the wound for him. He glanced back startled, but put up no resistance. She was his mother, and mother knew best. "Yes, Mom," he replied, a dip of his head in obedience. Gwyn would not be happy to be treating him again so soon... maybe he'd be able to find Lúta or Aranea first if he was lucky.

Resin's praise, while not a foreign thing to him, still made Artorias' heart swell with pride. A delighted smile found its way across his bloodstained muzzle and his tail began a slow subconscious wag behind him. All of his hard work and training was paying off if his mother, the greatest warrior in the Hallows, was acknowledging his ever growing skills! It was all he had ever wanted, to make his parents proud and be a guardian of his home and family. "Thanks, Mom. I'm trying my best."

At her beckoning he began to follow her back, until he paused with remembrance. Artorias bounded back through the snow to find his sword—only to feel his joy deflate when he saw the broken wooden blade in the snow, snapped in the scuffle and trampling just like his other ones. He frowned and lifted the pitiful looking sword, watching the way the snapped blade hung on by a few splintered pieces of wood and ultimately just tossed it aside with a heaving sigh. Not another one... That's three this season... he lamented in his mind. Sure, the castle had a number of these training swords better suited to his size than the one he'd used as a puppy, but they were so old and flimsy and broke in every fight. Once more, Artorias began his trip back home sans a sword, following on Resin's heels all the way. At least their pack would be safe for one more day.

"Speech" | Thoughts | ”Corbin"

One big happy family

Artorias has two ravens named Corbin and Eira and a fox named Argent. Assume they are within calling distance at all times.
As his mate, Briar may enter Artorias' threads unless marked Private.
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