Sota let out a content sigh as he found somewhere in the courtyard to settle down. Somehow this little nook seemed to be devoid of the weirdness plaguing the rest of the world, if only by chance - but that was good enough for him. As soon as he noticed glowing crystals beginning to form along the sides of the room he'd claimed as his own, he'd promptly vacated it. Though he prided himself on being adaptable, there were certain things he wasn't willing to get used to - and these changes were one of those things. He didn't get a good feeling about the crystals and he couldn't sleep knowing they were there, growing and pulsating like they were alive. The thought alone gave him chills. No, he'd much prefer to settle out in the open, not that he was very visible to begin with. He was nestled down in a corner, curled tightly into himself, but a sudden voice shook him wide awake. Had that been a voice on the wind? It certainly sounded like it, though it hadn't been familiar, nor had he been able to distinguish what it was saying. Regardless it startled him, and he finally pulled himself upright and gave his limbs a good shake, deciding that there was no way he'd get back to sleep now.

Artorias was not in a good state of mind. Worry and anxiety clung to him like invisible parasites, draining him of energy and confidence. He kept up a brave facade, but deep down, the yearling was struggling. All the preparations and learning he'd done to get ready to take over the role of Aegis hadn't exactly taught him what to do in the face of the literal apocalypse! The strange events happening around the world seemed to be intensifying, occurring more violently and physically every night. The sun no longer shone, simply hovering on the fringes of the world in perpetual twilight. Stars had turned into arcs of light in the pitch black sky at night. Fireflies had taken over the world, and now the strangeness had permeated into the sanctity of his family home. The castle walls sprouted strange glowing crystals, fireflies made their home amongst the courtyard and gardens, and glowing mushrooms joined flowers in their beds.

Suffice to say, the young alpha was feeling very out of his element. Of course fate would have the world enter its end times right when he was to take over, when everyone was looking to him for reassurance and guidance and protection. But how could you protect those you love from things you couldn't see, couldn't touch, couldn't understand?! It was taxing and made Artorias question every decision he made. Wandering through crystal-studded corridors was beginning to piss him off, amber eyes glaring with hate at the rocks as he avoided touching any of them and made his way out of the castle. He stood on the terrace and sucked in a deep breath of cool night air. Perhaps a walk would help clear his mind. Large paws carried him down through the courtyard gardens, very nearly missing Sota lying in the grass due to his dark coat, but the light markings gave him away.

"Oh, good evening, Sota," he greeted the smallest member of his pack. "Is everything all right?" Art flinched; dumb question. Obviously everything wasn't all right. "I mean, are you doing all right?" It did concern him that he wasn't the only wolf being kept from sleep by the paranormal goings-on.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Corbin" | "Argent"

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.
____________________

Sota wasn't by any means a spiritual man but it was hard to ignore the other-worldly implications of all of this. He liked to think he was a realistic, focusing on what he knew to be true, but this? This was all completely outside of that, and it left him feeling deeply unsettled. In a way he was used to living in the shadows, but not this literally. Now the darkness seemed to be creeping in from all sides, slowly drowning out the daylight, leaving only the faintest glow left behind as a reminder of what once was. Even the stars no longer seemed quite so comforting in the way they streaked across the sky - as if permanently frozen in time. He hoped that wasn't the case; if anything he wished time to be moving faster, to get them out of this strange rut they were slipping into. He'd been so lost in thought that a sudden voice caught him off-guard and nearly made him jump out of his skin. He'd heard a voice carried in on the wind just a moment ago - perhaps it had been Artorias? He really didn't think so but it calmed his nerves to tell himself it may have been. Quickly he hopped up onto all fours and gave a deep bow of his head to the larger man before straightening properly. He'd abandoned such formal greetings not long after joining the Hallows but lately he found himself comforted by the familiarity of little things, like the typical greeting of the Songa. "Evening, Artorias," he returned the greeting with a small smile, albeit a slightly forced one. "I'm.. doing fine, I think. Found a little corner that seems untainted yet by.. all of this." What could they even call it? Sota didn't have the faintest clue. "But I heard someone talking and it startled me awake. Maybe a walk is in order," he suggested gently. It seemed Artorias had a similar idea in mind.