Weather was a lot weirder than Zephyr had given it credit for. In Auster he had been born in what he knew as winter. He had cozied up in the inside structure of a chimney for warmth and had hidden away in the castle to avoid the chill winds outdoors. It wasn't an exciting season by any means, but it had felt short as he used the time to get to know his new family.

Winter had then broken to give way to spring. It was the time when new flowers had begun to bloom, animals all across the continent began the process of birthing new litters, and the sun had melted away the snow. A peaceful time, and a relief on the back of a cold winter.

Next had come summer - his favorite time of year, without contest - and introduced him to heat waves, thermal winds, a scorching sun in the sky, and to how cool and crisp a drink from the stream felt after a long period of exertion. The season would never be long enough, there would always be too much to do and explore, berries to eat and cool summer nights to glide across.

Zephyr also knew what was supposed to come next. He'd never experienced autumn, but he'd been told enough to know what it preceeded - another cold winter. More snow, more wind, less time outdoors and more nights huddled around a roaring fire. He had begun the process of mentally preparing himself for the chill to return and the sunny hours to dwindle once more, at least this time he had a mostly full body of feathers for protection against the wind. It was a disappointing end to the 'year' - or was it?

It was time for another trip with Artorias, the wolf he'd come to know as father. This time rather than exploring a nearby territory, or teasing him with sights just across the bifrost, they were headed out to Boreas itself. The landmass had interested him ever since the day the Aegis had pointed it out just beyond the expansive waters. Artorias had explained that it was time for the two of them to make their way to the adjoined continent, and more then that - in Boreas, it was spring.

The revelation was a rather large one for the young raptor, who'd resigned himself to six months of miserable cold out of the year. Spring turned into summer, and then summer to fall, but by the time autumn had reached the northern landmass spring would be returning to Auster! One could live entirely in the warm, happy seasons and dodge the cold entirely, should they be so intelligent as to travel correctly. It posed the question - why didn't everyone 'winter' in Boreas? Obviously their castle wouldn't be mobile, but Artorias had explained that they had many family members north of the bifrost. Couldn't one of them take the pack in, until things warmed up? There was no downside, in Zephyr's young mind.

He continued to contemplate this train of thought as he glided off the crystalline cliffs that bordered the ocean shore. They provided height beyond anything he'd encountered in Auster, and the ocean winds repelling off the stone made it possible for him to recover from the glide and propel himself back up, when his altitude dipped too low. It was the most enjoyable practice of flying he'd experienced so far, and each time he returned to his watchful father on the cliff, the grin on his beak had grown wider.

Zephyr felt the familiar weight to his wings and chest that was his early warning sign he was beginning to tire. It was time to return to his father for another break, and this time as he banked to return to the rocky outcropping, he had a question on his beak. "Why can't we come back here every winter? I don't like the snow." A sudden gust of wind caught him beneath his partially outstretched wings and he wobbled against it, folding them in tight and frowning out into the sky. It seemed even nature itself wanted him to remain and play on it's breeze - even if that breeze was brewing into something stronger.

"Zephyr"

Leading a pack meant dividing his attention across all fronts that demanded it. It also did not allow him to divide that attention fairly nor evenly. That was one important lesson Artorias had fast learned in his first year as Aegis of the Hallows. It felt odd to realize that he'd been leading the Hallows for over a year now, especially when so much had happened that it hadn't felt like a year. Yet as he reflected on that time, Artorias realized that he needed to continue to work on managing his work-life balance, making sure that his duties did not steal him from his loved ones, nor that he became lax in making sure the pack was taken care of. It was that striving for balance that really hit home when Art saw Zephyrus out in the castle courtyard one day, marveling at how large his adopted son had grown. By now, the young avian towered over the Aegis, his fledgling feathers giving way to more permanent adult plumage with rich azure accents that almost mirrored Artorias' own fur. Seeing his son growing reminded him on the promise he had made the raptor some months ago—and now it was time to keep it.

Artorias had collected his sword and informed Zephyr that they were taking a trip up to Boreas together. The raptor's enthusiasm was palpable on the air while they traveled northward, crossing the Bifröst and arriving at the southern shore in no time. While they crossed the northern continent to allow Zephyr to explore and experience everything for the first time, Artorias taught his son some of the basics of the geography—namely how that while Auster was heading into autumn, in this hemisphere Boreas was entering its spring, its temperatures rising and days growing longer as opposed to their home's decreasing weather and shortening days. The pair crossed Boreas over the span of a couple of days, stopping to rest in the former Armada lands, where a wistful Artorias could reflect on his time there when the pack had resided in the plains. On the second day, they arrived at the Crystallum Cliffs. Art had chosen this location specifically for Zephyr to enjoy, giving him plenty of open space and coastal air currents to ride as he practiced his gliding and flying.

That was where he was now, Artorias seated on the edge of the cliffs, watching Zeph swoop, swerve, dip and dive with blossoming grace. A proud smile stretched across the young wolf's face while he watched his son have the time of his life. He briefly wondered if this was how every parent felt watching their child grow, learn, and discover the things they loved. Was this what Tamsyn had felt when she watched him practice fighting with his sticks? The onyx and azure brute chuckled beneath his breath, lounging out in the sun on the soft grass while a steady coastal gale rippled through his fur. After some time, Zephyrus made his way back to the cliffs, coming in for a smooth landing beside him. "You're getting very good at flying, Zeph! Pretty soon you'll be able to start making trips around the territories on your own!" he complimented the fledgling raptor with a beaming smile and bright eyes.

Zephyrus asked his question then, catching Artorias by surprise with it. He supposed the question wasn't outlandish, given that Zeph lacked the fur of wolves to make living in shifting climates a natural thing. He knew his son loved the summer months the most—apparently so much that he wanted to become migratory! "Well... you can," Artorias explained after a moment of thought, peering up at his gigantic adopted child from where he lay. "A lot of birds migrate north and south depending on the seasons and the weather. But if by 'we' you mean the pack, that's a different story. You see, wolf packs aren't nomadic like birds or bands are. It's very difficult to move a pack, especially when there are a lot of wolves in it. It also means our home would be left unprotected if someone tried to come and take it while we were gone." Artorias shifted to rise to a seated position, smiling up at Zeph while he placed a paw on the raptor's closest talon. "That doesn't mean you can't though. When you're old enough to fly on your own and can look after yourself, if you'd like to come visit Boreas during Auster's winter, I don't see a reason why you couldn't."

Amidst his reassurances, a sudden strong gust of wind blew up over the cliffs, whipping Artorias in the face and nearly sending him reeling. Whoa, that was strange! Collecting himself again and seeing the concerned look on Zephyr's face, the Aegis glanced out towards the sea. Heavy clouds as dark as night were rolling in from the ocean, moving fast with the gale force winds as they loomed in the distance. Even from here, Artorias could feel the shift in the air, the static charge of a coming storm that made his fur stand on end. Sharp amber eyes could see the flashes in the clouds that signaled lightning. This was a massive storm front—and it was coming right for them. All mirth had drained from Artorias' face when he realized the gravity of the situation they were in. They couldn't outrun the storm and it would be far too dangerous for Zephyrus to fly in those sorts of conditions. They only had one choice left then.

"Looks like flying's over for now, Zeph. There's a storm coming in." Artorias rose to his paws and shook the loose grass from his coat, fixing his son with a serious stare while he motioned to follow him. "C'mon, these lands used to belong to an ally of ours. They should still have some dens or caves nearby we can bunker down in until it blows over. Do you think you can scout ahead and see if you can find some shelter? Something on high ground." A distant rumble of thunder caught Art's attention and made his heart sink in his stomach. They didn't have much time.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Eira" | "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.
____________________

There wasn't much Zephyr found more thrilling than the praise of the wolves who had raised him. The growing raptor's plumage fluffed out in pride, a pleased grin on his beak as he basked in Artorias' approval. Zephyr's every goal had been to live up to his wolf family's expectations and to embody the values that the Hallows and its knightly wolves stood for, and in doing these things he had hoped to make up for the unfortunate fact that his bloodline didn't quiiiite match up to that of Artorias or Briar's. His adoptive parents had never made him feel any less of their son for being a bird, but it was a difference he was never fully able to get over when he considered where he fit in his family... and where he might fit later, when one day his mother and father had biological children of their own.

The statement that he could choose to winter elsewhere shook him a moment, his bright eyes blinking in soft bewilderment. He could? Without his family, without the pack? Zephyr didn't know how to feel about the thought, and he stood quiet against the strengthening winds as he absorbed it, his father's paw upon his talon.

Collecting his thoughts into an appropriate and not overly-emotional question was difficult, and it took time it did not appear they had. The winds were growing stronger and the rumble of thunder had begun to sound. Storms were not new to Zephyr and they were definitely not new to Artorias, so why had it turned the Aegis so serious? Artorias explained that he was familiar enough with this territory to know that there were caves within, and requested he scout ahead to find shelter. For a brief moment he hesitated over his answer, but in the end his desire to please the man won out over the soreness in his wings. "Sure!" Stepping back from the wolf, he turned back to the cliff-side and faced off against the approaching, darkened clouds.

The storm seemed to grow closer with each passing second, and before he could waste any more time in contemplation, Zephyr leaped once more into the skies. Spreading his wings wide, he banked a sharp turn and rode the ocean breeze up and past his father, racing the storm as he searched the towering rock wall for anything that might signal a cave or a den.

An intermediate flier at best, Zephyr was unprepared for the rage of the storm. The winds he was so used to gliding were violent and unpredictable, forcing him beyond his comfort zone to where he had to frequently flap and adjust direction. Rain had begun to fall, the droplets hitting with such force that he could swear they were shards of ice. Occasionally he'd glance down and catch sight of Artorias where he ran, but the requirements of simply staying in the air were too demanding of him to risk it with any regularity. The muscles in his chest burned hot with pain, and each breath he took felt suffocatingly thick with moisture. Never before had he seen a storm so violent, nor one that came on so quick.

Just as he was ready to angle himself into a steep spiral back to ground to where he hoped he'd find his father, Zephyr caught sight of a peculiar darkness higher up on the cliff as well as a waterlogged route up towards it. He threw his wings back to interrupt his forward movement, beating them hard until he was hovering unevenly above the path. Letting loose a desperate, eagle-like call (for he knew his voice would be too hard to hear through the hurricane) the raptor signalled Artorias, though it was cut short by another much louder crack of thunder.

No longer with the momentum to soar and relying on his strength alone, Zephyr was tiring quickly. Before he could determine whether or not Artorias had caught sight of him and the cavern he had found, the winds shifted once more. He found himself sucked  violently to the side, like an icy claw had swatted his tiring form out of the air and into the nearby stone wall. His feathered form slid down the rock, landing in a shuddering heap on the outcropping. Shuffling away from the edge, Zephyr pushed himself up tight against the wall. His talons scrabbled to find purchase on the carved stairway, fast moving water flowing down between his toes. Once more, the argentavis called out. "DAAAD!"

Total Word Count: 2492

"Zephyr"

Just before he gave his direction, Artorias saw the lot of uncertainty in Zephyrus' expression when he suggested the young argentavis could one day decide where he spent his seasons. He wanted to know more about the boy's unsureness, but the ever obedient and good lad that he was, Zephyr gave no protests when asked to scout them out some shelter. From the air, he'd be able to spot a place for them to hunker down far faster than if they scouted from the ground, and time was a pressing factor. The electric charge in the humid air was growing stronger, and the rumbles and claps of threatening thunder was getting closer by the minute. The wind picked up into a powerful gale just as Artorias watched Zephyr take to the air, gliding on the gusting coastal current high into the air above him. He watched his ward for a moment longer, making sure he was stable in his flight. He knew this was a lot to ask of a new flyer, but they didn't have much choice in the matter. Necessity dictated a push of boundaries and comfort zones, no matter how much it worried the Aegis as a parent to ask so much of his child.

When he felt sure Zephyrus had his bearings, Artorias began to race off across the grassy fields along the tops of the cliffs, paws thundering over the land while the wind whipped up his dense fur coat. It took him a moment to realize the rain had started falling, a thick, icy drop smacking him right between the eyes and causing him to turn his gaze up. The clouds as dark as pitch had completed their roll in toward the shore, and with them came louder booms of thunder that were more akin to explosions. The rain steadily began to fall faster and harder, pelting the wolf as he ran after his son, keeping sharp eyes locked on his form in the air with nothing short of heart-stopping worry that the air currents might be too strong. Zeph would wobble about, trying to avoid being hit by the rain while flapping his wings with all his might. Artorias' legs similarly were racing, heart and muscles pumping while he used all of his athletic skills to navigate the rocky uneven terrain to follow his airborne son.

At some point, Zephyrus disappeared out of line of sight while Art dipped in a thicket of trees, and when he reemerged, he couldn't spot the young raptor anywhere. His heart stopped, the wolf skidding to a halt while glancing anxiously about the dark skies. Where had he gone?! "Zephyrus?!" Artorias called out into the howling wind, barely feeling the rain that hit him like bullets. A raptorial screech caught his attention, head snapping in its direction towards a higher portion of the cliffs. There! Not a second was wasted while the Aegis raced through the damp grass in the direction of his son's desperate call. The wind was blowing so strong now it was turning the rain sideways, whipping him in the face with such a bluster that Artorias had to squint against its force just to see. His cheeks and nose burned against the weather, the clouds overhead churning and swirling as the hurricane made landfall. Then the downpour started.

All at once, Artorias was drenched from tip to tail as lightning joined the chorus of thunder, piercing from the sky to the earth in deadly bolts. Artorias had never seen a storm like this before! His heart hammered in his chest, panicking while he rushed on, thinking only of Zephyrus' safety. Running through a particularly slick portion of grass, Artorias skidded out with a yelp and a grunt, gritting his teeth while he scrambled back to his paws and pressed on. All around him, woodland animals scurried and sprinted for shelter from the oncoming storm. A minute later, he arrived at the waterlogged path leading up the cliffs to where Zephyrus was shouting for him. He spotted his ward pressed against the cliff, trying to shield himself from the wind. Thank the gods he was okay...! "Zephyrus! Get inside!" he shouted back, sprinting up the path and once more losing his footing under the rushing water. The wolf slipped and slid down the rough terrain, bumping and bruising himself up in the process but refusing to go down. Large paws caught the dire on his fall and he sprung back up, trudging forward against the wind and water. His muscles ached with the strain, blood running hot in his veins with the effort his body exerted to keep itself going. He had to make it up to Zeph, he had to! There was no alternative.

It took more effort than he was used to, and he suffered a couple more falls on his way up through the water, but eventually the Aegis made it up the cliff to his ward, clawing his way along the rocky ground through the water onto the ledge. He saw the cave Zephyr had found; high above the ground and rising sea, it would serve to keep them safe for a short while. Artorias hoisted himself up with a grunt of effort, rising up and pushing Zeph gently with his body to usher him into the cave. "Well done, Zeph. Well done," he praised the lad through heavy panting breaths, limping his way inside and out of the storm. "We'll stay here until the storm passes. We'll be safe here." Now in the dry shelter of the cave, Artorias could give himself a full triage. He was soaked to the bone, muscles aching all over, especially in his legs, and his hind leg had a dull ache where he suspected he might have pulled something during his climb up the cliff. Art paused to give his fur a shake, dislodging as much water from his coat as he could in an attempt to dry himself off before shuffling further back away from the mouth of the cave, still ushering Zephyr to follow him. "I'm so sorry I made you fly in that, Zeph. I should've been more careful with your safety." Artorias scowled a little at his own recklessness. He had chanced his own son's protection with a rash decision. Thankfully Zephyrus seemed mostly unharmed, but it also could have been much, much worse.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Eira" | "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.
____________________

Every moment out on the rocky ledge felt like an eternity, but Zephyr could not gather the courage to move while his father was still somewhere down below. He had no way of knowing if the man had seen him before he fell, knew where to find him, or knew where they could together find safety. The seconds ticked by and the raptor remained pressed tight against the wall, shivering against the fear and the cold until the familiar, waterlogged form of his Aegis appeared. Artorias drug himself up the rock, shoving the shell-shocked bird gently to usher him inside. Zephyr allowed the movement to push him, waddling cautiously along toward the cavern entrance. Ducking his head beneath the low hanging stone, he entered the cave and the roar of the storm began to dull. His father's words were muted, and Zephyr struggled to lift his sore wing to bat at his fluid filled ears. He had never been so wet in his entire life, and this encounter was making him fast rethink the swimming lessons Artorias had once offered. The wolf added another layer of wetness to his feathers as he shook and dried himself, and Zephyr half-outstretched his own soggy wings and flicked them to dislodge what he could. "It doesn't storm like this at home." The bird complained, a sudden lurch of homesickness setting in. Boreas sucked. Spring sucked. Rain sucked. Artorias moved deeper into the cave and Zeph followed as he was beckoned, holding his wings out off from his body to avoid soggying himself further. Artorias' apology brought from him a frown, and he tipped his beak to stare down at his talons in shame. It wasn't his father's fault that he couldn't fly well enough in the severe weather, it was his own. If he ever wanted to be a high ranking member of the Hallows, he had to be strong and skilled enough to handle anything that was thrown at him. "I wanted to help. I'm sorry I didn't do better, it was so hard." Artorias' limping had not gone past his notice, it added to his slow drip of shame. "Are you hurt?" How were they going to walk home afterwards if something was wrong with his leg? Zephyr sure as hell couldn't carry him, especially not after his performance in that storm. "Speech"

Despite the turbulent hurricane raging just outside and the danger the pair of them had been in just moments before, Artorias found it impossible to resist even a little bit of humor at Zephyrus' innocent and youthful remarks about the weather not being this bad back home. The wolf chuckled, then laughed, the ridiculousness of the situation and the rotten turn of luck on their part almost feeling like a cruel joke of fate now that they were safe and he could laugh at it upon reflection. The important matter was that they were both alive and had shelter. Sure, they were soaked through and uncomfortable, but fur and feathers would dry with time in the cave. "No, no it usually doesn't storm this bad back home," Artorias agreed while he sniffed about the cave, looking around for anything they could use. "Sometimes it does, but not very often. We've had some really bad storms before you were born."

As luck would have it, this cave must have belonged to someone in Abaven before, as the Aegis came about a small pile of old yet dry furs tucked in the back of the cave. Artorias pulled them out and carried some over to Zeph, passing the blankets to his child to dry off with and get comfortable on while he threw one over his own soaked form to absorb the moisture from his pelt. "Here, sit. I'll help you dry off." Wincing a bit as he was forced to put weight on his leg, Art slowly slid down to sit on the ground, settling in for what he assumed would be the long haul if the howling winds and booming claps of thunder were any indicators. Taking one of the furs in his paws, he gently swaddled it around the parts of his growing avian son he could reach to wick away the rainwater from his fledgling plumage. As he moved about to dry Zeph, Art noticed the frown on the raptor's face. Artorias' brow furrowed in concern, but he wouldn't have to ask what was bothering his ward as Zephyr volunteered the answer in the form of an apology.

"Zephyrus, no. You have nothing to be sorry for," Artorias was quick to correct his son, his voice gentle yet firm in his conviction of Zephyr's guiltlessness. "You did great. You flew in weather that was much too dangerous for a young flyer and you found us this shelter to keep us safe. You did help, you saved us, and you did amazing. Be proud of yourself. I'm proud of you." The wolf smiled up at the fledgling Argentavis with a fatherly warmth in his expression, lifting a paw to reach forward so he could rest it on Zeph's closest talon. His ward's question about his own condition took Artorias off guard for a moment, the wolf pausing to look down at his aching hind leg. There was a low and constant thrum of pain in it, but nothing severe. He'd likely pulled a muscle, and by the time the storm passed, he'd be fine. "I'll be fine, Zeph. It's just a pulled muscle. We'll wait out the storm, I'll rest it, and we'll be good to go once the weather clears up." He fixed the raptor with a reassuring smile, hoping to invigorate some of Zephyr's usual confidence.

Artorias glanced towards the mouth of the cave as a bright flash of lightning illuminated the entryway to the shelter, followed by an earth-shaking clap of thunder. They'd be stuck here for a while, it seemed. If they didn't want to go stir crazy waiting out the storm, they'd need something to keep themselves occupied. But what? Artorias thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up with inspiration. "Would you like to hear a story, Zeph?" he asked his adopted son, settling in to lie down and take some of his weight off of his aching leg. "If you're interested, I could tell you the story of our family, the Carpathius family."

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Eira" | "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.
____________________

Zephyr contemplated quietly as his father explained that Auster had received storms like this before he was born, bringing forth the memory of the Aegis' recent words that some birds do migrate. Somewhere deep inside he could not argue how very much he did want to follow the warmth as it travelled up and down continents, though it felt as if by accepting that urge he was only deepening the division between his species and the found family he had been brought up in. Wolves didn't migrate - if Zephyr couldn't conform with wolf culture, how was he ever supposed to be a true member of his little family?

Artorias had carried over furs while the young raptor was lost in thought, his attention returning to the blue furred man as he was told to sit and dry off. Zephyr obeyed, but maintained his frown at Artorias' injured leg even as he accepted the offered blankets. His father began to dry him, and grasping one of the blankets in his own beak he swung his head to drape it over the wolf's own soggy form while he worked. The praise offered to him did not send his mood skyward as it normally did, but the bird nodded in quiet acceptance regardless. It still didn't feel like he'd done great. Zephyr was so used to being proud of his accomplishments and basking in the shared pride that his failures today made Artorias' words feel more like pity. He did not doubt that his father was proud of him, he only wished he could feel like he'd deserved it. "Thanks, dad." The bird murmured back, appreciative but sad.

As they had been dried and the storm raged on, Artorias gave a surprising and intriguing offer. Pulling himself free from the thoughts of self-pity, he eyed his inspired father and craned his head to the side. "A story?" It was almost enough to let him forget his poor performance out there in the storm. Reaching for another blanket, he slung it over his shoulder and pulled his wings in tightly beneath it, tucking himself in and lowering himself to the cavern floor in eager preparation. The only thing missing was snacks, and perhaps a fire. "Okay, I'm ready." Wiggling in barely-contained excitement, he fixed his bright gaze upon his father and fell into silence to listen.

"Zephyr"

Artorias was not blind to his ward's disappointment in himself, the depreciating expression clear in his cyan optics. Artorias breathed a soft sigh of defeat, wishing he could show Zephyrus how he saw him. Maybe then he would understand why sometimes being proud of doing your best didn't mean being exceptional. The older wolf gave the large raptor a grateful smile when he threw one of the furs around his own body, helping to wick away some of the excess water from his coat while the two dried and warmed up. The last thing he needed was Zephyr catching a sickness while they were this far from home.

The offer of a story about their heritage was met with intrigued eyes and the giant bird settling in beneath more blankets to get comfy for the tale. Artorias smirked with an affectionate amusement while he watched his boy getting cozy. This would likely be a bit of a lengthy tale, so he was glad Zeph seemed so interested. "Our family is very old, Zephyr, and very new at the same time. Our line comes from a faraway land of high, rocky mountains with snowcapped peaks, rising tall above dense forests. Our family name comes from those mountains where our heritage began. Carpathius means 'strong as the rock' in our tongue, and truly our family lives up to that credence. In the generations our family has existed, it has seen the rise and fall of many powerful alphas, tragedies and losses, violence and pain, yet we have risen to meet every challenge we have faced." Artorias shifted his weight as he settled back on his haunches, mindful to not place too much weight on his aching leg while he settled down to tell his story to Zephyrus. "My mother, your grandmother, she sadly died before you were born. She's the one who told me all of this, and now I get to share our history with you. It's important to know where you come from so that you can learn who you are meant to be."

Artorias breathed a heavy sigh, trying to hold back the wave of sadness that clutched at his chest when he thought of Resin. "My mother's name was Resin Carpathius. She was one of the last living wolves of the Carpathius family. She left our ancestral home years ago to find her own way when our family fell from power in the mountains. On her own, believing her children to all be dead, she came to Boreas to start anew. That was where she met Grandma Tamsyn, my other mother, and they fell in love. After spending her life living in strife and seeing boundless violence, Resin wanted to establish a place of peace and sanctuary where all could escape to. What she founded was our home today—the Hallows. With Tamsyn, she built our pack from the ground up, and she achieved her dream. She remained strong and unyielding in her beliefs, just like the mountains she came from." Artorias took a brief pause, taking a few slow breaths while he let Zephyr absorb all the information he was giving him. No doubt the lad would have many questions by the time it was done. "Not long after the Hallows was founded, Tamsyn gave birth to me and my siblings, and Resin officially took Tamsyn as her mate and us as her children—making us the next generation of Carpathians. We might not have shared her blood, but we now shared her name, her family, and her heritage. It's why it is imperative for us to uphold the honor and tradition that being a Carpathius means. We stand adamant in our beliefs, we meet force with force and we never waver in our strength, and family remains paramount in all things."

Artorias' fire-kissed eyes lifted to meet Zephyr's cooler blue gaze, giving his son a gentle smile. "This is the family that you are a part of now, Zeph. Just like myself and Resin, you might not share my blood, but you are my son in every way that matters. I want you to remember this heritage you are a part of. This family, we may not all be blood bound, but the bonds of our family in spirit are stronger than anything. We are the new Carpathians, the new face of an old family, and we represent everything it stands for. Wear it with pride, but do not let it change who you are." Artorias fell silent for a moment, a small lopsided smile tugging at his lips as the wolf stood and shifted closer to the giant avian, coming to rest an azure paw over one of Zephyr's talons while he met his child's gaze. "Briar and I have considered you our son from the day I found you in the tower, Zeph. Nothing will ever change that. But if you would like it, I would be proud to give you our family name to wear. You will be Zephyrus Carpathius of the Hallows, the son of a very proud Aegis and Queen." If he wanted it, Artorias would give Zephyrus the most personal gift he could give another. Zeph was already his son in every regard as far as he was concerned. But if Zephyrus wanted to officially be a Carpathius, then Artorias would gladly name him as such.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Eira" | "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.
____________________

The tale began and Zephyrus allowed himself to get lost in his father's words, the story a calm comfort against the muted sounds of the not-so-distant storm raging out the doorway. As Artorias spoke, the avian's imagination drew scenery and pictures, even blurry assumptions of how a wolf might have looked or what sort of life they had led. Imagining himself flying high above the snowcapped peaks and looking down upon the towering forests below, wondering how different that existence might have been to the castle he was so accustomed to and fond of. The knowledge of where his father's name had come and what it translated to felt like truth deep in his air-filled bones - strong as the rock, his family was. It was indisputable, even with only the short near-year he'd now spent with them. In that strength was tragedy and blood, having even taken his grandmother before he had the chance to meet her. The bird's plumage shrunk, his throat and beak lowering to rest upon the stone floor with a gentle clack as his father's sigh echoed through the cavern.

The foundations of the Hallows was next and as Zephyr had always vehemently thought, his wolves were protectors. A flash of annoyance crossed his gaze as he thought of the splotched wolf Hattori who had insisted otherwise of his sanctuary. From his grandmother's dream a pack was born, a place where all could come for safety, protection, and peace. Zephyr took great pride in the knowledge, a tickle of excitement pricking at his plumage as he imagined what role he would one day play in that dream. The next bit of knowledge was surprising - Artorias and his siblings were not of Carpathius blood? Questions swam in his mind, but the story was not yet done and interjecting did not feel appropriate. It did however make the rest of the tale harder to focus on as Zephyr considered again and again that he was not the only adopted member of the family (and in fact, that no member he had met was truthfully born to the bloodline.)

As Artorias' story came to an end, Zephyr's focus grew stronger. Emotion flooded through the young bird, enhanced by the experience in the storm and the feelings that had come from failing. Blinking hard he managed to keep composure, up until the end where his father offered to him a gift. A name, a forever place in the family he had found. His beak quivered, his third eyelid working overtime to keep at bay the liquid that threatened to spill. "I want it.. more than anything. Thank you. Thank you very, very much." Zephyr croaked. Each word of his response had taken careful thought and consideration, a habit the talkative bird was not quite accustomed to. Tentatively he pushed himself to his talons and stood, idling quietly in the low-light. He had so many questions, but none were as pressing as the one stuck upon his beak. "Can.. can you teach me? Carpathian?"

"Zephyr"

Artorias was proud of Zephyr. For an abundance of reasons, but this time for the care and attention his son paid to his teachings of their family's history. He knew it would be easy for someone so young to disregard the stories of their elders, to not care as deeply as others about who they were and where they came from. But Zeph showed keen interest for the details of the lesson, a gamut of emotions crossing over his visage as he took in everything Art was saying. No emotion struck the older wolf in the heart more powerfully than when he offered his ward the family name, and he saw the tears beginning to well up in his son's blue eyes. Zeph expressed his desire for the family name, then thanked Artorias far more than he needed to. Artorias offered his child a fatherly smile and shifted to move closer to the great bird, leaning in so he may nuzzle at his son's fledgling plumage. "You are most welcome, Zephyr. You've earned it. Your mother and I are so proud of the man you're becoming, and this is our way of showing you how much we love and trust you."

As Zeph moved to stand, Artorias sat back and admired his avian son. Zephyrus had been such an unexpected blessing in their lives. He taught Artorias things he didn't know he needed to know, and showed him parts of himself he hadn't known were within him. It was because of Zeph that Artorias felt far more capable of being a father to his own flesh and blood children someday. But with this moment between them here and now, the Aegis knew that no matter how many children he sired, Zephyr would always be his first. Artorias saw the curious expression on the argentavis' face, but before he could ask, Zephyr answered his unspoken question. His response brought a smile to Artorias' face along with a soft chuckle. "As fi încântat. I would be delighted to, Zeph," he replied with a proud grin. "Between myself and your Aunt Gwynevere, we'll teach you how to speak like you've lived in the mountains your entire life."

Wanting to give Zephyrus something to have right here and now, Artorias waited for another clap of thunder to roll past before he began. "Repeat after me. Eu sunt Zephyrus Carpathius al Hallows. That means 'I am Zephyrus Carpathius of the Hallows'." He gave Zeph as many tries as he needed to feel out the foreign phonetics on his tongue. It only seemed fitting that his son's first words in their language were his declaration of who he was in their family.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Eira" | "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.
____________________