Rudyard had woken up early again.  Today he’d be leaving with Fern to set off on an adventure that would last the season.  Rudyard had always liked the idea of exploring the land but it had never happened, not counting the time he’d run off to try and find a cure for mom.  This time he’d be traveling again but with his mate and it would be a trip filled with wonderful memories to cherish.  

There was something to do before they left though and Rudyard made his way to his brother’s room.  He’d gone to bed a bit earlier last night to get a few hours sleep but now he was up at a disgustingly early time, prior to when he even expected Art to be up.  Rudy waited to one side of the door, the silent hunter ready to slam into his brother with a surprise pounce attack.  It was so damn quiet this early in the morning.  The world knew it was time to sleep despite what his brother thought.

If he was going to leave for an entire season he might as well make it a memorable way of saying goodbye.


"Speech"

With how much extra "physical activity" Artorias was getting in with Briar since the start of her heat season and their eager attempts to make a family for themselves, it was very nearly enough to put the Aegis off of his normal schedule. Staying up late tending to his wife's every needs left him knackered by the end of it, yet his Circadian rhythms refused to allow him to put off his morning meditations and patrol. So when he awoke just before the crack of dawn once more with Briar wrapped up in his arms, Artorias began to rise with a tired yawn. He carefully detangled himself from his mate, slipping out of bed with care to prevent waking her up while he donned his armor and sheathed Embershard. Making his way to the doors, he paused to take one more look at his sleeping mate. Briar was perfect... absolutely perfect, and he loved her with all his heart and soul. Knowing what they were trying to do together... it brought a smile to the Aegis' face.

Still wearing a dopey, lovestruck smile on his lips, Artorias quietly unlatched the bedroom doors and creaked them open just enough for him to slip out through. The world was still quiet and dark, with almost every resident of the Hallows still deep asleep. He couldn't blame them. With winter seeming to grip Auster in a colder chill than last year, Art also wished he could just crawl back into bed and snuggle with Briar. Maybe he'd do just that when he got back in... Totally lost in his own thoughts, Artorias pulled the bedroom doors closed quietly, then turned to begin heading down the corridor, unaware of what he was about to round into.

"Artorias" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Argent"

Rudyard hadn’t known what time for sure Artorias would get up.  He knew it would be stupidly early but what if he got up early?  Rudy was early and so he had to wait patiently, keeping a keen focus for signs of his brother coming.  Wait to long and Rudy would start to remember just how early it was but that was fought off with the reminder of the fun ahead of him.  Also highly important was succeeding in getting a successful pounce on his brother.  He’d lost his last attempt at tackling his brother and while neither one of them were pups anymore this was one of Rudy’s ways to show he still loved his brother. Someone had to keep Art on his guard for surprises after all!  Expect to be safe leaving his room in the morning?  That wouldn’t do!  Also, Rudy was in a splendid mood and it was important that Artorias likewise share in some joy.

Any sense of tiredness that had been laying on him was gone quickly.  Keen ears picked up the sound of the door as it opened and Art slipped out.  His brother’s focus seemed to be on remaining quiet, probably to let Briar sleep Rudy imagined.  After all, it was what Fern did for him in the morning.  Art focused on closing the door quietly.  Rudy smiled a villainous smile and lunged out, one stride, all feet on the ground and he launched himself, slamming his frame to hit Art’s back and front shoulders to knock the tired wolf into the ground.  “Morning!” The voice spoke with victorious energy yet softer than he would have ideally used.  After all, sane wolves were still asleep nearby.

"Rudyard"

Rudyard hadn’t known what time for sure Artorias would get up.  He knew it would be stupidly early but what if he got up early?  Rudy was early and so he had to wait patiently, keeping a keen focus for signs of his brother coming.  Wait to long and Rudy would start to remember just how early it was but that was fought off with the reminder of the fun ahead of him.  Also highly important was succeeding in getting a successful pounce on his brother.  He’d lost his last attempt at tackling his brother and while neither one of them were pups anymore this was one of Rudy’s ways to show he still loved his brother. Someone had to keep Art on his guard for surprises after all!  Expect to be safe leaving his room in the morning?  That wouldn’t do!  Also, Rudy was in a splendid mood and it was important that Artorias likewise share in some joy.

Any sense of tiredness that had been laying on him was gone quickly.  Keen ears picked up the sound of the door as it opened and Art slipped out.  His brother’s focus seemed to be on remaining quiet, probably to let Briar sleep Rudy imagined.  After all, it was what Fern did for him in the morning.  Art focused on closing the door quietly.  Rudy smiled a villainous smile and lunged out, one stride, all feet on the ground and he launched himself, slamming his frame to hit Art’s back and front shoulders to knock the tired wolf into the ground.  “Morning!” The voice spoke with victorious energy yet softer than he would have ideally used.  After all, sane wolves were still asleep nearby.

"Rudyard"

He'd only just barely closed his bedroom door when Artorias turned to find a blur of gray fur coming careening at him. There was no chance to react, no opportunity to retaliate. Just a startled gasp and then Artorias found himself forced to the floor, a weight pressing down on him from above. The Aegis' instinctive reaction was to begin fighting, to thrash and bite and snarl to get his attacker off of him. The only thing that prevented him from lashing out at whoever was atop of him was the jovial greeting that immediately followed, the voice so familiar he could have heard it in a lightless room and known exactly who it was. Amber eyes now wide awake and alert, Art gazed up at the smiling face of his brother. When the hell had Rudy started getting up so early? "Gods dammit, Rudy!" Artorias groaned in reply, pushing a large paw up into his brother's face to nudge him back enough for the alpha to slip out and rise to his paws again. A quick tousle of his coat to fix it and Art was up again.

Shooting Rudy a playful yet threatening look that warned his brother revenge would one day be his, Artorias motioned for his brother to walk with him away from the bedrooms of sleeping wolves. He took the lead, walking down the long, quiet corridor as morning light began to spill in from the tall windows overlooking the courtyard. Once they were nearing the stairs, Artorias would speak again. "What in heaven or hell has you up so early? Usually you're griping if you have to get up before noon." Artorias gave a quizzical look to his sibling while they headed for the stairs. Artorias never minded talking with his brother, but jeez, he hadn't expected to start his day off with an ambush! Maybe he should start posting a night guard out in their hallway to prevent such attacks in the future.

"Artorias" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Eira" | "Argent"