Swift as the ocean breeze
Talyssa ♥
12-06-2022, 10:40 PM
Spring in Auster had always been a beautiful show of what nature had to offer. Winter had mostly been skipped by his family thanks to the supernatural autumn that had overtaken the Hallows' lands, meaning Artorias' children had gotten to enjoy more time outdoors exploring their world, learning a million new things, and not having to be cooped up indoors all day. Now with spring in full swing, the days were bright and sunny, warm and pleasant. The days grew longer which meant more hours for puppy playtime! Talyssa, his sweet little girl, had shown an aptitude for exploration and a thirst for knowledge, traits that mirrored both Briar's and his own passions. So when the days became nicer, Artorias decided to take his daughter out on a little trip to spend some father-daughter time together—and what better place to take an eager adventurous puppy than to the beach?
Artorias fetched Talyssa just after breakfast and led the way out of the castle, beyond the gates and into the expansive world beyond. The old dirt path that ran from the castle down to the beach was still present, and Art let Taly walk alongside him so she could scamper about and explore as her little heart desired. All the while he watched her with all the pride of a new father for his child, beaming down at his tawny daughter like she was the most precious treasure in the world—and to him, she was. The gentle lapping of waves on the coast which had always been a present sound even from the castle became louder the closer they got to the shore, and following the dirt path down an embankment to the golden sands below brought the wolves out to the sight of the vast western sea glistening in the sunlight. Artorias watched the way the sun shimmered off the water's surface like a million diamonds, glancing up to the crying gulls overhead that floated lazily in the breeze.
"We're here, Taly!" he declared and leaned down to place an excited nuzzle to his daughter's forehead. "Go on, you lead the way! We're here to explore and see what we can see. If you feel like it, maybe you can race your dad across the beach too." Today was Talyssa's day; whatever she wanted to do, Artorias' attention was all hers.
"Artorias" | "Carpathian"
Artorias fetched Talyssa just after breakfast and led the way out of the castle, beyond the gates and into the expansive world beyond. The old dirt path that ran from the castle down to the beach was still present, and Art let Taly walk alongside him so she could scamper about and explore as her little heart desired. All the while he watched her with all the pride of a new father for his child, beaming down at his tawny daughter like she was the most precious treasure in the world—and to him, she was. The gentle lapping of waves on the coast which had always been a present sound even from the castle became louder the closer they got to the shore, and following the dirt path down an embankment to the golden sands below brought the wolves out to the sight of the vast western sea glistening in the sunlight. Artorias watched the way the sun shimmered off the water's surface like a million diamonds, glancing up to the crying gulls overhead that floated lazily in the breeze.
"We're here, Taly!" he declared and leaned down to place an excited nuzzle to his daughter's forehead. "Go on, you lead the way! We're here to explore and see what we can see. If you feel like it, maybe you can race your dad across the beach too." Today was Talyssa's day; whatever she wanted to do, Artorias' attention was all hers.
01-16-2023, 07:46 PM
Artorias loved all of his children—what father didn't?—but there was something especially heartwarming about the time he got to spend with Talyssa. His precious little princess held a boundless joy and excitement to simply be alive, a wanderlust and thirst for adventure and knowledge that reminded him of both himself and Briar when they had been pups. Watching his tawny daughter while she bounded over the soft golden sands with little puppy leaps melted his heart, and the smile on her face and gleam in her baby blue eyes were almost enough to bring him to tears. Gods, how he loved his children...!
The dutiful father followed his child every step of the way, walking behind her all the way to the edge of the surf where it lapped at their paws. Just like he had done the first time he had seen the sea, Taly chased the water out as it withdrew, then ran back to him with a delighted squeal as the foamy surf rolled up on the beach once more, this process repeating again and again to his delight and humor. Artorias laughed and beamed as a proud father would watching his daughter having fun, enjoying the cool wash of the salty ocean water rippling over his giant paws. It was a perfect beach day, and he was grateful he got to share this time with Lys!
Talyssa declared that the coast was both beautiful and that she loved it here, a sentiment Artorias could echo wholeheartedly. It was one of the many reasons why he had so loved the lands his mothers had claimed as their home when they moved the Hallows to Auster. Close proximity to the western sea was a great benefit to a water baby like Artorias! While he watched her play in the shallows, Taly asked him if he shared her fondness for the beach. The smile on her sire's face grew wider and amber eyes lit up.
"I do! I've always been fond of the water in general, but the ocean has always been something special to me," he explained to his little girl, taking a few steps closer to the edge of the water, leaving large paw prints behind in wet sand to be washed away by the rolling waves. "When I was your age, your Uncle Rudy and I would go down to the beach every chance we got to play in the water and practice sparring on the sand." This had all been back at their home in Boreas, of course, before the ice age hit the world. Glancing down to Taly with a smirk, Art motioned into the water. "Would you like me to show you how to swim, Taly?"
"Artorias" | "Carpathian"
The dutiful father followed his child every step of the way, walking behind her all the way to the edge of the surf where it lapped at their paws. Just like he had done the first time he had seen the sea, Taly chased the water out as it withdrew, then ran back to him with a delighted squeal as the foamy surf rolled up on the beach once more, this process repeating again and again to his delight and humor. Artorias laughed and beamed as a proud father would watching his daughter having fun, enjoying the cool wash of the salty ocean water rippling over his giant paws. It was a perfect beach day, and he was grateful he got to share this time with Lys!
Talyssa declared that the coast was both beautiful and that she loved it here, a sentiment Artorias could echo wholeheartedly. It was one of the many reasons why he had so loved the lands his mothers had claimed as their home when they moved the Hallows to Auster. Close proximity to the western sea was a great benefit to a water baby like Artorias! While he watched her play in the shallows, Taly asked him if he shared her fondness for the beach. The smile on her sire's face grew wider and amber eyes lit up.
"I do! I've always been fond of the water in general, but the ocean has always been something special to me," he explained to his little girl, taking a few steps closer to the edge of the water, leaving large paw prints behind in wet sand to be washed away by the rolling waves. "When I was your age, your Uncle Rudy and I would go down to the beach every chance we got to play in the water and practice sparring on the sand." This had all been back at their home in Boreas, of course, before the ice age hit the world. Glancing down to Taly with a smirk, Art motioned into the water. "Would you like me to show you how to swim, Taly?"
02-07-2023, 02:29 PM
It never failed to delight and amuse Artorias to find what traits his children shared with himself, which they shared with their mother, and which were wholly unique to themselves. Taly's love of the sea and the coast was strongly her father in her, and it brought a loving smile to the bright-eyed sire. Little Lys gushed when he told her the story of his and Rudy's antics as juveniles, keenly leaving out any of the bits where he and his brother had knowingly and willfully broken any of their parents' rules in the process. Two of his children were already little renegade troublemakers, he didn't need to inspire another to follow their example. The happy expression on Artorias' face was momentarily frozen however when Talyssa asked if Bowen had ever gone with them to the beach. A cold weight settled over Art's soul, his heart sinking in his chest. He thought of Bowen, visions of her as a puppy flashing in his memory. They hadn't even been yearlings when she'd been taken from them... Artorias tried to remember the last time he saw his sister before she came home to them one day out of the blue, a full grown adult with a lifetime of trauma attached to her.
The smile on his face slipped a little, fiery eyes distant in rueful memory. He blinked, snapping back into the present day, and looked down at his daughter with a more genuine smile, though a lingering part of his gaze still seemed guarded, trying to protect his child's innocence to the darker aspects of the world for as long as he could. Someday she would need to learn some of the harsher lessons of life. Today would not be that day. "Aunt Bowen was away from us for a long, long time when we were very young," Artorias explained, his words slow and tactful while he debated how to phrase the situation to Taly. "Aunt Ash too. It was just me, Uncle Rudy, and Aunt Gwyn here with your grandmother for a while. But we were all very happy when they both came home to us." That would be the extent of the explanation he would give to Talyssa for now. Maybe when she was older Bowen would want to tell her story. He trusted his sister to be discerning in what she shared with the young pups.
A pleasant and much needed distraction, the offer of swimming lessons visibly brightened his hyper little girl's expression and she gleefully accepted. Artorias hadn't doubted that she would be interested, but Lys' endless enthusiasm never failed to make him laugh, a hearty chortle bellowing from the dire wolf's chest. "Well, come with me, little love, and I'll show you!" The father led the way for his daughter over to a small cove inlet further off down the shore, sheltered from the rougher waves of the open ocean it would be a more ideal location for aquatic lessons. The cove had much shallower water, deep enough that Artorias could wade in it up to his knees and Taly would be able to paddle and submerge herself, but the placid surface held very little motion to it. Underneath the water's glistening surface, tiny fish swam back and forth, their scales glittering in the sunlight. "First thing we'll do is step into the water," explained Artorias, walking into the cool water until it reached just above his ankles. "Go slowly at first, at least until you become more comfortable with moving in the water. It'll feel different the deeper you go, like you're becoming weightless. Go as deep as you feel comfortable, Taly." Once Talyssa had gotten familiar with wading in deeper water, Artorias would show her how to swim properly, keeping at her side all the while to make sure his little girl stayed safely above the surface. She would never be in any danger with him nearby.
"Artorias" | "Carpathian"
The smile on his face slipped a little, fiery eyes distant in rueful memory. He blinked, snapping back into the present day, and looked down at his daughter with a more genuine smile, though a lingering part of his gaze still seemed guarded, trying to protect his child's innocence to the darker aspects of the world for as long as he could. Someday she would need to learn some of the harsher lessons of life. Today would not be that day. "Aunt Bowen was away from us for a long, long time when we were very young," Artorias explained, his words slow and tactful while he debated how to phrase the situation to Taly. "Aunt Ash too. It was just me, Uncle Rudy, and Aunt Gwyn here with your grandmother for a while. But we were all very happy when they both came home to us." That would be the extent of the explanation he would give to Talyssa for now. Maybe when she was older Bowen would want to tell her story. He trusted his sister to be discerning in what she shared with the young pups.
A pleasant and much needed distraction, the offer of swimming lessons visibly brightened his hyper little girl's expression and she gleefully accepted. Artorias hadn't doubted that she would be interested, but Lys' endless enthusiasm never failed to make him laugh, a hearty chortle bellowing from the dire wolf's chest. "Well, come with me, little love, and I'll show you!" The father led the way for his daughter over to a small cove inlet further off down the shore, sheltered from the rougher waves of the open ocean it would be a more ideal location for aquatic lessons. The cove had much shallower water, deep enough that Artorias could wade in it up to his knees and Taly would be able to paddle and submerge herself, but the placid surface held very little motion to it. Underneath the water's glistening surface, tiny fish swam back and forth, their scales glittering in the sunlight. "First thing we'll do is step into the water," explained Artorias, walking into the cool water until it reached just above his ankles. "Go slowly at first, at least until you become more comfortable with moving in the water. It'll feel different the deeper you go, like you're becoming weightless. Go as deep as you feel comfortable, Taly." Once Talyssa had gotten familiar with wading in deeper water, Artorias would show her how to swim properly, keeping at her side all the while to make sure his little girl stayed safely above the surface. She would never be in any danger with him nearby.
03-24-2023, 11:11 PM
Artorias watched as Talyssa's curiosity grew into complete fascination once they arrived at the cove he would be using to teach her how to swim. The shallower and calmer waters here would make the inlet a perfect puppy pool to learn in! His tiny tawny pup went charging right into the water with absolutely no fear, bringing a bright smile to her sire's face. He loved the enthusiasm she tackled life with and hoped she never lost that zest for exploration and discovery! Artorias remained watchful while Talyssa got herself accustomed to being in the water, going as deep as she felt safe to, then asking if she had gone far enough. "Yes, very good, Lyssa! Do you feel that weightless sensation like you're being lifted off your paws? That's your body floating in the water. Swimming is a combination of letting your body float naturally and using your paws to move yourself around in the water."
Artorias waded a little deeper into the pool, keeping near to Taly in case she needed help, but allowing her to make all of the motions and movements for herself so she could learn by doing. "Try floating for a few moments. Take in the sensations and get familiar with them. Once you're used to being buoyant, it will feel like second nature looking for that feeling when you swim." The dire wolf sire let his pup experiment with floating for a few minutes, testing out her buoyancy and what it felt like to just drift in the water. When she eventually gave him the signal that she was ready to progress, Art gave her the next set of instructions. "Good. Now, try paddling your paws with the same movements like you're walking in the water. Don't struggle or flail, you want smooth and controlled motions."
"Artorias" | "Carpathian"
Artorias waded a little deeper into the pool, keeping near to Taly in case she needed help, but allowing her to make all of the motions and movements for herself so she could learn by doing. "Try floating for a few moments. Take in the sensations and get familiar with them. Once you're used to being buoyant, it will feel like second nature looking for that feeling when you swim." The dire wolf sire let his pup experiment with floating for a few minutes, testing out her buoyancy and what it felt like to just drift in the water. When she eventually gave him the signal that she was ready to progress, Art gave her the next set of instructions. "Good. Now, try paddling your paws with the same movements like you're walking in the water. Don't struggle or flail, you want smooth and controlled motions."
04-24-2023, 06:13 PM
The attentive father watched with unyielding focus as his little girl began the clumsy process of beginning to swim on her own. What started as an awkward sort of shambling splashing in the tide pool gradually began to shift into a more natural posture, and stroke by stroke Talyssa started to right herself and move about the shallow waters. A proud smile slowly stretched across Artorias' muzzle while he watched her find her composure and balance, swimming to one side of the pool and then arcing back around to come back towards him. A celebratory laugh erupted from her sire as she exclaimed for his attention, though she would always have it without needing to ask. "There you go, Taly! You're doing it!" he cheered for her from the other end of the pool, bushy tail wagging with excitement above his back.
As his pup made her way back to him, Art lowered his front half to the water to better receive her, snatching her up in large azure paws as she docked for a congratulatory embrace. Artorias laughed again and brought his snout down to nuzzle enthusiastically into Taly's forehead. "Look at you go! My daughter must be part dolphin!" he joked with a playful beaming grin on his face. "That was very good, Talyssa! You take to water like you were born for it. Remember these basics and soon you'll be able to swim anywhere." Still holding his tawny girl close, Art gestured back to the tide pool. "Would you like to continue practicing? We can come down here whenever you'd like so you can practice and learn. Just promise me you won't try to swim on your own until you're a yearling, okay?" The last thing Artorias ever wanted was for something to happen to his children, and the thought of his daughter losing control while learning to swim and drowning was every parent's worst nightmare.
"Artorias" | "Carpathian"
As his pup made her way back to him, Art lowered his front half to the water to better receive her, snatching her up in large azure paws as she docked for a congratulatory embrace. Artorias laughed again and brought his snout down to nuzzle enthusiastically into Taly's forehead. "Look at you go! My daughter must be part dolphin!" he joked with a playful beaming grin on his face. "That was very good, Talyssa! You take to water like you were born for it. Remember these basics and soon you'll be able to swim anywhere." Still holding his tawny girl close, Art gestured back to the tide pool. "Would you like to continue practicing? We can come down here whenever you'd like so you can practice and learn. Just promise me you won't try to swim on your own until you're a yearling, okay?" The last thing Artorias ever wanted was for something to happen to his children, and the thought of his daughter losing control while learning to swim and drowning was every parent's worst nightmare.
05-23-2023, 12:42 PM
His daughter’s palpable joy and zeal at the prospect of becoming a professional swimmer in time brought a hearty laugh from her sire, beaming down at his hydrophilic pup with wide smile and warm eyes. "Absolutely! Your mother and I are avid swimmers, so it’s no surprise you’re going to be a strong swimmer too!" he remarked as he held his excited, wriggly child in his oversized paws. Talyssa’s pleas to keep swimming were quickly followed by her promise to not go swimming on her own until she was older and more experienced, and with his wishes met by his ever obedient little girl, how could any father deny her wish?
Giving her an overly dramatic scrutinizing look and humming as he pretended to mull it over, Artorias finally relented with a playful grin. "Hmmmmm… oh, all right, a little bit longer for my little dolphin," he teased her, but released her back into the tide pool with a gentle toss to send her propelling forward through the shallow water. The giant brute then sat back in the water, watching Taly play about at her own pace with a smile ever present on his face.
"Artorias" | "Carpathian"
Giving her an overly dramatic scrutinizing look and humming as he pretended to mull it over, Artorias finally relented with a playful grin. "Hmmmmm… oh, all right, a little bit longer for my little dolphin," he teased her, but released her back into the tide pool with a gentle toss to send her propelling forward through the shallow water. The giant brute then sat back in the water, watching Taly play about at her own pace with a smile ever present on his face.
05-31-2023, 08:26 PM
Artorias stood watch over his precious little girl for as long as she wanted to keep swimming, the smile never leaving his face for even a moment. Watching his tawny pup kicking and splashing about in the shallow pool, a moment of pensive and emotional awe passed over him. All his life, Artorias had lived in the shadow and mystery of having never had a father. He had Resin for a short time, and he had Sirius to help mentor him, but a whole half of who he was would forever be an enigma to him. He had never grown up knowing a male role model, never had a father to show him how to swim and take him hunting or chase him around the castle gardens. Now here he was, giving all that he had never had to his own children. When he had first found out Briar was pregnant, he vowed to always be there for his pups, no matter what. He would not let them live that curse he had endured. Now, watching his daughter learn to swim, Artorias almost felt angry—angry at the brute that had knocked his mother up and never looked back. Seeing all the things his father had never gotten to experience with him, Art knew that this mystery man would forever have missed out.
As Talyssa came back around to him after a few more laps in the pool, the sweet girl begged him to bring her back tomorrow to continue her lessons. Big baby blue eyes pleaded with him, and the sweetness they radiated could have given him diabetes simply by looking at her for too long. His smile widening, Artorias chuckled and nodded his head. "Desigur, fiica mea. We can come back as often as you'd like!" So long as Taly had an adult with her until she grew closer to her adult size, he didn't care if she spent her entire days down on the beach or by the rivers and lakes. "Come on, let's head back to the castle. You're probably overdue for a nap after all that swimming, little one." Ushering Talyssa out of the pool, Art gave a shake of his damp fur, playfully tossing water droplets all over to splash Taly with a grin as he led the way back up to Hearthstone.
"Artorias" | "Carpathian"
As Talyssa came back around to him after a few more laps in the pool, the sweet girl begged him to bring her back tomorrow to continue her lessons. Big baby blue eyes pleaded with him, and the sweetness they radiated could have given him diabetes simply by looking at her for too long. His smile widening, Artorias chuckled and nodded his head. "Desigur, fiica mea. We can come back as often as you'd like!" So long as Taly had an adult with her until she grew closer to her adult size, he didn't care if she spent her entire days down on the beach or by the rivers and lakes. "Come on, let's head back to the castle. You're probably overdue for a nap after all that swimming, little one." Ushering Talyssa out of the pool, Art gave a shake of his damp fur, playfully tossing water droplets all over to splash Taly with a grin as he led the way back up to Hearthstone.