ardent

It's a terrible day for rain

Audra's funeral



Artorias

"I will shield you from the darkness"

The Hallows
Lord of Cinder

Master Fighter (937)

Master Navigator (1030)

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age
6 Years
gender
Male
gems
14268
size
Dire wolf
build
Balanced
posts
1,805
player
Joe

Samhain 2022Running on EmptyRapid Poster - SilverBest BudsSocialiteOverachiever
Auster ExplorerPride - BisexualFestival OrganizerDream WeaverLoserGlobetrotter
UnderachieverThe Ooze ParticipantThe Ooze - Variation 3HomebodyWealthyHow many times do I have to teach you a lesson?!
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WinnerVengeanceSnake EyesDouble MasterMammoth HunterCritical Hit!
1K
01-29-2024, 05:34 PM

Artorias sat for far too long out in the cold and the rain, staring at the funeral pyre that stood out amongst the rolling hills of the plains. The oil-soaked wood had been doused until saturated to ensure it would burn continuous and hot for as long as it took, despite the drizzle that was falling from a cloud-laden sky. Even the heavens above seemed heavy with the emotions of the day. The Lord of Cinder, heartbroken and despondent, simply stared at the body laid out carefully atop the pyre, wrapped in fine cloth and surrounded by flowers and wisteria branches from Hearthstone's gardens. He still couldn't believe that was Audra up there. None of this felt right; none of this should be happening. When his dear friend had departed the Hallows with Gloom, she had been in bright spirits and had a happy future to come back home to. Instead, she had come home carried on the back of the woman she loved, cold and lifeless. Gone—just like that.

Artorias lifted a large paw and rested it upon the still form of his friend. He could still see that moment clear as day in his head and it wrenched his heart every time he thought about it. Audra, the wolf he had loved like his sister, was dead. Gloom had told him she had fallen ill while up in Boreas, and over a short period degenerated quickly until she had perished. That tore Artorias up even more, to know that his wolf had been sick so far from home, without her family to care for her, and had died without their love. His only saving grace was that he knew she hadn't been alone; Gloom had made sure of that. All he could hope for now was that Audra's final thoughts were remembering how loved and cherished she was back home. He knew she would be sorely missed here for all of their days...

With all the necessary preparations made, there was only one thing left to do. Artorias tipped his head back and called loud and clear for the members of the Hallows to convene to bid their final farewells to their beloved friend and pack mate. Then he sat solemn and stoic beside the pyre, the hood of his black cloak pulled up around his face, hopefully obscuring some of the sorrow pulling at the carefully managed facade he wore. Gods knew this would be difficult for them all. He was likely to cry before this was done.

ooc: The second round of posts begins February 13th

"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.
____________________






You're not feeling so well...

Gloom

Loner

Beginner Navigator (0)

Beginner Hunter (0)

age
8 Years
gender
Female
gems
142
size
Small
build
Light
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90
player
Lolaf

Samhain 2022The Ooze ParticipantThe Ooze - Variation 3Pride - BisexualPride - DemisexualChristmas 2019
01-29-2024, 08:45 PM (This post was last modified: 01-29-2024, 08:47 PM by Gloom. Edited 1 time in total.)

Honestly one of the last things Gloom wanted was to think about a funeral, she knew it was tradition and considering this had been Audra's home it only felt right. That didn't mean Gloom had to be okay right? Because she really wasn't. She'd been avoiding the site of the pyre like it was her job, she couldn't handle looking on the... On Audra. As far as Gloom was concerned she was doing her grieving, had been since before they'd left and had only added onto her grief. She looked, well... Like shit. She wasn't eating much, she was sleeping most days after she'd cried herself into unconsciousness. First her mother and now her- Well she didn't know what they'd been, and that was almost worse... So many things left unsaid, because she'd been too much of a coward. She always was.

Artorias' call only served to make Gloom's stomach feel heavier than it already did. She wasn't sure she'd ever be ready, to "officially" say goodbye. To have to be around others who'd known Audra better than she had, had meant more to her than Gloom probably had. To be surrounded by wolves and still feel apart from them when all she wanted right now was comfort and familiarity, and no one here could offer her that. She still hadn't decided what she was going to do, if she would stay or not. She'd promised herself she'd at least stick around until the funeral but after that? If she was being honest all Gloom wanted right now was her brother. (Okay well she wanted her mother and Audra too but those two were now much too far beyond her reach.) The woman dragged herself towards the call, eyes turned downwards, because she was already crying or rather was crying again and didn't have it in her to summon her courage to be anything more than a useless crying lump. Audra deserved better, and Gloom couldn't even do that. Luckily it seemed she was the first to arrive, which meant she could get herself settled without having to worry about who else might need her condolences... Huddling in upon herself Gloom sat and tried to steel herself for what was to come. She was just gonna cry through it and that'd have to be okay with everyone else.

"Speech"


Image by AlienLion
Updated 04/30/23: Still on indefinite scarcity, please do not remind me of threads I am behind on right now.



Clove

The Hallows
Rookery Ranger

Expert Hunter (130)

Advanced Navigator (105)

age
2 Years
gender
Female
gems
650
size
Medium
build
Light
posts
115
player
Aislyn
01-30-2024, 12:22 AM (This post was last modified: 01-30-2024, 01:49 PM by Clove. Edited 1 time in total.)



Admittedly, Clove couldn’t bring herself to grieve in the same way her mother, father, and older pack mates were. When father told them of a dear friend passing away, and his plans for a ceremony to send her into the afterlife and honor her life, she felt sad. But because she didn’t know the woman too well, her sadness originated from a different source. It made her sad to see her father so sad. The tears that rolled down his face made her heart wrench- the despair he felt written on his features offsetting because he was always so strong. Yes, Clove didn’t know the woman who died- but she knew her father and his sadness. Which meant she would be by his side to help console him, despite her young age.

She had already steeled herself in preparation for the ceremony- so when Artorias called, she was ready to attend. Pulling a cloak on, tucking in her ears and head, she set off from the castle. Making her way to the plains, where she could the group gathering through the soft trickling of rain. She immediately gravitated toward her father- trying not to look up at the body on the pyre. He had the hood of his black cloak pulled up around his face. And, although she couldn’t see him too well, she could feel the emotion resonating from him. It made a knot well up in her throat. Chest growing tight, as she bumped her head against his shoulder. “I’m sorry Dad.” She said, holding herself there for a few moments. Trying to console him the best she knew how. But her voice felt tight in her throat. She didn’t know what else she could say.

Others were arriving and would want to speak with father. So Clove stepped away, to give him space. That’s when she finally looked up at the pyre. Staring at the heap of fine cloth that she knew had a body in it. This was the first time she’d ever seen a dead wolf. It made her uneasy. Made her feel like that could be someone she loved dearly, at any given moment. And that made her feel anxious. Closing her eyes, and bowing her head. She said a short, sweet, silent prayer for the woman. Turning away, she met the eyes of Gloom. And she bid the woman a silent hello with a head nod, expressing her condolences. She took a seat off to the side, pulling her cloak over her head tighter.

It was all so sad for the young girl. She wished Talyssa was here to help her navigate these feelings. But perhaps she could speak with Ember about it later, because their big sister was gone.

"Speech"




Ember Carpathius

"I'll be the fire that dries the flood"

The Hallows
Head Scholar

Master Fighter (330)

Master Intellectual (330)

An icon representing the specialty Knight Knight

An icon representing the specialty Professor Professor

age
2 Years
gender
Female
gems
347
size
Large
build
Light
posts
207
player
Joe

Pride - Bisexual
01-30-2024, 03:31 AM

There were so many firsts for Ember and the rest of the young Carpathians these past few months. Their first ball, their first birthdays, and now... their first funeral. This most recent one was one Ember had already decided she didn't like. She'd met Audra only briefly, usually when spending time with their father, but she had known of the woman. She had been close to her family, someone loved in their pack, and any loss felt grievous to the tight knit Hallows wolves. She'd seen Gloom every so often around the Hallows in brief passing glances, the new woman a wreck (and who could blame her?), but it was the grief that weighed down her usually strong and cheerful father that upset her the most. Their sire was always so composed, so stoic, a paragon of good and joy and love. To see him as he made this moment a reality had been a rude awakening for the usually carefree Carpathian girl.

Artorias' call came as Ember was finishing braiding her tail to keep it out of the wet grass and mud. Her mother's lessons were already paying off in dividends. As she tied up the last of her fur at the end of her tail and stood to swish and wag it about and make sure it didn't touch the ground, Ember glanced out the rain-spattered window of her new bedroom at the gray sullen day outside. The weather certainly seemed to match the mood of the day to a tee. Ember wore no jewelry today, adorned no regalia, just her simple black cloak her father had given them all during their trip up north. It felt fitting and would help keep her dry. Dressed and ready to give her support to her family and her respects to the departed, Ember made her way down to the funeral site. The drizzling rain pelted her face, but she wasn't ready to hide behind her hood just yet. She wanted to be brave and fave this unknown of death head-on. Clove was already there beside their father and Gloom was also there, keeping to herself. And there, dominating the space, was the pyre.

Ember had never seen anything like it before, and already she didn't like it. It made her heart feel heavy and her stomach sink. Seeing the body wrapped up in fine cloth atop the wood, knowing who it was, what it was, and what was about to happen all just felt awful. The Carpathian princess knew death was a part of life—how many animals had they killed and eaten as predators after all?—but it's different when death hits so close to home. What if that had been one of her parents or siblings up there? Ember swallowed thickly and slowly approached the site, dainty paws carrying her gracefully over to her sister and sire. She followed Clove's lead, nuzzling her father's shoulder in support. Glancing up, she could just see his face beneath his raised hood, his usually bright amber eyes dim and heavy with emotion. "Îmi pare rău, tată," she spoke softly to him.

Giving one last long look at Audra before stepping back not to join the oncoming crowd, but instead moving over to go sit near Gloom. Ember didn't know the newest member of the Hallows, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that she had lost somebody so important to her, probably the most important wolf to her in the whole pack and the whole world. She shouldn't have to grieve alone. Looking at the disheveled wolf, Ember offered her a gentle, empathetic smile as she came to sat near her. Not quite touching, but close enough to give her silent support. Gloom was part of their family now, and her pain was all of their pain.

"Ember Carpathius" | "Carpathian"

Artorias and Briar may enter any of Ember's threads while she is under 2 years old.
____________________






Laeta

Somnium

Intermediate Navigator (40)

Expert Intellectual (135)

age
7 Years
gender
Female
gems
191
size
Small
build
Light
posts
162
player

The Ooze ParticipantThe Ooze - Variation 3
01-30-2024, 11:21 AM
Art & Code © Skelle 2023

"Speech!"

It hurt.

It hurt beyond measure.

As a therapist, Laeta understood the powerful feelings of guilt, how easily they could tear someone emotionally, skin and bone. How the sheer pain of a loss close to oneself could easily lead to a vicious, dark spiral. How important it was to give those grieving individuals space and time to process the grief on their own terms, without pressure, without prodding. If only she held herself to the same esteemed grace she offered all her clients; but she wouldtry her hardest. Even at her own advanced stage of fading away, she knew it was only a matter of time before she would meet Audra again -- just not in this plane of reality.

Mel was a little more worse for wear; the badger was weeping as he pulled Laeta's wagon towards hte funeral site, pausing every so often to sniffle and sob. Laeta let him take all the time he needed, even as tears gently wet the edges of her own eyes, pooling down her hallowed face. Audra was one of her closest and dearest friends, though everyone in the Hallows deserved that title. Furthermore, Audra was family. She was beloved. She could only imagine how Gloom was feeling. As they approached, Lae craned her neck the best she could to see the beautiful display Artorias had arranged; Audra looked as if she was merely having a rest. A beautiful, joyous rest. Not even the rain could interfere with this moment, the one where the wagon stopped and Laeta looked at the pyre with the rest of her pack, silently weeping and grieving the loss of such a dear friend.

"Farewell, Audra," She whispered, swallowing hard as more tears pooled at her eyes. "We will meet again soon."

Mel wept, sniffling as he solemnly whispered, "R-Rest in peace, L-Lady Audra."
comin' up for air in the deepest of the deep ends
i thought i learned it all, but boom, the plot thickens
laeta has a european badger companion named melis. he can speak and is assumed to be with her at all times.



Sota

Somnium

Expert Intellectual (165)

Master Navigator (255)

An icon representing the specialty Scout Scout

age
9 Years
gender
Male
gems
235
size
Extra small
build
Light
posts
284
player
Nyx

Samhain 2022Statue 4 WorshipThe Ooze ParticipantPride - DemisexualChristmas 2019
01-31-2024, 01:48 PM (This post was last modified: 01-31-2024, 01:48 PM by Sota. Edited 1 time in total.)
Audra's funeral wasn't something Sota was especially looking forward to, and hearing Artorias call for them to gather made an uncomfortable shiver run up his spine. Funerals were not something he was accustomed to - back home, he'd seen a few wolves pass on before and their bodies were simply left to return to nature. Doing so wasn't an act of carelessness or disrespect whatsoever, not in the way some wolves here might see it. The pyre that stood tall in the distance felt strange to him, though he knew he could not always reconcile his upbringing with the views of the wolves he now lived alongside. It wouldn't bother him for long, though. He knew Audra was well-loved, and her funeral had been prepared with just as much love and care as he could wish for.

The rain that drizzled around him was an eerie match to his own downcast mood. Kaito, his little lemur companion (as picky as he was about the rain) had even come along for the short trip out to the plains, clinging tightly to his neck all the while. He only stirred as they stood there solemnly, finally releasing his grip on the tiny wolf to climb beneath him and block some of the rain. Sota lingered for a long while on his own before finding Laeta, one of his closer friends, Kaito scurrying along beneath him.

He had little to say, though he sat beside her and leaned lightly into her shoulder, hoping the gesture would be well-received. Already he found tears beginning to form in his eyes, both at her passing and the wolves that had gathered here to pay their respects to her. The mark she'd left on all of their lives was unmistakable, and he knew she wouldn't ever be forgotten - his tears were both ones of grief as well as joy, of celebration for the way she'd enriched all their lives and tied them all closer together even in the afterlife.


Sota has a male bamboo lemur companion named Kaito, he's sometimes nearby but usually only if stated!





Claire

The Hallows
Knight

Beginner Healer (0)

Expert Intellectual (150)

age
7 Years
gender
Female
gems
38
size
Extra large
build
Heavy
posts
84
player
Dragon Mod
02-06-2024, 02:06 PM

She had heard of Audra's passing. Though she hadn't been close to the woman, she knew she was a respected wolf of the Hallows community. Regardless of how much or how little Claire personally knew the woman, it was still sad news when the pack lost one of their own. "Come darlings, we will pay our respects to the fallen." She murmured as she herded her two young girls toward the funeral. With her, she held a bouquet of flowers. A mixture of red and white roses that she planned on placing at Audra's final resting place. It wasn't much, but it was something to show her sympathy for the packs loss. Avalon and Zelda both carried a rose each as well. Although they were still quite young and didn't understand death yet, it was something they would inevitably learn in the future...especially considering how old their father was now.

Approaching the somber tinged procession, Claire quietly went up and gently placed her offering beside the woman. "I am sorry I didn't get a chance to truly know you...may you find peace, and loved ones lost on the other side." She whispered before turning away to sit with Greed and her little ones. Despite not personally knowing Audra, she still found herself getting teary eyed and her heart growing heavy.

"Speak




Avalon II

The Hallows
Hallowed

Beginner Fighter (0)

Beginner Intellectual (0)

age
1 Year
gender
Female
gems
55
size
Extra large
build
Balanced
posts
7
player
Dragon Mod
02-06-2024, 02:34 PM

She didn't understand what was going on really, nor what death entailed. But Mom and Dad said that it was important they attend this funeral, and so little Avalon obliged. When she saw her mom gathering roses, she wanted to help! She and her sister both went with mom to collect the flowers, and when they were done, Avalon had picked out the nicest looking red rose she could find and followed her family to the place where the others were. As the small family arrived, the young girl could tell the others were sad. She could feel it in the air. A mood that she hadn't quite felt. At least not this strongly. She didn't know who it was that had "passed away" as mom put it, but whoever it was, was obviously loved and important enough to have such a gathering. She waited patiently as her mom stepped up to the wolf that honestly, just looked like she was sleeping, before she stepped up herself and put the rose she had beside the bouquet her mom had placed. She peeked at the figure, head tilting as she glanced from mom, back to Audra. Touching her nose to the "sleeping" woman's head for a brief moment. "Sleep well, friend!" She knew the woman wasn't actually sleeping, of course, and that she wasn't going to be walking around the pack anymore. But she looked like she was sleeping peacefully...so that's what she would consider this as. When she finished paying her respects, she turned and went to sit with her family, peering around at the sad faces.






Zelda

The Hallows
Hallowed

Beginner Intellectual (0)

Beginner Hunter (0)

age
1 Year
gender
Female
gems
18
size
Extra small
build
Light
posts
3
player
Dragon Mod
02-06-2024, 03:02 PM
The young girl followed dutifully along with her mother to help her collect roses as a gift for...someone. She didn't know who had passed away, but there was a ceremony to be had that The Aegis had called, and Zelda wanted to help in some way. Her father briefly explained what it was they were going to, so after collecting the roses and arriving to the scene, she found a sad scene. The pack members that were here seemed...sad. But when she looked at the one that they were there for, she just looked like she was sleeping? Were they sure she was dead? Head tilted as she gently grasped the white rose in her jaws, following her mother up to leave her own gift. As both her mother and Avalon said their words, Zelda simply looked at the still body of the she-wolf. She looked like she was having a peaceful nap...but the eerie stillness of the woman's body told her she was not truly there anymore. After all, to breathe was to be alive, wasn't it? And...she wasn't breathing. Quickly and gently, she touched her nose to the woman's body before departing and going to sit with her family. She quietly looked up at her dad, seeing all the gray and white that peppered his face. Was he going to end up like that someday? Saddened by the thought, she pressed herself into his leg, waiting to see what would come next.



Greed

The Hallows
Knight

Master Fighter (240)

Expert Hunter (120)

An icon representing the specialty Juggernaut Juggernaut

age
13 Years
gender
Male
gems
8
size
Large
build
Balanced
posts
198
player
Dragon Mod

1KThe Ooze ParticipantThe Ooze - Variation 1Christmas 2019Treat 2019
02-06-2024, 03:19 PM




Someone had passed away. And he wasn't entirely looking forward to this event. It reminded him of how little time he had left. Was he going to be next? The aging male walked to the funeral alone while Claire and the girls gathered their offerings. When he arrived, Artorias and a handful of others were present already, and the mood in the air was quite...sad. Somber. The weight of a lost loved one blanketed the air, heavy and thick. He didn't know Audra personally. A damn shame, to be honest. He had been more absorbed in spending his remaining years with Claire that little else mattered. Not to mention he wasn't really the social type, either. Well, it couldn't be helped now. He wasn't going to spend the rest of his time regretting it, either. He took a seat, looking quietly up at the pyre where Audra had been laid to rest. Not long after he arrived, Claire and the girls showed up with their offerings, and he watched as they went to place their gifts beside the woman. He glanced at his feet, thinking about the time he had left. He was old as dirt now, but he refused to let himself succumb to the same fate as the woman they were here for. He had finally gotten all that he had wished for, and he'd be damned if he let fate take him away from them now. Once they were done, they joined him, and the old man leaned into his mate, and he draped a comforting paw over Zelda as she leaned into his leg.



"Talk"

Art||Plot with me!

If I haven't responded to a thread within a week, please feel free to bug me about it!



Bramble

The Hallows
Envoy

Master Fighter (400)

Master Intellectual (420)

An icon representing the specialty Bulwark Bulwark

An icon representing the specialty Tactician Tactician

age
3 Years
gender
Female
gems
113
size
Dire wolf
build
Light
posts
252
player
Bunni

1KFestival OrganizerDouble MasterCritical Dodge!Ooh La LaStudent
Samhain 2022
02-07-2024, 06:24 AM

Bramble had insisted she help her father with the preparations. As one of his eldest daughters, and one who strived to be on the council one day, she felt it her duty to assist. Even if it hurt. She knew it didn't hurt her as much as it hurt her father, Gloom, Laeta, or Sota, but it still hurt. The news had come suddenly with the return of Gloom and Gloom alone. She remembered the day starkly in her memories. On her own return from visiting the grove for berries, she had been surprised to over hear the conversation. Tears still pricked at her eyes. Audra had been like an aunt to her, someone she could rely on and confide in if she ever needed it.

Standing before the funeral pyre, it as perhaps the one and only day that Bramble didn't wear a smile. Her eyes were misty, nose sniffling as she spared a glance toward her father. Beneath the cloak, it is difficult to see his face, but she knows. Audra had meant a lot to him. Releasing a sigh, she moves to touch her cheek to his shoulder before anyone else arrives. "Inima ei stă pentru totdeauna în a ta," her voice is hoarse as the tears finally come. Waiting a moment more, Bramble finally pulls away as Art readies to call for everyone else.

Moving to take her seat around the funeral pyre, Bramble watches her siblings and the rest of the pack file in.

"Speech"


bramble's companions are to be assumed near her unless stated otherwise.



Elowen

Loner

Intermediate Fighter (30)

Intermediate Intellectual (30)

age
3 Years
gender
Female
gems
0
size
Large
build
Light
posts
49
02-12-2024, 11:17 PM

Lose was a heavy and inevitable thing. But it didn’t mean that wolves wanted to deal with it? You could feel the weight of the Hallows that day, hearts heavy with grief and mourning as the wolves settled in the plains for the farewell of one of their own. Elowen hadn’t known the one lost, but the pain felt by her packmates, and the general feeling of remorse for a lost life, was enough to keep her expression somber. There were no tears, but still, she had brought flowers of her own for the woman. It was almost like she was sleeping, peaceful… no longer in pain. Elowen stepped to the pyre, set the flowers down, and stepped back. “Until the next life, miss.” Her friends in the Hallows would carry her memory in their hearts. She moved back, sitting among those gathered, head dipped in respect for the one lost.

"Speech," 'Thought.'

Mental health (particularly depression and anxiety) is extremely bad. Currently unable to handle IC conflict or conflict between characters, pack related or individual. I am struggling to post even simple things and will not be able to continue with thread if approached. Sorry for the inconvenience but I just can't right now.


Elowen has two companions - a Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever and a cardinal. Unless otherwise mentioned IC, assume that they are close by.



Dusk

The Hallows
Vanguard

Master Fighter (279)

Master Intellectual (260)

An icon representing the specialty Knight Knight

age
3 Years
gender
Female
gems
441
size
Large
build
Balanced
posts
175
player
Res

Samhain 2022
02-13-2024, 10:13 PM

Dusk never made a habit of crying like most girls and she wouldn't cry now. That wasn't to say that the death of another wolf wasn't sorrowful, the dark lady simply didn't get close enough to anyone that wasn't family. She knew that her father was close with Audra, however, and so she would make an appearance at the funeral.

The obsidian spirit, though still recovering from her injury, had made her way into the wilds, bringing back a bouquet of various flowers. Limping up towards the pyre, Dusk deposited the flowers upon the stacked wood. She then went to seat herself beside her father, face solemn. Dusk was strong though and she fought to hold that Carpathian strength so that her father could mourn his friend without worry.

"Dusk Carpathius"
[Image: WlfCSL1.png]



Briar

The Hallows
Lady of Cinder

Master Fighter (245)

Master Intellectual (240)

An icon representing the specialty Bulwark Bulwark

An icon representing the specialty Bard Bard

age
6 Years
gender
Female
gems
480
size
Large
build
Light
posts
722
player
Shelby

How many times do I have to teach you a lesson?! Ooh La LaSamhain 2022LegendaryPride - DemisexualTeacher
The Ooze ParticipantThe Ooze - Variation 3VengeanceCritical Fail!Ice Bridge Explorer1K
02-13-2024, 10:21 PM

The loss of one of their own was never an easy thing to face no matter how well one knew the departed or their relation to them. Their pack was a family and any loss was a difficult one. When Artorias called for the pack to join him for the funeral she of course began to make her way out into the drizzling rain with the others that answered the call. She hung back a bit, holding open the castle door for the others that had decided to come say their farewells. As the stream of wolves tapered off she stepped out into the cool air herself, walking down through the courtyard and out into the plains where they had begun to gather around the pyre. She floated around a bit, checking on her children and making sure to pause by Gloom to give the grieving woman her condolences. She had heard about what had happened from Artorias and she perhaps felt worse for Gloom than anything else. To be left behind by someone you loved too soon was a feeling she knew and could deeply sympathize with. Finally she went to join her husband, sitting beside him and resting her paw over his for a moment with a reassuring squeeze.

"Briar Carpathius"




Vendrick

The Hallows
Hallowed

Beginner Healer (0)

Intermediate Intellectual (50)

age
2 Years
gender
Male
gems
41
size
Large
build
Emaciated
posts
33
player
wicked

1K
02-14-2024, 03:28 AM

Oh how his heart aches.

Though he doesn't quite know the gravity of the situation, though he doesn't quite understand, the boy knows that Audra is no longer with them. Heart resting heavily in his chest... it aches. He aches. There are more thoughts, heavier thoughts, about the older members of the Hallows that may soon follow her. The boy has been crying. Eyes bloodshot and red, hovering around the fringes of the gathered group.

Vendrick is a tender boy. A tender, sad boy. He would simply stick to the shadows and watch. Patient, attentive. Tearful. Sensitive boy.



Silas

The Hallows
Hallowed

Novice Hunter (15)

Beginner Navigator (10)

age
1 Year
gender
Male
gems
149
size
Large
build
Balanced
posts
29
player
KatG6
02-14-2024, 07:31 AM
Silas didn't know Audra more than just a passing glance here or there in the pack lands and events. He was a shy boy that kept to himself, to his own detriment. That meant he did not have qhite the sorrow that rhe rest of his family had for the passing of this Hallowed wolf. Still, he was not blind and he was not without his empathy. Seeing his father and mother so distraught nearly brought a tear to his own aqua gaze. But the little aurora marked boy was growing older, and young men did not cry.

He prepared himself as best that he could, but could one ever really prepare for seeing death of their own kind for the first time? He was a hunter, he had seen death and had killed his fair share of varmints but he had never seen sentience lost. He did his best to keep his expression neutral, feeling like he was going into a predatory stalk. His paws were carefully placed and quiet as he glanced around at the wolves gathering. Some were crying, some were not, some just there for emotional support for the ones hardest hit. Silas didn't really know where he fit. The boy's dark paws carried him closer to his mother and father, trying to be supportive and not look like a fool to make everyone else feel worse. He'd sit princely next to his mother, still uncertain about the decorum he should present.



You're not feeling so well...

Nelu

The Hallows
Specialist

Master Intellectual (240)

Master Fighter (245)

An icon representing the specialty Tactician Tactician

age
2 Years
gender
Male
gems
494
size
Dire wolf
build
Heavy
posts
88
player
lunarcat7
02-14-2024, 08:53 AM
Nelu had lost track of time. He’d been working on creating pigments and glazes for his ceramic projects. It was an intensive process and he didn’t want to stop midway and ruin his experiment. Of course the result was that he was running late to Audra’s funeral. He’d seen the woman around and knew of her but he’d never really spoken or connected to her. Still he knew it was important to his family so he cleaned up and headed to the gathering. He didn’t know what to expect and so slipped quietly in at the back.



Víðarr

The Hallows
Hallowed

Master Fighter (245)

Master Hunter (245)

An icon representing the specialty Cooperative Cooperative

age
8 Years
gender
Male
gems
101
size
Dire wolf
build
Heavy
posts
484
player
wicked

OverachieverUnderachieverRapid Poster - BronzePride - PansexualDouble MasterSamhain 2022
Statue 1 Worship1K
02-15-2024, 04:44 PM


Ravens had descended upon the viking king, catching him en route to the mountain. The news was enough to send him crashing down from his recent highs. It's with a heavy heart that he gathers himself, his eldest son, and prepares to make a short and unexpected trip to the Hallows. Erik would need to learn, and he would need the extra hands. That, and he'd started drinking near-immediately upon receiving the news. In his grief, the viking king has allowed himself to shut down. Erik's purpose would be twofold.

Loss was inevitable, but this? The viking king knows Audra for what she is. He knows that she won't be gone forever. Still, his heart aches. Deep in his chest, it aches. Approaching the pyre briefly, he places a bundle of salted meat, a skin of mead, and a small pouch of herbs. "Tja... ha det så bra, okej?" The words are spoken to Audra, and to Audra alone. "Res säkert." Quietly slipping past his lips, the viking king doesn't linger, taking a spot beside his son near the back of the crowd. For as intoxicated as he is, it's well hidden aside from on his breath. Mourning practices are cultural, after all.

"Víðarr"



translation notes:
Tja... ha det så bra, okej -- "hey... take care, okay?" (informal usage)
Res säkert -- travel safely
additional note: erik is sitting next to him but i don't have the energy to post him separately atm
[Image: bfcOTDt.png]
This character is unstable. Blanket TW for mental health themes applies to all posts.
Víðarr has two Karelian bear dogs and a white morph tawny owl.  Assume they're within calling distance unless otherwise stated.  
Víðarr speaks with a dense Swedish accent.



Artorias

"I will shield you from the darkness"

The Hallows
Lord of Cinder

Master Fighter (937)

Master Navigator (1030)

An icon representing the specialty Knight Knight

An icon representing the specialty Fleet-footed Fleet-footed

age
6 Years
gender
Male
gems
14268
size
Dire wolf
build
Balanced
posts
1,805
player
Joe

Samhain 2022Running on EmptyRapid Poster - SilverBest BudsSocialiteOverachiever
Auster ExplorerPride - BisexualFestival OrganizerDream WeaverLoserGlobetrotter
UnderachieverThe Ooze ParticipantThe Ooze - Variation 3HomebodyWealthyHow many times do I have to teach you a lesson?!
Critical Dodge!Ooh La LaLegendaryExplorerWordyIce Bridge Explorer
WinnerVengeanceSnake EyesDouble MasterMammoth HunterCritical Hit!
1K
03-07-2024, 08:47 PM

One by one, the wolves of the Hallows assembled to pay their final respects and say goodbye to Audra, and one by one Artorias regarded each of them with mournful eyes and a solemn nod. Artorias was careful to mind his children as they joined the congregation, realizing that this was the first time any of them had lost a pack member. His eldest might have remembered bits of losing their grandmother when Zee had passed, but they had all been so little then. For them, this would be their first exposure to death. Art put on a brave face for his daughters, nuzzling Clove's and Ember's foreheads gently as they gave their sympathies. Bramble gave him some sweet words of encouragement and it almost broke free the glowing teal tears that lingered on the edges of Artorias' eyes. "Știu," he replied simply, trying to keep the emotion from shaking his low voice as Dusk came to join his side as well. Strong, he had to be strong for his family.

Offerings were left to Audra, flowers mostly, some tokens of love, and then their special guest arrived. Artorias would normally have greeted Víðarr and Erik with an embrace and a smile, but this was no day for smiles. The viking king laid out an assortment of offerings to Audra on the pyre and spoke with reverence to her in his native tongue. Though he did not know what was said, Artorias knew in his heart that it was what he was feeling himself. Then at last, it was time to bid farewell to Audra. Taking an unsteady breath to get his composure, Artorias lowered his hood and moved to stand at the pyre to give his eulogy, letting the gentle rain pelt his face. "I wish I could be saying anything other than what I have to say today. I wish I didn't have to recount Audra's life like some synopsis to a story ended far too soon. I just hope I do her spirit and memory justice." Artorias took another deep breath and began. "When my sister first brought Audra to the Hallows, she had been this scared, frail girl looking for a family, a home, a path to make a difference. I didn't know it at the time, but when I welcomed her into our pack, I had welcomed in a paragon of good, of kindness and selflessness. Audra was a wolf we could all aspire to be. She lived to better everyone around her. Nothing brought her joy more than caring for others and seeing them flourish. She was a true healer at heart, stopping at nothing to bring out the best in us all. Spending an afternoon with her was a joy, and the Hallows has forever lost some of its warmth and light with her departure."

The Lord of Cinder turned to face the pyre, to face Audra once more, and rested a paw over her own. His throat tightened with emotion, those glowing tears beginning to fill the corners of his eyes again. "Fii în pace, sora mea. Ne vom revedea cândva." Lifting his paw from the pyre, Artorias took the brooch of his cloak, the gold sigil of the Carpathian family, and pulled it off, placing it gently on Audra's chest. She might not have been his blood sister, but she was his sister all the same, and he would forever miss her. Artorias then picked up the torch that stood stuck into the soft earth, the end ablaze and waiting to serve its purpose. He picked up the torch in his jaws, holding it for a beat of hesitation as he looked down at Audra once more—then he placed the torch onto the pyre. Almost immediately the oil-soaked wood began to catch fire, the blaze spreading swiftly despite the gentle rainfall. Artorias watched with somber austerity as Audra was consumed by the flames, the form of her body gradually vanishing behind the fire as she was set free.

The heat hit his face like a sucker punch, and those tears he had fought so hard to hold back fell freely down his face, cutting glowing paths through his dark fur. Artorias' heart ached as he stepped back from the pyre to rejoin his family, watching the flames grow to their apex. As the pyre burned, Artorias lifted his muzzle to the gray heavens and let out a long, mournful howl, singing his heartbroken farewell to Audra's spirit as the sun sank beyond the horizon and twilight began to claim the land. The Twilight Song sung for their departed friend and sister would echo across western Auster, and all of Somnium would hear their call for the pure soul they said goodbye to.

"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.
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