We Keep the Demons Down Below

Resin had tried to kill Tamsyn. That was what Gwyn and Ulric could infer from the severity of the wounds inflicted on his mother by the other. There had been no signs of restrain in the bites, no degree of mercy or recognition in the way Tamsyn had explained what had occurred. For all intents and purposes, it seemed like Resin had actually tried to kill her mate, his mom, unprovoked and unpredictably. Artorias had spent the rest of the horrific night staying with Tam while Gwynevere treated her wounds to the best of her abilities, watching over them and on edge the entire time, dreading to hear splintering wood followed by the vicious snarls of his crazed mother coming for them. Fortunately, that never happened. He didn't know what had happened with Resin, but after Ulric had been alerted, the big dire brute had gone off to deal with her and he'd heard nothing since.

Now, as Tamsyn rested and Gwyn tended to her, Artorias was left somewhere in limbo. He could do nothing more for his injured mother now, but he also didn't know how to handle facing Resin. What would she do? Would she even recognize him? Surges of doubt and worry choked the boy while he cursed himself for not mentioning anything about his mother's condition sooner. He had seen the slips in her personality weeks ago; why didn't he say anything then?! Maybe then this all could have been avoided if he hadn't been so stupid! Pacing up and down the halls did nothing to quell his nerves, and though he loathed the idea, Art knew the only way to get some clarity was to go face his mother head on.

Finding Resin hadn't been too terribly difficult. Her scent trail from her bedroom led him through the castle while the young wolf followed his mother's footsteps down the grand staircase and around to another set of stone stairs that descended into the depths of the castle's guts. He had never explored down here before, but today he had no choice. Strangely though, Rudyard's scent was also here, fresh and recent. A pang of concern stabbed him in the heart while hurried paws stepped briskly down the cool stone steps into virtual darkness. He came to another corridor that spanned the length and breadth of the castle, and down on one far end he heard a voice. His brother's voice. Art's head snapped in that direction and he took off down the corridor at a brisk gait, walking with purpose and focused eyes.

He ended up emerging into the dungeon cells, having to squint until his eyes adjusted to the minimal light filtering in from a single window. Rudy was approaching one of the cells, the sole inhabitant seated in the middle of the cell. Resin. Artorias' fur bristled at the notion of Rudy approaching his still potentially dangerous mother, and the boy was quick to rush forward and put himself between Rudy and the wall of iron bars separating the brothers from their adoptive mother. "Rudy, stop." His words were hard and stern while he cut off his brother's advance, fixing his brother with a somber yet serious look. Rudy had no idea what Resin had done to Tamsyn yet, it seemed. He couldn't blame him for being curious—but he had to protect his brother at all costs.

Artorias turned to face Resin, fiery amber eyes locking to the stalwart wolf locked away like some sort of feral animal. It broke his heart; this was his mother, gods damn it! She deserved better than this! How had it come to this? "Mom, I saw what you did to Mama," he started. He was never one to mince words, just like she was. He knew, and now she knew that he knew. "Why? What would make you ever do that to her?" Artorias took a couple brave steps closer, just a few feet out of reach from the metal bars. He wanted so desperately to help her, to save her and bring her back to them. She had done so much for them, sacrificed so much... so why couldn't he do anything for her now? It all felt wrong. So very, very wrong...

"Mom, what's going on? What's happening with you?" he asked the direct question. This was no time to skirt the issue. Something was wrong, and something had to be done about it.


"Artorias" | Thoughts | "Corbin"