Why So Blue, Boy?

Artorias was laughing more genuinely now when Briar made a quip about him needing to find better weapons. Boy, wasn't that the truth! He just laughed weakly between gasps for breath and shaky exhales, feeling a bit loopy between the mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion the last few days had burdened him with. He was just so tired and it manifested itself into nearly uncontrollable laughter while she just held him in her comforting embrace. "Yeah, I really should..." he replied between his broken laugh. Artorias didn't want to leave the sanctuary of Briar's arms; it was one of the few times since the incident that he'd felt the ability to relax. With his face still buried in her neck, the heartbroken boy allowed himself to get lost in her fur and scent, a rich smell of vanilla and sugar that just made him feel calm.

As if it couldn't get any better, Briar began to run her paws along his back like a gentle massage, further relaxing the wound up wolf. Low rumbling murmurs escaped Artorias as relaxation covered him like a heavy blanket. He could easily have stayed just like this and he would have fallen asleep against her in no time at all. How long had it been since he'd gotten a full night's sleep? The days had all seemed to blur together since this whole ordeal started. But in this one quiet moment with nothing else besides them in the world, the wayward warrior found his peace, if only for a short time.

Briar asked the question he had been dreading. How bad was Resin? It was almost impossible to say, but he knew how bad it could be. He'd seen his mother's bloody, torn face. He'd heard her scratching and banging at the door to get out. He'd watched Gwyn work tirelessly through the night to make sure their mom didn't bleed to death. "Bad... She's losing herself completely now..." He sniffled back more tears to try and compose himself enough to do a simple thing like talking. "She attacked my other mother in the middle of the night... She'll be scarred for life and she could've died... Mom's locked up in the dungeons now and we just... we don't know what's wrong..." Artorias finally removed his face from Briar's shoulder to meet her eyes, his own tired and bloodshot from the crying and the lack of sleep. Everything about his posture read fatigue and listlessness. He simply didn't know what to do anymore. Nobody had any answers and everyone was behaving like the battle had already been lost. But it couldn't have been lost. Resin was still alive. They just had to try a little harder.


"Artorias" | Thoughts | "Corbin"