I Hold with Those Who Favor Fire

His attempts to make the boy smile had worked, Artorias couldn't resist a toothy grin and a reflexive laugh when Seer jabbed at his side with a paw. Art had never been a very playful child as a pup, having dedicated most of his time to working towards the path of the warrior he asked to take under Resin's guidance, but that didn't make him invulnerable to things like tickle spots, of which he had plenty of along his sides. Smiling at the Warlord felt easy, natural... which is why it had been so hard for him to keep up his anger during their fight. He didn't want to be angry at Sirius, didn't want to hurt him. He had had no choice though. Maybe that was where real strength and courage was needed the most: to make those hard decisions and take difficult action when it was needed, but not necessarily wanted. Today had been a tremendous learning experience. It had also been exhausting, physically and emotionally, and Artorias just felt drained as the dust settled.

"Well, maybe we should both be calling her dad then instead of mom," he quipped back with a chuckle, some of his dry humor returning to him as he played to the fact that Resin had adopted both him and Seer. Sirius' suddenly serious comment that Artorias was one of his made the boy's heart swell with pride and sink with guilt. Being called one of the Warlord's wolves felt like such a huge honor, and he silently vowed to uphold that honor. But at the same time, this was coming from the wolf he had nearly murdered. He did not deserve that honor after today. No matter how much Sirius insisted it wasn't his fault, Artorias would take part of the blame, and he wouldn't fully forgive himself until Seer had fully recovered, the same way he wouldn't stop worrying about Briar until he saw her. That was just who he was; he cared for and worried over the wellbeing of his loved ones and would not rest if one of them was out of sorts in any way.

The happiness to hear that final sentiment was written clear over Art's face. He may not have had the words to appropriately reply, but the emotion was easily readable in his eyes. He was beginning to understand why Tamsyn had found such comfort and security in the possessiveness of the Armada Warlord. Everything he said was resolute, firm, unyielding. He was like a harbor in the storm that was the world. That was what Artorias longed to be as well. Shelter in the storm. The shield that guarded the Hallowed lands. A barrier between good and evil. A light in the darkness.

"Other wolves keep telling me that I'm going to be leading the Hallows one day," he confessed to Sirius, a touch of nervousness and uncertainly entering his expression. "I don't know how true that is... but if it is, I have a favor to ask you. Mom Resin, she was still teaching me what it means to be a leader before she-" He couldn't say the last words. He swallowed them back, then continued, "If I need help—guidance or lessons on what being a good leader is—can you teach me too?" Artorias was always planning, thinking of the future, of what came next. He didn't know if his path would ultimately lead him to leadership or not, but if it did, he wanted to have as many friends with him when he walked it as possible. Sirius, arguably the most accomplished alpha outside his mother, would be one of the greatest companions to have on that journey.


"Artorias" | Thoughts | "Corbin"