Finding Your Balance

The Carpathius boy had been skirting right near the edge of a breakdown, on the verge of losing himself to the anger if Sirius kept pushing him. But, just when he was tensed and waiting for the next lash of the stick or pointed words from the Warlord, nothing came. Only silence. Artorias sat there, breathing deeply, albeit quicker than he had been when he was just relaxing, counting in his head with each breath. In and out, in and out, over and over. As the seconds slipped by, the fires began to burn out, turning back into smoldering embers in his soul. He hadn't quite reached that exploding point that would have turned them into a wildfire, but it had been close. The lava ebbed away, and as his spirit began to cool, Art found his breathing also started to slow. After a few minutes, he had come back down, left only with his focused thoughts on Briar and the sounds of the sea.

When Sirius still said or did nothing, amber eyes began to peek open with a hint of trepidation, spotting Sirius sitting before him as he dropped the stick to the ground. He blinked his eyes open fully, watching while the bigger wolf crouched down and rested his forehead against his. He had been so caught up in wrestling himself that he hadn't heard Seer's compliment the first time, but he definitely heard this one. His anger didn't control him—at least not yet. Art's heart soared to hear that he wasn't lost to his emotions yet, no matter how wild they may be inside of him. A pang of guilt hit him when he heard Seer groan while trying to stand, ears flattened to his skull. That was exactly the reason why he needed to control himself. He had caused that pain from a place of wretched negativity, a place he never wanted to be again. Nobody else deserved to get hurt the way he had hurt his friend.

Sirius gave him his next task: how to instruct others to control their tempers. How would he lead another the way Seer had led him? At the Warlord's command, Artorias rose to his feet, eyes wide with disbelief as he was told to guide Seer through a meditation. Sirius finished his instructions with a roguish grin and the prospect of a little spar at the end. Art grinned back, fiery eyes alight with excitement at the thought of getting to spar with the Warlord of the Armada. When he had been a pup, Seer had told him to train well so one day they may meet as warriors. Perhaps Art hadn't expected such an injured Seer to want to take him up on that offer, but they could play it by ear.

"Okay, we'll see about that. My Mom would literally kill me if she finds out I sparred with you in this condition," he replied with an equally sassy smirk. Artorias sucked in a slow breath, steadying himself for the task at hand. Guide Sirius through a meditation. Okay, he could do that... "Get comfortable, Sirius. Sitting, lying down, whatever's easiest for you right now. Then, close your eyes." All right, good step one. Art waited for Seer to make himself comfortable before he moved over to sit beside the Warlord, letting his own eyes close. He liked to lead from the side, working right along with someone so they were always on the same level. No one was superior to another in this moment; it was just two wolves sharing a tranquil moment.

"I want you to take a deep breath with me. In..." Artorias drew in a deep breath to fill his lungs. He held it for a few seconds, listening to Seer beside him to make sure he was following along. "...and out." He exhaled, letting the breath slip slowly from his lungs. "Again. In... and out." Artorias knew how he wanted to approach this: by using the natural elements that surrounded them. He had always felt in touch with the world. Fire, water, air, earth... "Listen to the waves in the distance. The wind around you. Smell the salt from the sea in the air. Breathe in... and out... Keep doing that. Let the waves wash away the tension, let them clear your mind." Artorias continued the breathing exercises alongside Sirius for a few more moments, letting the Warlord follow his directions and take in the sensations of the elements. "I want you to picture yourself floating. Just floating. It can be in a river or a lake or the ocean. Feel the weightlessness of your body as you drift. Feel the tension and the strain leave your muscles. Keep breathing, in and out, just like that."

Now came the more difficult part. Art knew this wouldn't be as effective if he left it out though. "Keep your eyes closed, and follow me with your mind. Look to your side. Notice another wolf floating with you. It can be any wolf you love, a wolf close to you who makes you smile, a wolf you care about and cherish." He swallowed, remaining calm and stoic while secretly fearing he wasn't about to set the Warlord off. "Picture them as physically as I am next to you. You're both floating in the water together. There's no world beyond the two of you, no cares, no worries, nothing. All there is, is you and them." He paused, thinking and picturing Briar, the two young wolves adrift in an endless warm sea in their own little world. Nothing could get to them. They were together and they were safe. "Listen to the waves. Let them take you both far away until there's nothing left but you." Slowly, Artorias peeked an eye open to check on Sirius, making sure he was still doing okay.


"Artorias" | Thoughts | "Corbin"