Mend this Burning Bridge

In the time it took for Rudy to come find him, Artorias had already run through twenty different ways to try and say what he wanted to say. He and Rudy had always been the closest of friends, thick as thieves brothers that couldn't be separated. When his brother had run off from them in their time of need, Art had felt nothing but anger for Rudy. But as the days dragged into weeks, Artorias' anger had changed into worry. He hadn't seen hide nor hair of his little brother, and the longer he went without seeing him, the more he began to fear the worst. What if something had happened to Rudyard? What if he had been hurt and unable to get help? What if he was dead somewhere in the world, never to be found? He'd never know what befell his brother, never get to see him or speak to him again, and that worry terrified him. He couldn't let the last things he'd said to Rudy be from a place of anger, sorrow, and spite.

Artorias' ear flicked back when he heard the crunching of grass coming up behind him. He glanced over his shoulder to his mottled gray brother, noting the guarded look in his eyes and the way he seemed on edge just being near him. That crushed Art's spirit inside. He never thought he would ever see the day when his brother looked at him like that. "Sit with me?" he asked, motioning with a flick of his head to the space beside him. He looked back towards the ocean, the cool breeze ruffling his fur, still thick from the extended winter that he would now begin to shed as warmer days were upon them. He would wait to see if Rudy came to join him or not, then regardless he said, "I wanted to apologize for what I said the last time we talked. I was angry, and frustrated, and I lashed out at you."

It wasn't easy for Artorias to admit that he had hurt Rudy. That would mean he had failed him as a brother. But the truth of the matter was that he had. Both boys had been angry, and each took it out in a different way. He still didn't think Rudy was right for the way he gave in so quickly, but after having exhausted himself to the bone, Art wasn't too proud or stubborn to say he was wrong. "I'm sorry, Rudy. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way," he spoke after a moment's pause, still looking with sullen, tired eyes out over the sea.

"Artorias" | "Corbin"