Mend this Burning Bridge

Artorias couldn't help but laugh when Rudy stated that he was the more hot-tempered of the two. Boy, if that wasn't the understatement of the year... He thought briefly to how his anger had caused him to stab Sirius more times that he could count. He knew the extent of what his anger could do, and he was working so hard on keeping it curbed, not just for himself, but for the protection of everyone else too. Hearing Rudyard proudly declare himself as a Carpathius, and as such was above the dangers of the world, brought a smile to Art's lips. He had wanted their family name not just as a unifying quality between all of them—blood-born and adopted—but also as their legacy. They would become a family as noble and renowned as the Fatalises, Kleins, and Abraxases of Boreas. Carpathius would become synonymous with strength, honor, protection, loyalty. He would see to it in his every action.

Art only withdrew from their embrace once Rudy started to shift back again, meeting his brother's golden gaze while he began to recount all of the places he had been to in search of a cure for their mother. He had to hand it to the yearling, he had certainly done his fair share of traveling, going as far north as the western territories of Boreas it seemed! Even though he hadn't said it explicitly, Artorias knew that Rudy's journey had been fruitless. When the boy returned to the Hallows and didn't immediately gush about how he'd found some miracle cure for Resin, he knew. But Rudy had taken the initiative and put in the effort to try—and gods be damned, did he try! He wouldn't disparage his brother for making the attempt when it had all the best intentions. For now, he just smiled and listened while Rudy regaled him with his adventures.

"It sounds like you've had quite the trip," he remarked with a low chuckle, then tapped Rudy's chest with a paw when he promised to take Art along next time. "I'm gonna hold you to that. You know how much I wanna see the rest of the world." There was a moment of sobering silence after that, allowing Artorias to just look at his brother and reflect on the past season. Winter had been hard on them all, but there was still work that needed to be done, tasks to be taken care of around the pack. "Have you seen Mom since you've been back?" he asked with trepidation, knowing the last time he had seen Resin, she couldn't even remember who he was. Had Rudy had a similar experience, or had he avoided the dungeons altogether? He wouldn't have blamed his brother if he had. Watching Resin waste away into a snarling feral monster had been the most difficult thing he'd had to do. He wouldn't wish it on his worst enemy.

Lastly, there was one last conversation the two needed to have before everything could return to the way it was before the shitstorm. "What do you think of Ulric taking over as Aegis?" he asked, then slowly led into, "Congratulations on earning Knight, by the way. Knight Rudyard makes you sound far more regal and mature than that puppy I almost accidentally drowned." He grinned and chuckled, that memory of play-fighting on the beach seeming like a lifetime ago already. He very carefully danced around his own rank within the pack now, not wanting to bring it up in case it was still a sore spot for his little brother.

"Artorias" | "Corbin"