Mend this Burning Bridge

Again, Artorias scoffed and rolled his eyes. He didn't care what rank he held in the pack, he would never be too busy for his family, and he let Rudy know that right away. "I'm always going to have time to go adventuring with you, Rudy. No rank is gonna stop be from doing things with you." The smile on his face started to falter a little when Rudy asked how Resin was doing. He didn't answer right away, not sure how to break that news to his brother, but fortunately Rudy dismissed it by saying he'd find out soon enough anyway. That was the truth... Anyone who had been near the dungeons recently had heard the tortured wails and howls of what had once been their mother down in the prison. Even now, the sound still haunted his thoughts. Gods, how could she have gotten so bad so fast...?

He gave a slow nod of his head as Rudy summed up his thoughts on Ulric taking over the pack. True, he had also sort of expected Tamsyn to take over after Resin was no longer fit, but their younger mother had also never shown a desire for leadership the way Resin and Ulric had. That, coupled with the trauma she had recently endured, made it understandable why she had stepped aside. But Ulric had proven himself to be a good wolf and a good leader thus far. All they could do was put their faith in him to lead the way Resin had intended the Hallows to be. When Rudy pointed out how they had ended up with the titles the other had gunned for, he couldn't help but smirk and snicker. It was ironic when you looked at it that way. "Oh no, am I going to have to listen to you lord that over me for the rest of my life? You were right, so now I'm never gonna hear the end of it?" he joked, nudging his brother's shoulder with a paw. "Good! You better catch up to me, because your fighting training is now my responsibility. If you don't, you'll make me look bad!"

Rudy congratulated him on his rank, and Art smiled bashfully. "Thanks, Rudy. I really didn't expect it, but that means a lot coming from you," he said, ears folded to his head sheepishly. Rudy asked if he'd told Resin about his promotion, and Artorias' mood deflated again, his eyes dimming and the smile freezing on his face. "And who might you be?" Resin's words echoed in his brain and cut through his heart. "...I tried..." he said after a moment, his voice low and hurt. Artorias chewed on his lip for a moment, trying to decide whether to tell Rudy about what had happened or not. He didn't want to scare his brother away from seeing their mother before she passed. "She... didn't recognize me at all. Didn't know who I was, didn't know my name, didn't even remember the Hallows or Mama. It was like... she's alive, but her memories have all been erased." He looked back to Rudy with a serious expression on his face. "I'm not telling you to not go see her. You should. Just... be prepared for the worst if you do—and try to not let it get to you. I wasn't prepared for what I got..." And now he couldn't stop thinking about it.

Artorias couldn't hold back the laughter when Rudy stated he couldn't be drowned this time because he was taller. Rudy's logic was always so simple and straightforward it was impossible to keep a straight face around him sometimes. "Oh, definitely!" he agreed to the mention of a beach spar. "I've been meaning to work on my footing in unstable terrain and that would be the perfect test! Plus we can get your skills up so you can earn a Templar spot. If I'm really going to be made the next alpha, you know damn well that I'm going to need my brother up at the top with me." He gave Rudy an easier smile since it was the truth. Resin had her council that she kept with Tamsyn and the most skilled members of the pack. If he became Aegis, he would want Rudy leading his council in some form. He loved and trusted his brother and needed him with him to lead their pack in their mother's vision.

"Artorias" | "Corbin"