Mend this Burning Bridge

Artorias simply nodded when Rudy commented on how much work the Hallows had ahead of them. Between making sure their warriors were trained up in the case of another attack or raid, making sure they had enough skilled hunters, and replenishing the healers' supplies, it would be a long road to recovery for the pack—but they would make it. The Hallowed wolves were a strong, tight-knit family, and they had weathered the worst of the storm. But they would all need to be prepared to step up at a moment's notice. Resin had established the pack to continue running long after she was gone. They would have to follow in her footsteps and make sure the pack would continue to run once their time was done as well. He was happy to hear Rudy's determination for improving himself along with the rest of the pack as well. Learning and honing skills was something that never stopped, no matter how old or talented they got; there was always more to learn.

As was his personality, Rudy seemed to be a never-ending fountain of chatter, rolling right from one thought into another. Once upon a time, that might have been annoying, but now Artorias just found his chatterbox brother endearing. After having nearly lost him and worrying over him, he had come to appreciate his little brother's presence all the more. After all, without Rudy, he'd just be surrounded by his sisters, and that seemed like a fate too torturous to imagine! He smirked and chuckled when Rudy mentioned how he'd better not put him at the lowest rank in the pack or he'd get a scolding. "I'd never do that to you, Rud," he reassured the mottled gray boy, then shot him a sideways grin, "...unless you did something to really deserve it." He teased, of course. He couldn't imagine Rudyard ever doing something so terrible he would need to strip him of all the work he'd done and the achievements he'd made.

Artorias listened while Rudy described how he imagined the afterlife, how their mother would be watching them through their journeys in life. To be honest, he hadn't ever stopped to consider what came after the end of a life. It wasn't a conversation his parents had ever had with him before, and that was a hell of a heavy topic to think about. If he had to pick something though, he would like to imagine a perfect place with no pain, no suffering, where the souls of loved ones could watch over and guide their living survivors. He swallowed hard, trying to keep his emotions in line. It was like Sirius had said to him: Resin knew who they were. Resin knew what they were capable and the types of wolves they would become. If there was even a possibility that their mother could watch them from whatever other side there was, he would do everything in his actions and choices to make her proud.

"It's all right, Rudy. Water under the bridge." He gave his brother a soft smile and nudged his shoulder with a paw. He didn't hold anything against Rudy. He was just content to have his family back together at the end of all things. Artorias looked back out over the water, reflecting on their conversation—so he hadn't been paying attention when Rudyard leaped at him and took him to the ground. Art yelped in surprise, his back making contact with the muddy ground while staring up at his crafty little brother with fire in his eyes. But it wasn't an angry fire, it was playful and energetic, like the smile that came over his face. "Yes you will," he remarked when Rudy said he wouldn't be stupid again. "But y'know what? I wouldn't have it any other way. Oh, and by the way..." Artorias was quick to roll to his paws, eyeing Rudy with a roguish grin, and then lunged for his brother, aiming to take him down to the mud with him. He wasn't about to let Rudy have all the fun, regardless of how old they got. They were still rowdy brothers.

"Artorias" | "Corbin"