Time to set the tone

The day had finally come! When Ulric had told him about his plans to visit all of the packs in Boreas to reacquaint themselves as Hallowed wolves, Artorias had been ecstatic! Not only would it mean getting out and into the world he so desperately wanted to explore, it would also mean getting his first taste of what governing was like, and how packs interacted between one another. He had no idea what to expect, but it was that unknown variable that kept him anxious and energetic. Though his mother's passing had dampened his spirits somewhat in earlier weeks, Artorias' brooding had more or less subsided, and the wounds his mother had left on his shoulder had mostly healed and were turning to barely noticeable scars. Compared to what Resin had done to Tamsyn, he had gotten lucky.

Before they left, Ulric informed him to leave his equipment behind for their trip, and despite personal objections, Artorias obliged his alpha's orders and left his sword and armor at home. The morning of their departure, the two wolves had headed north across the Bifröst into Boreas, then skirted around the shores until they arrived at their destination. Camping overnight under the stars was a whole new experience for the young wolf, and he even learned how to start campfires from Ulric. Once morning broke, they packed up and headed for the border of their first pack meeting: Ashen.

Before they even reached the border, Artorias could smell the scents of dozens of wolves, making his nose wrinkle at the sudden impact on his olfactory senses. The two men strode up to the borders of the white-treed forest, Artorias stopping when Ulric did and observing his decorum for maintaining distance from the border. While Ulric howled for Ashen's alpha, Artorias took the time to survey his surroundings. He had never seen trees like this before, and although it was distinctly summer, the air was noticeably cooler than down in Auster. Perhaps it was just a chilly day? He honestly couldn't remember much from when he had been living in Boreas.

Artorias knew nothing of the Ashen wolves other than the ones he had fought (and defeated one-on-one, he thought proudly) during the practice raid, but he had heard the stories of the empire from his mothers, and of the empress that reigned over it. He also settled back on his haunches while they waited, eager for his first meeting as Ulric's right hand, and also anxious to meet his first alpha that wasn't Sirius or Ulric.


"Artorias" | Thoughts | "Corbin"