We Fight Together

The small smile on Artorias' lips grew into a wider grin when Briar began to stir, feeling his heart miss a beat when he saw those sleepy turquoise eyes look up at him. He knew Briar loved to sleep in, and if he hadn't had morning patrol this day, he would have happily slept the morning away with her. He chuckled under his breath when Briar snuggled tighter into his embrace, and for a moment, he was very tempted to say screw the morning patrol and stay in bed with her. Briar made making that decision to get up easier when she began to untangle herself from him, a soft sound of disappointment coming from the young wolf as his warm sleeping partner left an empty and cold space where her body had been moments before. He shot Briar an overly dramatic pout as she stretched and got up, but eventually relented and also climbed to his paws, dropping his front half down to the cold stone floor and stretching out his sleep-addled muscles as his back end joined the rest of him.

"Yeah, patrol time," he said in affirmation, making his way over to his armor and sword at the end of the bed. He slid Embershard across his back, opting to go without his armor this time. After all, it was just a routine morning patrol. The morning patrol route had become something of a routine for the two wolves; Briar joined him on every patrol he ran, never once complaining about the early morning hours. It almost felt like they were living their own lives together, comfortable and familiar with one another's presence in each other's lives. Almost. Artorias did appreciate Briar's company; it kept him from being alone for too long with the dark thoughts hovering at the fringes of his mind. None could ever try to seep into his head while Briar was being the light for him. She would never know how grateful he was to have her around. "You could've stayed in bed, y'know," he remarked as they slipped out of his bedroom and headed down the corridor. "Don't get me wrong, I love going on patrol with you. I know how much you hate early mornings though."

Artorias led the way out past the castle gates and across the Starlit Plains, beginning the patrol route along the southern border and working their way counterclockwise along the boundaries between Hallowed land and the rest of Auster. As they walked together in the cool early morning air, the sun just barely risen over the treetops, Artorias would turn to look at Briar, admiring her beauty with a smile. He knew she would have to return home at some point, but until then, he would keep her as his and enjoy every moment in their own little world. Walking patrols had become easier; his shoulder no longer ached when he walked, his mother's wounds scarring over with pale pink skin beneath his fur. He was at least able to walk without a limp, something he was glad to be rid of, especially in front of Briar. He hated how she always had to see him hurt or downed lately. He didn't like feeling like he was weak.

"Once we're done, is there anything you'd like to do today?" he asked, casting Briar a sideways glance while they walked side-by-side. "You set the agenda today, Princess. Whatever you'd like to do." He cast her a small smile—and then stopped as they passed by the border nearest the God's Garden. A strong stench of feline hit his nose, a smell all-too-familiar to the boy. It was the same stench of the creatures that had attacked his pack before. They were still lingering around Auster, it seemed. Artorias' expression turned grim as he stared out towards the gardens. While technically not in their lands, their presence nearby made them a danger, especially since Gwynevere and the other healers used the garden for their herbs. "Smell that?" he asked, fur bristling, muscles tensing. "That's at least one saber cat, close." A sudden thought came to him, a moment of recompense, and he glanced to Briar with a roguish grin. "You wanna go hunt it down or leave it be? I do owe you a tag team fight for before."

WC: 1488/1500


"Artorias" | Thoughts | "Corbin"