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Much to Artorias' surprise and amusement, Rudy opted to go in and latch onto the bear's hind leg, sinking his teeth in good and causing the bear to roar in pain and spin around to try and find the wolf now dangling from its rear end like a leech. A wry grin came over his face while he watched his brother and the bear engage in a battle of wills, neither one surrendering until the bear slowed and Rudy let go, stumbling a bit and clearly dizzy. Artorias' smile faltered when he saw the bear turn on the disoriented Rudyard, lethal intent in its beady black eyes. The fight had suddenly shifted tone; now there was a real threat to Rudy, and he wasn't about to let his brother get hurt, not on his watch.

Artorias lunged forward, drawing his sword with a scrape of metal against leather, and put himself between Rudyard and the bear, snarling at the advancing predator. The bear did not relent though, instead rearing back to bring its large paws down on the Carpathius boys. Artorias had had enough, given too many chances, and with a flourish, he brought Embershard up in a diagonal swing that cut across the bear's chest. The ursine bellowed in shock and pain, stumbling back as blood flowed through the shaggy fur on its chest. The cut hadn't been very deep, but it had been enough for the bear to get the message, and that message was echoed very clearly in the young wolf's burning amber eyes. Touch my brother and you die.

Artorias snarled louder, taking a step toward the bear, to which the bear took a tentative step back, probably realizing that the odds had shifted against it. He lunged forward again, bringing his front paws down to smack the earth, scraping his sword against the ground. The bear bellowed and fled, lumbering back into the woods and away from Hallows territory. Artorias kept his eyes after the fleeing predator until he was sure it was gone, snorting an aggressive breath through his nose while he sheathed his weapon. The brothers had successfully defended their home. He turned back to Rudy, looking over his dappled brother and asking, "You okay?" From a cursory glance, Rudyard didn't seem hurt, so that was good. "Those were some interesting techniques. Never would've thought to hang off a bear's butt like that." He shot Rudy a teasing grin.


"Artorias" | Thoughts | "Corbin"