The Proposition

Artorias was grinning from ear to ear when Ulric admitted that his absence would be felt and he would be missed, but the opportunity sounded too good to pass up. He nodded his head to his alpha. "I understand it's not the most ideal position for the pack, especially with so many Knights that still need training. I'll be sure to make sure things are in place before I leave so their progress doesn't halt because of me," he assured Ulric. Perhaps he could ask his mother to act on his behalf in his absence as a Templar and make sure the others were keeping up with their training regiments. "Thank you, Ulric! I won't squander this opportunity!"

His mother, however, seemed markedly less enthusiastic about the offer Sirius had extended to him. She looked nervous and panicked over something, and it squashed some of the boy's excitement right out of the gate. He cast a confused look to Tamsyn when she asked Ulric to give them a moment of privacy. He knew that look on her face. It was the same worried, concerned look she wore whenever she senses something was wrong. He didn't have to ask what was causing it though, for as soon as Ulric had stepped away, Tamsyn said she didn't want him to go. Artorias' mouth dropped open, fur bristling for a beat while he bit back the urge to immediately demand to know why. His mother had to have reasons, surely. She wouldn't just want to hold him back—that wasn't the kind of wolf she was.

As he predicted, Tamsyn took the moment of silence to further her explanation, telling him how she had spoken to Sirius at Ashen's festival and how he was even more delusional and violent than he had been when he'd been in Auster in the previous season. She finished by saying she didn't trust his intentions and that she didn't believe he was safe to be around. Artorias' heart wrenched and plummeted into his turning stomach. He had been so excited for this opportunity to learn from Sirius and be a better leader... How else was he ever going to live up to Resin's legacy and be someone worthy of shepherding her pack? The disappointment was palpable in the boy's eyes, some of the light going out in them and turning darker at the revelation of Sirius' condition. It didn't make sense. That didn't seem like the wolf he had just embraced and spoken with at the border.

"I... I don't understand, Mom. Why didn't you say anything before? Why would you keep something like that a secret?" he asked, fixing her with prying eyes, though they were still soft and concerned and not hard or accusatory. "I just spoke with him and he didn't seem delusional or unhinged. Why would you think Sirius is trying to hurt you or steal me? He's always been a friend of ours... hasn't he...?" There was one more question on his mind that was far more pressing than anything else though. She claimed Sirius was turning more violent in his delusions and slipping sanity. His blood ran cold to think of that kind of danger lingering around Briar—his Briar. "Do you really believe he's dangerous and violent...?" Tamsyn knew Sirius better than anybody else. If she really felt he was a danger to himself and others, that would just raise more worries for Briar's safety.

"Artorias Carpathius"