The Proposition

Artorias didn't understand the look his mother was giving him when he mentioned needing to go to ensure Briar's safety and the safety of the Armada, but whatever it was, it got her to relent and give him a reluctant nod. He had her permission to go to the Armada, at least for a little while. Artorias felt a worry lift off of him, but in its place came a new nervousness. He was about to walk right into the lands of a wolf described as violently dangerous. While he had no doubt in his prowess to fight and protect himself, this was the Warlord they were talking about, the most feared and ferocious warrior in Boreas. If push came to shove, would Artorias truly be able to best the dire wolf? Would Sirius actually try to kill him? He had never considered that a possible reality, but maybe now he should. Artorias swallowed back his nerves. He'd have to make sure Embershard was sharpened at all times, just in case.

Tamsyn still seemed hesitant to answer his pressing question when he dug further into Sirius' motives to hurt her. Her smile faded and instead she just looked angry and hurt. Artorias didn't understand why until she began to fill in the blanks for him. Sirius had smelled Kane on her and gotten jealous. He had known the Warlord had kissed his mother in the heat of a panicked moment, but it suddenly seemed that Seer's possessive streak ran far deeper into his DNA than he thought. If Sirius couldn't have Tamsyn, then he didn't want anybody to. Artorias' expression shifted to a more severe and stern look, his jaw squared to prevent him from saying anything. He had seen this Kane guy around the pack, their newest addition, a hunter and healer of some sort. He knew he had saved Gwyn's life, and he knew that he had been spending a lot of time with his mother, but Artorias had been reluctant to see things as they were. Yes, he knew about the conversation he had had with Tamsyn shortly before Resin's passing about her eventually moving on, it just felt like eventually had come too soon. Even still, that didn't excuse Sirius' behavior towards his mother.

Artorias met his mother's cool gaze with his ever-burning eyes, remaining quiet and only nodding occasionally while she spoke. He reserved his thoughts and comments for when she was done. Ultimately, what it came down to was Sirius losing control over himself, and Tamsyn trying to be happy again. Whether he approved of it or not didn't matter. He had bigger things to worry about than who his mom might be dating. After all, she hadn't come out and said anything officially to him or his siblings yet about Kane, and he wouldn't force her hand, not when she was already hurting from Seer's envy. The look Tamsyn gave him while tears of pain and frustration formed in her eyes begged him to understand and accept her desires. It was hard. A part of his heart still felt like his mother was moving past Resin too soon—but then what would be more acceptable to him? More time of loneliness and grieving? That wasn't fair to her. He thought about Briar, how she made him feel, and wondered if that was how Kane was making his mom feel. That was what she deserved, no matter what he thought or felt.

"You deserve to be happy, Mama," Artorias reaffirmed while leaning forward to tenderly nuzzle the side of Tamsyn's cheek and nudge the tears from her eyes. A soft sigh left the young wolf. "If Kane makes you happy, then... then you deserve to be happy. Fuck what Sirius thinks. He doesn't own you. And Mom... Mom would've wanted you to be happy to." He had to pause with that last statement to choke back the emotions that came up when he thought of Resin. He pulled back just enough to find his mother's eyes again and give her a reassuring smile. "Kane better treat you like a queen, that's all I have to say." A wry grin and a chuckle escaped the young brute. He might not have said outright that he approved of Kane, but Tamsyn hadn't officially said they were together yet either, so it felt appropriately measured. Tamsyn would tell them on her own time, and until then, he would reserve his judgment.

But that still led the big looming question of Sirius Fatalis. Artorias' expression turned dour once more, but the flames in his eyes never died down. He couldn't save his mother from her madness, but maybe he could still save Sirius from his. "I know you don't want this, and I promise I will be extremely careful. I have to try to save him though, Mom." More importantly, he had to keep Briar safe too. He kept thinking about what happened that night... Briar kicking and struggling to get away from Sirius while he tore into her throat. She had gotten extremely lucky that time—there might not be any luck a second time. If he lost Briar... No. That world was too dark to imagine. Briar would not come to harm, this he swore to every god and deity that ever existed. "It'll only be for a few weeks. I'll bring Corbin too, and if anything happens, I'll send for you immediately. I promise."

"Artorias Carpathius"