I'm not leading you astray

The curious boy that he was, Artorias was even more intrigued when Mortis grinned and confessed to his plans of being less fun and more business. He glanced to the fighting arena. If their plans involved fighting, he didn't see how it couldn't be fun! Mort mentioned waiting for someone else, and at first he thought that perhaps some of the other trainees had shown up—until Mortis said there she was. Artorias turned his head a fraction of an inch, following Mortis' gaze to find Briar slinking up to them, coming to a stop beside him. Amber eyes burned with a darker fire when he saw her, the ache in his chest impossible to ignore, but he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing how badly she'd hurt him when she'd ripped their relationship apart. He spared Briar only the briefest of glances when she'd approached, then refused to look at her again. All traces of mirth had left his expression. He was now silent and serious.

Mortis explained the purpose for them here today: a tag team fight against the bigger Fatalis wolf. The corner of Artorias' lip quivered as he resisted the reflex to snarl or to scowl or maybe both. Any other day he would have been thrilled to take on such an adversary! Being paired with her though... Artorias briefly considered just getting up and walking away, but that would have been so callous and rude to his host. Seer had obviously put Mortis up to this, and bless his heart, he was trying. He wouldn't crush him just to spite Briar.

"One moment," said Artorias, then stepped over to the arena. He ran his paw across the sand, feeling the terrain, lifting some of the coarse earth and letting it slip through his digits, studying it, getting a feel for the land. It was rougher than the sands down in Auster, with larger, grittier grains. Footing would be easier, but still a damn sight harder than solid ground. Nodding to himself, Artorias glanced up as Corbin circled overhead. "Okay, ready."

Artorias still didn't look at Briar while he took his position in the ring, teeth finding the hilt of the training sword and drawing it from across his back. It didn't matter if he was being forced to work with Briar or with anyone else. Faced with a challenge, Art would rise to it time and time again, and he could set aside his emotions to complete a task with her. That's all this was: learning and accomplishing a goal. Clenching his weapon securely in his jaws, he waited for Briar to find her position and get ready, then for Mortis to give them the signal to start.

"Artorias Carpathius"