Feel the Thunder

Following their reconciliation up at the falls, Artorias found coexisting with the Armada wolves significantly easier now that he didn't feel a need to tiptoe around avoiding Briar. It had been so easy for him to fall back into the same routines they'd shared before their breakup. If anything, the emotions and bonds he felt for Briar had grown stronger for it, and now the Carpathius boy knew he would never allow Briar out of his life again. He had sent Corbin south with a message for his mother to let her know he'd arrived safely and that he and Briar had mended their rift so she wouldn't worry about him too much. Naturally, they would have to be a little more careful about the openness of their affections with her giant of a father stalking around the plains, but for the most part, balance felt like it had returned to his life once more.

True to his word, Artorias had already begun to make plans to help Briar with her fighting training so she could feel more confident about herself and her abilities. That was the point of his training in the Armada, after all: offer to others his knowledge and experience while also learning from them. He'd already shown success training wolves when he'd taken Ezra from angsty teen to proud warrior and winner of the Ashen tournament, an achievement he shared proudly with his apprentice. Now he was doing the same for Lillith, and he would continue with Briar.

As had been the norm lately, Artorias and Briar were wandering Armada territory together, coming from a patrol of the borders that also gave him a chance to familiarize himself with his temporary home. Unbeknownst to her though, Artorias had led them on a divergent path towards the beach, intent on starting their training together today. They arrived to the sandy coast and waving ocean just as the dark clouds overhead began to gather into a dense blanket. The occasional clap of thunder could be heard overhead, but hopefully the rain would stay away long enough for them to at least complete a spar to show how much each of them had learned since they'd fought last as little puppies.

"You know, I've been thinking a lot about the things you said at the falls," he said to his lover as he stepped onto the sand, giving her a sideways smirk and a scheming look in his eye. "And I've been thinking... It's been a loooong time since our last spar. Probably, what, a year or so now? You never did get that rematch you demanded, and what better way for me to see how much you know, soooo..." Letting his words trail off, Artorias took a couple quicker strides forward to turn and cut off Briar with a playful gleam in his fiery eyes and a wide, toothy grin. "What do you say, Princess? Do you accept your knight's challenge?" As if on cue, a deeper rumble of thunder sounded overhead, nearly making Artorias laugh with the absurdity and drama of it all. But the looming threat of rain wasn't going to make him change his mind. "We could make a wager too. Keep things fun and interesting!"

WC: 541 / 1500

"Artorias Carpathius"