This town's not big enough for the two of us

Although his proper training with Sirius had yet to begin, Artorias appreciated his chance to get to explore and thrive in places that weren't just his home. Seeing the lands he had been born in, meeting the new wolves of the Armada, and getting to spend more time with Briar made the time he spent away all the more worthwhile. He matched her smile as the two of them strode briskly past the Armada borders and out into a lush mangrove. He loved exploring the world, and the fact that Briar knew that and took his interests into consideration warmed his heart. He snickered when her lips met his cheek, turning to catch hers in a quick kiss before she retreated away again. Now that they were back together and things between them were right once more, his world once more felt in harmony and balance.

Artorias followed her lead over unturned roots and hopped from island to island across little streams that cut through the mangrove. He had never been here before, so getting to see somewhere so close to where he'd been born and still find all new things to discover was a thrill! He wondered where Briar was leading him to and had been about to ask when a low, intimidating growl rumbled above the gentle ripple of moving water. Artorias' eyes snapped in the direction of the sound, following Briar's gaze to see the flash of orange through the dense foliage. He had never seen a normal tiger before, but it was reminiscent of a more vibrant and smaller saber cat, and he had plenty of experience with those.

Briar gave him a curious look and Artorias motioned towards it with a fire in those amber eyes. While the big cat posed no immediate threat to them right now, there was no guarantee it wouldn't try something once their backs were turned, and with its close proximity to the Armada and the tiny pups running around it, fighting it off seemed like the better option. While he hadn't brought his armor on his trip, Artorias had brought Embershard, the wolf seldom ever parting from his cherished gift from his late mother. He turned back to face the tiger, gripping the hilt of his sword and drawing it as silently as possible while he squared off against the tiger, staring at it through the branches and growling his own challenge in response. He was trying to goad the tiger out to face them—or to intimidate it to turn and flee.

"Artorias Carpathius"