Show Me Your Ways

Artorias dipped his head back in greeting to Iris when Sirius introduced him to the slave woman. She seemed taken aback by Sirius' request to tell him her story, seeing the look of trepidation in her orchid-hued eyes. Artorias' brow creased while he tried to discern what that reaction was about. Was the afraid, ashamed of herself, nervous? He had been in the middle of puzzling it would when Seer dropped a bomb on him. The Warlord had once been a slave. Artorias turned to his godfather with a look of absolute shock, eyes wide and mouth agape. It was impossible to imagine Sirius as being subservient to anybody, but it did explain where his mentality of any wolf can be anything if they work hard enough for it. He had started out as a slave, and now he was the alpha of one of the most infamous packs in Boreas. Those achievements were nothing to snub at, made even more impressive knowing Seer's background, but it did bring up many questions Artorias had, specifically around Sirius' earlier years.

Iris began to tell her life story, and to no surprise of Artorias, it was not a pleasant one. Artorias listened to the atrocities that befell Iris, from her kidnapping to her sale into slavery, the sexual abuse and rape that followed, and how she had gone through a number of owners. Artorias grimaced, looking over the woman once more. She didn't seem old by any means; how often was she being traded and sold back and forth between different wolves?! Were they merely using her for sex for a period of time and reselling her once they were done with her? The very thought felt wrong inside his head—but had Sirius not just told him that this was the way some packs saw slavery? Was this another shade of gray in the world he'd have to navigate? He might have been put off by the notion of sexual assault, but those other wolves clearly hadn't been. Could he definitely say he was right and they were all wrong when there was an entire way of life built off of that?

"I... I'm so sorry, Iris," he said after a moment, not really sure what one was supposed to say when told a story like that. He glanced to Sirius at his side, then back to her again. "I'm happy to know your life is turning around now. I know Sirius will take care of you from now on." Iris was one of the Warlord's wolves now, and he knew how protective the man was over what he considered his. Iris would never go wanting for anything, nor would she ever fear anything for the rest of her days. Curious amber eyes turned back to Sirius then, fixing the larger man with his prying stare. "You were a slave too? What did you have to do as a slave? And who could ever enslave you? You're the Warlord."

"Artorias Carpathius"