Stay Alive

Had Bowen been able to hear Art's thoughts, she would have laughed. Strong? Quite the opposite. Bowen was a broken thing. She thought about the sweet release of death almost daily. Only the severity of the situation and the well being of her brother kept her from dissolving into a blithering mess. She had to keep herself together if she was going to keep Art together. Bowen was not strong. She was not brave. She was broken. A bird with missing wings.

Art explained who had attacked him and Bowen's maw parted in disbelief. Their mother's blood born son had done this? And not only to him... to Gwyn as well. Anger boiled the girl's blood and she grit her teeth. Vengeance was the first though, but if this beast had done such a number on Art... then she stood no chance, surely. She couldn't kill the brute, but maybe she could pay him pay in another way. It was something worth thinking about.

Stroking Art's cheek seemed to make him happy and he managed enough energy to grace her with a big smile, which she returned gladly. Bowen continued those slow strokes since they seemed to make him so happy. She tried to not think about how close they were and about how warm he now felt pressed up against her. She tried not to get lost in the man's firelit gaze but it was so, so difficult.

An apology was soon given and Bowen scoffed lightly. "This is nothing. Don't worry about it." She'd been covered in a lot more blood than this. Even if she hadn't, she wasn't the type to mind. Just then, a caw overhead brought Bowen's gaze upward. Bishop landed in the sand beside her and whispered into her ear, telling the girl that Ulric and Eska would soon be arriving. Relief washed through her and she turned her attention back to Artorias. "Help will be here soon." She couldn't wait to get him back to the castle and have Gwyn look him over and tend to his wounds. He had to be okay. He just had to.

Almost as an afterthought, Bowen's brow furrowed. "Should I send for Briar?" Her voice was soft and there was a hint of something else in it. Part of Bowen didn't want to send for Briar. Didn't want the woman anywhere near her brother. Bo ignored that little voice within herself and continued to look down at Artorias. Whatever he decided; whatever he wanted, she would do.

"Speech"