Stay Alive

It really was such a small thing, Bowen's paw stroking his cheek, but it brought Artorias so much comfort in that moment. Little trails of electric fire rippled across his skin wherever those soft pink paw pads touched him. He could see the anger in his little sister's gaze as he relayed his experience to her. It surprised him a little and set his mind to wondering if she felt the same rage he felt whenever someone threatened his loved ones. Perhaps he and Bowen were much more alike than they realized, the two standout siblings of the Carpathius litter. Instantly though, he was worried. His anger had led him to this situation. He did not want his little sister encountering Oxx ever. If he'd done these things to him... Artorias shuddered to think about what the monster might do to her. His paw reached up on reflex to catch hers in his larger one, holding it with tender affection against his cheek. He just wanted to hold her paw for a moment, if for no other reason than it felt nice, and if he was dying then this was what he wanted to feel. Love. Bowen's love.

Bowen dismissed his apology, and it was then that he remembered that as a pirate she had been forced to kill to survive. Who knew how often she'd ended up covered in blood and viscera—amongst other bodily fluids. Artorias heard the call of Bowen's raven as he came swooping down to whisper directly to the young fae, who looked beyond relieved with the news he brought. Bowen explained the news: their aid was almost here. Artorias released a long, heavy sigh and nodded his head slowly. "Good... We need to go home." It wasn't safe out here knowing Oxx could be lurking close by, waiting for the opportunity to finish the job.

The question his sister asked next made Artorias' stomach lurch. Did he want her to send for Briar? His expression turned dour, little smile vanishing from his face. Gods, Briar... He really, really didn't want her to see him like this, no more than he'd wanted Bowen to. But if she found out he'd been hurt and hadn't told her, there'd be hell to pay. As much as he didn't want to worry her, he knew he had an obligation to. He glanced back up at Bowen, the conflict evident on his face. All he really wanted right now was to be back home, doped up on painkillers, with her snuggled up to him and wrapped up in his arms beneath some blankets. He noticed the strain of something in her voice, but it was unidentifiable to him in this state.

"We should..." he said with a sigh, still referring to himself with her when speaking. Maybe his brain was just fried after the day he'd endured. "I don't want her to see this, but she should know." Artorias cringed as the throbbing in his head returned in full force. Yeah, he needed to get back to Gwyn. She'd be able to subdue him with drugs and do whatever needed to be done to mend him again. Today had been a harsh lesson. But it had also shown him the fragility of his own life, and put into perspective what mattered most to him. Artorias looked up, searching for the green eyes of what mattered most and smiling like a dopey idiot when he found them. Man, he really was slipping out of it again, wasn't he?

"Artorias" | "Corbin" | "Argent"