Lazier way to Hunt (craft)

Rudy was right. Artorias did intend to train, to make himself stronger, faster, a more capable warrior able to defeat Oxx. He would end the monster's life, he would avenge his family and get his sword back. But he had a lot of work to get to that point. Right now, Artorias was a broken knight. He was weakened, beaten, defiled. His body was healing, but his spirit would take some time. He'd lost his sword to his foe, the only heirloom he had to remember Resin by. She'd given it to him as a show of her faith in her little knight, entrusting him with it to keep the family and the pack safe and he'd lost it when he failed. It crushed his morale and ate away at him every day, but there was nothing he could do about it right now. He would have to bide his time, grow stronger and more deadly, then have his revenge when the time was right.

When Rudy made an offhand comment about wanting to go running off after Oxx, Artorias shot him a stern, severe look. Very seldom did he ever take a serious approach with his siblings, but this was no trifling matter. He'd only barely survived his encounter with Oxx thanks to Bowen and some divine intervention. He had no doubt that if Rudy went off after their demented brother, they'd never find him again. Thankfully, Rudy seemed to backpedal the more he thought about it, so Art didn't have to say anything. He was glad to see that the blow to his head hadn't killed too many braincells in his mottled brother's head.

"I don't want anyone going after him, not until the winter has passed at the least, and definitely not alone," Artorias said to Rudyard. "We'll find him one day and we'll bring him to justice, but I have to think of the pack and not just my own wants now. When the time is right, we'll hunt him down like the rabid dog he is." Artorias glanced back to Rudy then with a knowing look in his eye. That was right, he'd said "we'll" hunt down Oxx. He knew Rudy wouldn't sit on the sidelines, but if his brother was getting involved in this manhunt, it was going to be on Art's terms with him close by to keep the reckless Rudy safe. "I found him up by the Rio Grande, just south of Fireside's territories. I don't know if he was passing through or if he's denning somewhere around there. And like I said, I don't want anyone else getting hurt because we're being brash. Our knights are decent, but they have a lot of work to do still. I won't sacrifice anyone for revenge." Gods, the last thing he needed was to lead an angry mob against a cold calculating killer like Oxx and have someone killed. Artorias would never forgive himself.

Rudy's next question made Artorias scowl, not at him but at the situation as a whole. Was Oxx really their brother? Of that, he had no doubt. The things Gwynevere had told him he'd said to her, the fact that he knew of Resin's death and knew where she was buried meant he had enough of a reason to spy on them for... god, months?! Oxx had been part of the mammoth hunt with the pack, which meant he'd been spying on them since at least the winter, biding his time to take what he wanted. "He knew things, Rudy, things he told Gwyn that only a Carpathius wolf would know." He bared his teeth in a silent, disgusted snarl. "I know almost nothing about this wolf, but the one thing I know for certain is he is our brother... Not my blood, but family all the same." It revolted Artorias to consider Oxx among their family tree. He was a branch that needed to be pruned.

"I need you to promise me you won't go after him, Rudy. I need you to trust me on this. We'll bring him to justice, but I need you to promise me you won't do anything reckless." I can't risk losing my brother too...

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Corbin" | "Argent"