There's a Change in the Air

Artorias could only frown with uncertainty, his eyes focused with an apprehensive stare out at the sea of spectral fireflies dancing in the pale bluish moonlight. "I have no idea. Maybe nothing." He shrugged his shoulders, hopeful (yet doubtful) that this might just be a strange Austerian occurrence. After all, last winter had been covered in snow and ice. Maybe these strange fireflies were normal for this continent? Artorias tore his gaze from the thousands of glowing bugs to the one closest to them when it buzzed closer to them. Oddly though, its wings made no noise, despite how close it was to them. Bowen lifted her paw to touch it, and just like that the blue glowing bug disappeared. Artorias blinked a few times as if trying to correct his vision, like maybe the firefly would still be there, but it was gone. Vanished into thin air. Okay, that's fucked up...

Curiosity won out over his trepidation, and Artorias continued to walk forward, surveying the cool-hued insects that had infested the air over his home. There had to be thousands of the little creatures airborne! Where had they all come from? Artorias swept his gaze across the starry plains, looking out over towards the ocean—and freezing when he saw almost pitch blackness out over the waves. The water, which normally appeared a deep navy under the moonlight, was inky black and abyssal. It sent a chill down Artorias' spine. A cold breeze rippled past him, tousling his black and blue fur, and carrying with it a whispered voice. He couldn't discern the speech, but when he turned around in the direction of the wind, he found himself staring at another wolf just across on another hilltop.

Artorias would have instantly gone on the defensive when he found a stranger in his lands, but this was no normal wolf. The wind carried no trace of a scent on it, and the wolf itself seemed like it was made out of mist and light, glowing that same ethereal blue-silver as the rest of the world. There was something familiar about this wolf though. Despite being made up of solid white and bathed in an otherworldly glow, he recognized the heavyset build, the thick mane of fur around the wolf's head, and their missing left eye. The right eye glowed that haunting blue, and Artorias felt his mouth hang open as he gazed at the specter, haunted by its presence. Neither of them made a move, both staring at one another. It took the young alpha some time to gather up his courage, but he finally willed himself to speak.

"Mom...?"

The wolf didn't respond. Artorias blinked. The wolf was gone. The silence left lingering in the spirit's wake was powerful and oppressive. He didn't know what to say. He couldn't move. This wasn't possible; Resin was dead! Tears pricked at the corners of Artorias' eyes as he stared at the space the ghost had occupied, his breathing shallow and uneven. What the fuck was going on? Bowen was at his side again all of a sudden, and Artorias realized that she hadn't been there a moment ago. He glanced back towards the dark castle, considering Bowen's words. "I think you're right," he agreed with a nod. "C'mon, let's go." He didn't want to show his fear in front of his sister, but Artorias was deeply disturbed by what he'd seen out here tonight. Something was not right with the world, and right now he wanted nothing more than to be back inside the safety of the castle walls with Bowen in his arms.

"Bowen & Artorias"