Let me set the scene

Were it anyone else, Artorias would have visibly flinched when they addressed him as a king. It was difficult enough learning to adapt to being called Aegis and having wolves turn to him for decisions and commands, but being called a king just sounded so elitist. When it was Briar calling him by that title, however... well, the young, hormone-driven adolescent couldn't be faulted for finding a bit of enjoyment in that. The sensual purr in her voice tempted his imagination, and Artorias already had a feeling she didn't intend for either of them to be making it home tonight. Good thing he'd made all the necessary arrangements in the Hallows; he was all hers for the night. After snickering while watching Argent give chase to poor Marigold, Artorias turned all of his attention to Briar. "Can do." He took the bottle in one paw and pierced the cork with a claw, twisting the bottle until he popped the cork out. The rich scent of a summer red wine wafted from the open bottle, and Artorias gave it a quick sample. The wine was sweet, bursting with flavors of summer fruits and a touch of honey in the aftertaste. Briar would like this vintage, he was sure.

Briar got their fire started and Artorias set the open bottle between them, helping his girlfriend divide up their food just as the sun began its final descent in the sky. Artorias watched as night claimed the land, silently realizing that night seemed to be coming sooner and lasting longer. Granted, Boreas was in the middle of its winter season, so shorter days and longer nights weren't unusual by any means, but even down in Auster, it seemed to be staying dark significantly longer. The sun faded in the sky, but the sunset didn't show any of its usual reds or oranges. Instead the sky was a murky violet and indigo blend that gave way to the dark navy of evening, and gradually to the black of night. As darkness consumed the land, Artorias and Briar shared their meal and their wine, enjoying light conversation and eager exchanges of kisses and teasing affections. Being with her again was almost enough to make Artorias forget about the fright he'd experienced with Bowen the last time he'd ventured out after dark.

No sooner had the sun completed its disappearing act, Artorias noticed the familiar blue glow rising across the valley. From out of nowhere, a sea of those fireflies began to rise from the ground, their blue and lavender lights shining over the valley from end to end. But unlike the last time he'd seen the strange bugs, this time the fireflies weren't the only things glowing. Artorias stared in wonder as flowers and plants around the fertile valley began to glow with that strange ethereal blue light as well. Blue light began to engulf him and Briar, and when he glanced up to see where it was coming from, Artorias gasped to see the leaves of the very tree they were under were glowing as well, bathing them in the paranormal light. Around them, a few of the fireflies floated leisurely by, more spilling from the glowing tree and dancing their way through the air around them. Unlike last time, Artorias did not feel threatened by the lights. Instead he felt dazzled, awed by the splendor of this magical world.

"Have you ever seen anything like this?" he asked Briar in a hushed voice, as if he were afraid his own speech would break the spell on the land. "I've seen these fireflies down in Auster recently, but... I just thought it was normal. And the plants..." He looked back up at the tree again, watching as a single glowing leaf fell from its branch and began its slow descent to the ground. By the time it landed on his paw, the leaf had lost its glow and returned to a normal brown hue. "It's beautiful. Strange, but beautiful." He curled his body some to better receive Briar's as she leaned into him, draping a foreleg across her side to hold her close while they reveled in the supernatural light show. Artorias took a long swig from the bottle of wine before passing it back to Briar, nearly half of the alcohol gone by this point and a very warm and pleasant buzz taking over his brain and body.

"Artorias Carpathius"