meet the family

From high atop the castle walls, Artorias moved gracefully back and forth with rehearsed steps as he went through his training regiment, timing each step with a swing or parry of the sword in his jaws. His breathing was slow and heavy, his gaze focused as he counted out each step in his head, head turning as he moved to swing the blade left, right, slicing up and back down, blocking and guarding his imaginary attackers. It had been two months since his defeat to Oxx, but the wounds to his pride still felt fresh as they day he'd received them. The monster's laugh echoing in his head, his cold words sneered out between deadly fangs. It spurred Artorias and incensed the flames within his spirit. His training had intensified since his loss. The next time they met, he would walk away with the fucker's head.

His trusty raven companion Corbin flew elegantly through the warm summer wind, the day still dim as the strange events that gripped the world kept the sun at bay. Trapped in this never-ending cycle of twilight and night, this was about as bright as the days would get. What a shame, since Artorias did love the Austerian summer days. With keen avian eyes, Corbin spotted Avantika waiting at the borders with a stranger, and he swiftly flew down to land on the battlements beside where Artorias was training. "Master Artorias, your sister Avantika appears to have a visitor at the border." Artorias finished up his movement, then turned to glance over the walls. It was dark with the dusky light of midday, but he could spot Tika from a mile away. Sure enough, there was another wolf with her. Strange that she didn't call me, he thought, but slid the sword back into its sheath all the same and set it aside. No need to go greeting guests while armed.

Artorias made his way down off the walls and then strolled out of the gates and across the strip of plains towards their border. Tika had brought with her another girl, this one smaller than both Carpathian wolves, with a sweet and gentle look about her features. He greeted both women with a crooked smile and a dip of his head. "Tika, if I'd known you'd be bringing guests home, I'd have made sure to have a meal prepared." He chuckled softly, then turned fire-kissed amber eyes to the stranger. "Welcome to the Hallows. I'm Artorias, Aegis and alpha of the pack." He waited then for either Avantika to introduce her friend or for the stranger to make her own introductions. It seemed the Hallows had become quite the spot for all sorts of new wolves!

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