Through New Eyes

Briar was fast asleep, getting some rest after a week of helping Artorias adjust to this new normal and struggling with him to find aways certain things. She was patient with him even when it was frustrating for her as well. At the end of the day she knew that however frightening, worrying, frustrating it was for her it was ten times that for Artorias and she was dedicated to staying true to her promise to him. They were going to figure this out together and she wouldn't dream about leaving his side until she was confident that he could handle this difficult way of life. She knew that she would have to make a trip home sooner rather than later and was planning on asking Bowen to help tend to Art in her absence so she could do just that. She was going to ask her father to let her make the move early, bring Lia down here with her to help Artorias as well, and then they could go from there. Living apart was no longer an option. She had to be here with him—no ifs, ands, or buts. In a way she was almost happy that she had an excuse to be here with him full time at last, even if it meant cutting the time she had promised to her family short.

She was pulled slowly from her sleep as Artorias shifted beside her, groggily grumbling when he started shaking her shoulder to wake her. She was about to complain and tell him that she wanted five more minutes, but then his words actually sunk in. He could see. He could see. Her own eyes flew open with a gasp and she looked up at him with shock, seeing his familiar amber eyes looking back at her. With awe and bewilderment, she lifted a paw to his cheek, looking at those warm, fiery eyes that she had missed so deeply, a huge, joyful smile crossing her face. "Your eyes are back to normal..." she breathed, a little giddy laugh escaping her as it registered that this wasn't a dream. This was real and he was actually better. His sight was back, his eyes were the eyes she had fallen in love with again.

Briar giggled again, relieved, happy tears welling up in her eyes as she threw her forelegs around his neck and pulled him into an embrace, her tail wagging like crazy. She fully loved him either way, she would have stayed by his side and supported him either way, but knowing he was okay and knowing that they could live their lives normally together again was such an overwhelming relief. All she could think of was how grateful she was that whatever had caused this had been merciful enough to make this temporary. "I'm so glad you're okay," she told him, nuzzling into his scruff and blinking away the tears that had gathered in her turquoise eyes. He could continue to be the alpha, she could be his queen. One day when they got married and started their family he would be able to experience it fully with her. She hugged him tighter as she thought about it, about their future together, and it just made her all the more thankful for it.

"Briar Fatalis"