Through New Eyes

Artorias saw the conflicting emotions raging war behind Briar's vivid turquoise eyes at his request. Were these any other normal circumstances, he would have said the plea more in jest, teasing her with the idea of staying. But with the world coming apart and the sky falling around them, Artorias wanted nothing more than to be selfish and keep Briar with him here at all times. Then he could at least know she was safe, know he could protect her, know where she was and how she was doing. With her half the world away, he would be left wondering every day if the darkness had claimed the love of his life. He didn't give a damn about anything else—only her.

The soft whine she emitted nearly broke his heart, feeling the yearning in her voice and tasting the longing on her lips. He knew she would have given everything up for him in a heartbeat, and if he pushed a little more, maybe he could have gotten what he wanted. But as selfish as Artorias wanted to be with her, he knew Briar had to return home. She refused his request, though there was no conviction or desire to refuse him. She didn't want to leave any more than he did. But they both knew she had to go home, to be with her family during this crisis, if for no other reason than to assuage her father's paranoia if she suddenly disappeared into the endless night without a trace. Briar made a compromise though—she would stay for one more day, then go back to her family and return again in the summer. Though it still seemed so far away, and Artorias was beginning to wonder if summer would ever come, he knew he wouldn't be able to convince her otherwise in good conscience.

"I know, I just don't like the waiting..." Artorias gave a soft rumble of a chuckle while he rubbed the side of his muzzle back against hers, leaning his cheek back into hers while she clung to his neck with tight forelegs. His own thickly muscled limbs wrapped around Briar's sides, holding her tight to him, as if he were afraid she would vanish if he let her go for even a second. "Just promise me you'll be safe and smart. You're my Briar, my Deer Girl... If anything happened to you..." Artorias let his words drift off, refusing to entertain that thought any further. He squeezed Briar in his embrace, burying his muzzle into her neck fur. "I'll be here waiting for you on the first day of summer. We can make it. We'll survive this, and then we'll never have to be apart again. I love you."

"Artorias Carpathius"