Aegis' and Warlord's

Artorias was grateful beyond words for Sirius' support and comfort. He knew he had a lifelong mentor, confidant, and friend in the older wolf, qualities that were indispensable and seldom given out by the yearling alpha. When Seer reached out to him, Art offered no resistance, feeling the Warlord's heavy paw settle on his back and draw him into an embrace. Damn it all, he was trying to prevent himself from crying, and now this big saber-toothed teddy bear of a wolf was practically squeezing them out of him! Artorias reached a paw up to hold to Seer in turn, which was both easier and a little awkward given that they were both identical in size now. Artorias was still getting used to that.

Glowing tears fell from eyes that screwed shut, trying to will them away as they left little glowing splatters on the stone terrace. He'd thought he'd shed all the tears he needed to over Resin's loss, but seeing her again had reopened the wounds in his heart, reminded him of what had been torn away from him too soon. The world had not been kind to Artorias or his family. They'd all been forced to grow up too young, too fast. Artorias, who'd witnessed his birth mother attacked by his adoptive mother, watched his adoptive mother slain in bloody combat before his eyes, was nearly killed by his sociopathic adoptive brother, forced to weather an ice age and an endless night of horrors—all before he was two.

"I'm glad you got to see her too," said Artorias through a stuttering breath while he regained his composure, bringing a blue paw up to wipe away the lingering tears from his face. He drew in a deep breath, then released it in a slow sigh. When he was composed again, he slowly withdrew from Sirius' embrace with a weak smile, patting the other dire wolf's shoulder in wordless thanks. "You came to the Hallows to see Iolaire." It was an easy conclusion to draw, given how he had spent all day with her, affording Artorias plenty of time to catch up with Briar. "You mentioned Resin had told you about her. That's why you came down here, isn't it?" Another deep sigh from the young alpha before he awaited the obvious questions that were sure to follow about Iolaire. How long had she been here? How was she doing? How had she gotten this way? Whatever Seer wanted to know, Art would do his best to answer.

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