Birthday Beach Bash

He heard the call of the Warlord and a roguish grin crept across his face. Artorias had managed to slip into the Armada without Briar being any wiser the day before at the invite of her parents, and aside from that little incident with the tiger at the borders, had been able to hide out in the barracks while the Fatalis family made their final preparations. He'd spent the day preparing to surprise Briar at her own party, sneaking back out undetected to bathe in the Hot Springs and groom his fur out all nice and presentable. It simply wouldn't do for an alpha to show up to a social event unkept and disorderly, and he was still trying to make a good impression with Sirius and Zee. He knew what he was doing was a lot for them—taking Briar from her family to rule the Hallows with him—and it wasn't something he took lightly or without consideration. He wanted her parents to like him, to approve of them, and to be a part of their family and lives. A joining of families instead of an abduction of a daughter.

Artorias had finished applying a delicate cypress fragrance oil to his fur when the call had gone out summoning the pack to the beach. He did a final check of himself to make sure he was presentable, double checked the bandage on his injured leg, then grabbed the bag filled with wine bottles he'd brought as a gift and set out down the beach towards the party. As he walked across the soft sand, looking out at the sea, he was reminded of the season he spent here almost a year ago. The memories made him smile, and he would always be appreciative of the time he got to spend learning from Sirius and being a part of the Armada. Upon arriving at the bonfire, the dark-furred young wolf saw several wolves had already gathered—including his beloved Briar. The smile on his face widened to a full blown grin while he crept down the shore, making his way nearly silently up around and behind Briar and Ophelia, then crept up behind Briar and leaned in to nuzzle his snout behind her ear.

"Room for one more?" he asked in jest while he moved up to Briar's opposite side, flashing her a playful grin with love shining in his fiery eyes. He then leaned in to nuzzle Briar properly, his presence no doubt betraying the purpose of the surprise gathering for her and her siblings. Speaking of which... Artorias leaned forward to glance at Ophelia on the other side of Briar, greeting her with a warm smile as well. "Hello again, Ophie! How's the training been going?" He knew that he and Briar had started some fitness lessons for her when he'd been here last. Hopefully she'd been keeping to them, and maybe she'd lost a little weight too! Slow and steady, and all that. He then turned his attention to Sirius and Zee, dipping his head respectfully to the Warlord and Queen. "Sirius, Zee, thank you both for inviting me." He meant that; there was nowhere he'd rather be than right here. Setting down his bag on the sand, the Aegis began unpacking bottle after bottle of rich wine, a mix of reds and whites, all the hallmark of the Hallows vintages.

"Artorias Carpathius"