No more long goodbyes

The call was one he had been expecting for a long time coming. Yet even as the voice of his beloved called for him from across the plains, it still made Artorias' heart leap in his chest. The days prior had been spent preparing for the arrival of the two ladies from the Armada to join their family permanently. Rooms had been cleaned and fixed up, linens laundered and freshly laid out, larders double checked and wine cellar audited. Everything was ready for the moment they crossed into their new home. Yet still, Artorias busied himself making sure all the final preparations were made to receive Briar and Lia the moment they got to the Hallows. The young Aegis was actually in the process of making sure the baths were prepared for the ladies to bathe after the long trip if they desired when that call summoned him. Obsidian ears perking and amber eyes widening while a beaming grin split the brute's face and he was tossing the towel furs aside to go sprinting out of the castle and across the plains.

Large paws thundered over the ground still damp from the near constant rains Auster was having in its winter season, but fortunately the bad weather had held off for today, allowing the two ladies a beautiful picturesque landscape of the castle and its grounds bathed in flaming sunset. And from that castle came its lord, charging towards them like a giddy puppy, making like a bolt of lightning straight for Briar. He didn't stop, not even as he drew closer to them, and instead threw himself at his girlfriend, forelegs opened wide to wrap her up in a tight embrace that swept her off her paws. All Artorias could do was utter a blissful laugh, squeezing his Briar to him, his tail wagging so fast it was almost spinning behind him. "You made it! You're here, you're finally here!" he cried out, pausing only long enough to pepper Briar's face in loving kisses. He caught her lips in one longer, deeper kiss before he finally relented and released her, smiling so wide his cheeks hurt.

Then the alpha's attention turned to Lia. His tail resumed its wagging when he laid eyes upon the autumnal fae, rushing up as he made to throw his forelegs around her in an embrace as well. "I'm so, so happy you're both here!" exclaimed Artorias, gently swaying with Lia while he hugged her in greeting, passing the scent of the Hallows off to both wolves in turn. He released Lia after a moment as well, gesturing them in with a wave of his paw across the plains. "Welcome to your new home, ladies! And Lia, welcome to the Hallows for the first time!" As much as Artorias wanted to keep hugging and catching up with Briar and Lia, he knew he'd have plenty of time for that soon enough, and they would both be in need of a meal and some rest. "Come on, we've all been getting things ready for you two! I've got the baths drawn up if you'd like to get cleaned up. Ezra caught some fresh antelope earlier today, so there's plenty to eat, and we've got the beds all made up. Oh, Lia! Would you like me to help you with that cart?"

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