Gimme Some Sugar

Artorias nodded assent when his sister suggested they bring some of the sugar crystals back for their siblings to try. That was a wonderful idea! No doubt Rudy would enjoy the rock candy. Perhaps they could find a way to incorporate the sugar into some of the treats they cooked and prepared too. This really was a revolutionary discovery on Bowen's part! "Good idea. We can gather up a bunch when we decide to head home." Although given Bowen's not-so-subtle suggestions, he didn't think they'd be going home for a little while at least. Bowen suggested they keep going, and her dire wolf lover nodded with a rakish grin. "Lead the way, my captain!" Giant paws followed in the footsteps of her daintier ones, quashing the spongy moss underfoot. It was almost as if the cave was covered in a living carpet of the stuff. She asked him about the plants and Artorias, also not one for the healing arts, gave an incredulous glance around at the assortment of lichens and ivies. "Honestly, your guess is as good as mine." A wry smirk touched his lips while he chuckled. "Although knowing my luck, we'd bring these back and they'd be poisonous or something."

Following his sister deeper into the caves, Artorias also began to notice that every chamber in the cavern was illuminated enough for him to see, the light dimmer than an overcast day, but enough that he could make out the details of the cave structure, the shapes of the rocks, and of the beautiful fae he was accompanying on a grand adventure. He didn't know the science behind what made the crystals work the way they did, but they were terribly fascinating! Moving into a larger domed chamber, Artorias gave a silent gasp of wonder while he gazed around at the hundreds of sugar crystals shimmering in the ceiling like a manufactured nighttime sky. Thin streams of rainbow colors refracted around them where the light was split in the prisms of sugar, creating a faux aurora across the ceiling.

Artorias continued to wander about the cave, taking in the splendid sights—when his amber eyes fell upon the form of Bowen, sitting in the center of the chamber, gazing around and smiling. His heart skipped a beat. Her smile dazzled him more than any of the crystals in this cave could. Leisurely, the giant brute wandered up behind her, lifting a thickly corded foreleg to wrap gently around her slender side while she leaned into him. "I wouldn't have missed this for the world," he responded earnestly. It had been far, far too long since he and his sister had gone exploring together. Artorias made a commitment then and there to bring back that youthful side of their relationship as often as he could. Bowen's confession to her struggles perked Artorias' obsidian ears, his heart stopping as concern painted his features. He didn't interrupt, allowing Bowen to explain all of her feelings and conflicts and fears to him. He took them in, listened and considered. All the while she spoke, Artorias craned his neck down to plant tender kisses and licks across Bowen's forehead, combing his teeth through her soft fur to groom her and soothe her.

She finished by pulling away from him a bit, her tail twitching anxiously against his paws with the way they were sitting. "I will always worry about you, Bo. That's just part and parcel of loving someone," he replied, shifting a little closer to embrace her against his larger form once more. "You never need to justify yourself to me. I will always be here for you, whenever you need me, whenever you want me. Life will be busy for us both, but it's like you said that first night we shared together... If we want this, we can make this work. We can love." Artorias once again brought his muzzle down to gently nuzzle behind one caramel ear, whispering almost directly into it so she could hear his every breath on his words. "You are important to me, Bowen. So, so important. I want to keep you happy, and content, and satisfied, in whatever ways I can. If you feel lonely, or anxious, or just want to spend time with me, I'll make it so." An idea popped into his head then, and an excited smile pried at azure lips. "How about you and I start seeing the world, like we said we would? We could take day trips, go exploring, hit a land or two at a time, just us. We can be adventurers and treasure hunters and bring back all sorts of trinkets and mementos to add to your collection."

"Artorias" | "Carpathian"