Every Mistake

It took Duchess some time before she showed any sort of response to his words, and Artorias was beginning to grow worried for their state the longer they remained in the cave. He couldn't have known of Duchess' mental state, but he didn't need to in order to know they both needed to get the fuck out of there now. A sinister sort of whispering began to call out from deeper in the darkness of the caves, at first indistinct, then gradually transforming into the mocking, cynical tones of Oxx. Artorias turned to face the darkness, his heart racing in his chest when he swore he saw glowing slate eyes from the shadows. The sounds of his maniacal brother's laugher and lustful panting and groaning echoed in his ears while visuals of his assault played behind his eyes. "Compared to me, you are nothing." The voice bounced around the cave, seeming to come from all directions, inescapable, invasive. "Nothing... Nothing... You are nothing..."

At last, Duchess spoke, still not looking at him while she said they should leave. Artorias nodded without a sound and turned back the way they came, helping to usher Duchess back out of the cave. His paws fumbled about on the ground, but he didn't lose his footing. Not wanting to spend a second longer than they had to here, Artorias would go to slip his larger body beneath Duchess' to hoist her up over his back. It wasn't that he didn't think she was capable of walking out on her own, but that he knew they would make their escape faster this way. Artorias then hurried back up the sloping path towards the light of day, moving as quickly as he could without dislodging Duchess, and he didn't stop until he emerged back out into the fresh air and misting rain, gasping for breath to rid himself of the ethereal specters in his brain.

"Artorias Carpathius"