a new change on the wind

Despite her nervous disposition, Audra responded coherently and concisely. She had information to share with him, and that piqued the alpha's interest. His raised brow still turned in her direction, Artorias wondered what the little adventurer had stumbled upon that could have her so abuzz with energy. "Okay, I'll bite. What news do you have?" Audra didn't explain right away, instead suggesting a walk away from prying ears of the castle. Now Artorias' curiosity was highly raised. He glanced around behind them at the empty halls, but didn't put up any resistance as his Hallowed wolf led the way back outside to the gardens. Whatever she had to tell him had to be extremely important and clandestine.

"Sure," replied Artorias, now a little more on edge as he followed her out into the gardens and across the damp grass. Once Audra seemed content with their location, the Aegis seated himself and studied the earthen-hued woman with curiosity. If nothing was wrong, why did she seem so nervous? Something had her guard up and her nerves frayed. He wouldn't have to wonder long though, as with a deep breath, she launched into her explanation. She had been wandering southern Auster when she came across Hattori's scent marking Manatee Bay. That got the young alpha's attention. Listening with keen ears and steely eyes while Audra relayed how she'd met with Hattori in the lands he'd claimed as his own, how he hadn't wanted her to enter, and how he seemed to bear no ill will with his presence. But that just raised more questions than answers in the brute's mind. Audra ended by explaining that she wanted him to know this in light of the recent raid on the Hallows.

It was only once Audra had finished speaking that Artorias permitted any sort of response from himself. Firstly, he was damned impressed that Audra had spoken so clearly and without a single stutter; a testament to how safe she felt in the Hallows, it seemed. Secondly, he hadn't even known Hattori had departed from Ashen. Hadn't he been mated to Empress Venom? Didn't they have a family? Art made a mental note to gently probe that front with the Ashen alpha once he saw her again to see if he could suss out what happened. "That's some excellent recon work you've done, Audra. Are you sure you want to be a Physician and not a Scout?" he teased her with a gentle smirk. "I was not aware of Hattori's departure from Ashen. I've met the man only once before. He was curt and stern, but civil. Interesting to know he's decided to set up his own pack here in Auster..." From what he'd heard of the former Shogun, he had a violent streak and a lust for war that Venom had kept in check. Without that leash on him, could they trust their new neighbor?

But now Artorias had other questions for his wolf. He fixed a cautious gaze on Audra while he spoke. "You said he had taken Manatee Bay, and where else?" From all his learnings, packs always took two territories. Manatee Bay was bordered by a number he could claim, though he had a hunch he could guess what the man had chosen. "And why would he use you to relay that he bears no ill intentions instead of coming to us himself?" Something didn't add up with the way Audra had explained not wanting the Hallows to be blindsided by him, but also not feeling he was a threat. It was a contradiction, and with how close Audra seemed to be to the wildcard that was Hattori, it made him wary. "What did you two talk about? What did you tell him about the Hallows?" he calmly asked. While not expressly forbidden from being discussed, sensitive information about the pack had been what Sparrow had been trying to obtain just before her attack on the Hallows. If Audra had given away anything to a non-ally, he needed to know to be prepared.

"Artorias Carpathius"