A Third Wheel Turns a Bike into a Trike Which is Much More Fun

Artorias didn't suspect a thing that either of his ladies were planning for the first parts of the day. He'd woken up beside Briar and began his morning routines with his usual meditation, which ended with Briar coming out to join him for his morning patrol. He was more than happy to have her join him, and was surprised when she asked to take the longer path around the northern and eastern borders. He was sure she'd want to whisk him away back to their bedroom as soon as she could, but he didn't mind getting in some extra exercise with his love first. The patrol had taken the better part of the morning, and by the time they finished, the sun was well on its way across the sky. Briar joined him for all the rest of his duties, occupying his time during their walks with chatter about how she found life as a leader, her hopes, aspirations, and concerns, and general chitchat about acclimating to the Hallows. However, the longer they spent together, the more Artorias began to notice an odd anxious edge to Briar's behavior, almost as if she were trying to hide something from him.

By the time it reached lunchtime, Artorias was fully suspicious of whatever Briar was trying to hide from him. But his suspicions were quickly dispelled when she began to drop innuendoes about spending time alone with him at the Shimmering Shore. He vividly remembered the last time they'd been alone together on the beach and what they'd gotten up to, and her not so subtle brush of her side against his or swish of her silky tail against the back of his thigh and some very sensitive parts of his anatomy told him exactly what Briar was trying to hide from him. So she wanted a romantic outing to the beach? He'd be happy to oblige that.

It didn't take much after that for Briar to convince Artorias to follow her down to the sparkling golden coast, mentioning how she'd like to relax and unwind after their busy morning. He could certainly think of some very pleasant ways for them to unwind together, and the sly grin on his face betrayed his lewd thoughts while he followed at her side down the sloping dirt path to the shore. The sand was soft and warm beneath his paws, and the day had thankfully remained dry. He spotted the canopy set up down the beach and immediately assumed this was Briar's secret surprise she was trying to keep from him, returning her grin while he loped eagerly after her. It was only once they got closer did he see the familiar form of Bowen's caramel and cream fur resting on the blanket of furs beneath the canopy, relaxing beside a spread of food, water, and wine as she lay in repose. Artorias' heart immediately missed a beat—out of panic or excitement he couldn't tell—and gazed at both his ladies with wide, surprised amber eyes.

"Briar. Bowen. What is this?" he asked, still reeling to take it all in while Briar kissed his cheek and invited him over onto the furs. He watched in a stunned stupor while Briar sauntered over to lay out on the furs and compliment Bowen's handiwork preparing everything. Bowen had prepared all of this for them? The two faes had been in on this surprise together? Walking almost as if in a trance, Artorias padded over to settle himself down between his tawny queen and his russet seafarer, still glancing between the two in bewildered awe. "I... don't understand. Am I about to be assassinated?" he asked with a joking smirk on the corner of his lips. Never did he expect the two wolves he loved to come together like this, especially not when Briar had been so guarded around him having a relationship with his sister, and Bowen had been quite envious of the time he spent with Briar.

"Artorias Carpathius"