Love Like Wildfire

Artorias' fondness for travel and exploration only seemed to grow the older he got, and after several fun adventures out with Briar and Bowen, the young wolf was certainly keen to keep going until he'd seen all of Auster and Boreas, from northern mountain to southern shore and everything in between. His beloved girlfriend's constant encouragements to pursue his passion and her company on his journeys made the adventures all the more memorable and worthwhile, so when he wanted to go see the furthest reaches of the Austerian forests, Briar had immediately offered to go with him. The trip wasn't very far across the southern continent, and after crossing through the cedar wood to the north, the pair of wolves soon reached the old oak forest by early afternoon. The day was clear and partly cloudy, showing the beginning of the change of seasons from Auster's winter over into its spring as the bulk of the storms had come and gone. now only the occasional drizzle popped up here and there, but for the most part, the days were mild and dry.

The obsidian and azure brute led the way through the forest of absolutely massive oak trees that towered up to the sky, gazing in awe at the behemoth foliage. He'd never seen trees this big before! Some had hollows in them easily big enough for a couple wolves, really lending to the size of them and making Artorias feel absolutely minuscule by comparison. "Wow..." he muttered in awe while he stared up at the bright sunlight filtering through the dense canopy in golden rays. Turning his attention back to Briar at his side, he gave her a happy grin and moved closer until his side brushed gently against hers. "These trees must be hundreds of years old, at least! Have you ever seen anything like it?" He certainly hadn't!

Wandering further into the forest, Artorias was struck by just how quiet everything was. There was the occasional chirp of songbirds somewhere overhead, but for the most part, the oak woods was tranquil and still, as if they were the only living things in it. It was quite an intimate experience, he had to admit, to be so far out in the denseness of nature that only he and his partner could be heard. "Thanks for coming with me. Exploring with you is my favorite part of exploring," he said with a smile to Briar. He knew she'd never turn down an opportunity to spend time with him, but he still wanted Briar to know how much he appreciated her company, love, and support.

"Artorias Carpathius"