Built to Burn

His abrupt appearance had startled the very young fledgling and caused him to hit his head on the underside of the bed frame, drawing a sympathetic wince from Artorias. The poor thing was genuinely terrified for its life, and if he had to hazard a guess, he assumed the dead owl he saw had been caring for the chick. The child and surrogate mother had been attacked by the harpy eagle, and the mother had died in the fight. Artorias had interrupted the eagle having a second meal in the nick of time. The bird beneath the bed eyed his outstretched paw warily, and the Aegis couldn't blame the poor soul's trepidation. After what had just occurred, he'd be cautious, if not traumatized, as well. But Artorias was patient, giving the young chick a gentle smile and all the time he needed to trust.

Eventually, his patience was rewarded when the bird reached a talon out towards him and poked at the dark fur on his foreleg. Artorias chuckled softly and replied, "Something like that. My whole body is covered in it to keep me warm. It's called fur." Eyes of calm fire held the cautious gaze of cyan gazing back out at him from under the bed like little blue spotlights. He held his paw out while the chick examined his foot, letting him do all the testing he needed. Finally, Artorias felt a smooth clawed talon hook behind his claw, taking ahold of his paw and beginning to pull himself out. Artorias' encouraging smile brightened some. Though it was easy for him to keep his weight settled for the bird to use him for leverage, he was still amazed at the strength this chick possessed already in his stout, fluffy body.

"There we go, that's better. You're very brave," Artorias spoke softly to encourage the fledgling on. The closer the chick came, the clearer he could smell the metallic tang of blood from where he'd hit his head. "Here, come on out and let me take a look at your head. I'll keep you safe, I promise." He waited, allowing the young raptor to slowly work himself out from under the bed if he wished. If he got him to emerge, Artorias would need to try to keep him distracted from the carnage in the room. No one that young should be exposed to gruesome acts like this. "My name is Artorias. What's your name? Have you been living in here all this time?" he asked, trying to keep the child talking and build up that assurance that he was safe now. Nothing was going to harm him here.

"Artorias Carpathius"