Built to Burn

The small, almost fatherly smile Artorias had been wearing while caring for Zephyrus returned when Briar immediately set to talking enthusiastically with the young raptor. She commended Zephyr's bravery, then glared at him with a smirk when he called her a funny-looking wolf. He chuckled again as Briar came closer and bumped his shoulder playfully in retaliation as she explained to Zephyr that wolves came in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and kinds, some even having mutations like horns and antlers. From the side, Art watched while Briar started to smooth and preen the young bird's downy feathers with a wag of her tail, widening the smile on his lips to watch his fiancée interact with their newest member of the Hallows. He was so glad they were getting along—not that he really had any doubts with how sweet and loving Briar was. But the only experience either of them had with birds was their companions, and Zephyrus was a far cry from either of them! This was all strange and unknown territory to the Aegis and Queen.

Another deep chuckle left Artorias when Zephyr explained how he had cut the harpy eagle in half, having left quite an impression with the fledgling raptor, it seemed. "It had to be done. It wasn't gonna give up," he explained, gesturing to the scratches and talon cuts across his head and back. That eagle had been feral. "She does live in the castle. There's about twenty of us that live here," Artorias answered Zephyr's question, finishing patting the raptor's damp feathers dry and setting the cloth aside, inspecting his work. He was no healer like Gwyn was, but he'd at least managed to stop the bleeding. Maybe he'd have his sister look over the juvenile avian when she had a chance.

And then Zephyrus asked if they were family now, and Artorias' mouth opened—and he paused. He hadn't stopped to consider what would happen in the aftermath of the slaughter of Zephyr's surrogate mother. He exchanged a quick glance over to Briar, but he knew his mind had already been made up. He'd saved the young bird from certain death, he was responsible for all those under his care. Zephyrus would be his ward now, and he would raise him as a Hallowed... er, eagle-vulture-thing. "Yes, Zephyr, I believe we are now. Would you like to be a family with us?" Artorias smiled to the baby raptor and brought a large paw up to gently smooth the ruffled feathers atop Zephyrus' crown that he'd mussed up while cleaning him, feeling a growing connection to the small predator. Zephyrus was his to care for, to protect, and to teach. As unorthodox as it was, they were a family now.

"Artorias Carpathius"