Bigger than you know

The Bifröst
Fall, Year 17
Early afternoon

Zephyrus had been growing at an incredible rate since he'd found the young raptor a couple short weeks ago. Day by day, Artorias watched his ward roam and explore the castle, learning with a voracious curiosity that never seemed sated, all the while sprouting inches at a time like they were nothing. He was shocked and impressed; there was little doubt that whatever Zephyr was, he would grow to be massive! Pretty soon, the castle wouldn't be enough for the adventurous avian, who seemed to possess a similar spark of wanderlust that the Aegis himself had. He could remember his days as a puppy, aching to go running out past the pack border to see the wide, wide world beyond! So Art decided the best way to handle that adventurous spirit was to foster it, encourage it, nurture it until Zeph could go exploring himself. And what better way to do that than with a bit of a field trip?

Artorias had shown Zephyr some of Auster from the top of the castle tower, the expansive view in all directions giving the young fledgling raptor an idea of just how big the world around him was. This time, however, Art was going to show him something that he expected would blow the bird's mind away. After collecting Zeph and letting his ward mount his back like he were a steed (something Artorias had grown to love from a paternal sort of aspect), the wolf headed north past the borders of the Starlit Plains and through the dense grove of berry trees and bushes. When they reached the northwestern shore of Auster, Artorias gazed out at the strip of sandbar that made up the Bifröst—and silhouetted in the distance, hazy from how far away it was, sat Boreas.

"We're here!" declared Artorias while he walked carefully down from the grassy terrain onto the pebbly sandbar. On either side of the wolf and raptor, white foamy waves lapped gently at the silty shore. "Can you guess why I brought you here, Zeph?" Perhaps Zephyr would notice the other continent in the distance. Perhaps he would be too distracted by how close they were to the water now, or by the waves of the gently roiling sea. Or maybe the cries of the gulls overhead would hold his attention, wondering what sort of birds they were. Either way, this would be a great learning experience for the young bird.

"Artorias Carpathius"