Bigger than you know

While they walked together, Artorias gazed down at the tottering baby bird of prey with what could only be described as paternal affection. The way Zephyrus kept a little stubby, downy wing touching his leg while they walked so they could maintain contact melted his heart. The thought that had he been a minute slower on the day, this sweet and innocent life would have been snuffed out in his own castle without his knowledge incensed a protective anger in his heart. Was this what being a parent felt like? A willingness to fight the world tooth and nail to keep your child safe from harm? Zephyrus might not have been his blood child, but he had been adopted into the family as if he had been. Much like his relationship with Avantika and Grimshaw, Artorias saw Zephyr in only the way that mattered: he was his ward, his son in some regards, and his responsibility to care for and raise. He vowed he would never let the young raptor down.

The offer to teach Zephyr how to swim was met with wild enthusiasm and excitement. Artorias laughed softly and flashed a toothy grin to his ward. "Then we'll make the finest swimmer out of you!" he declared, already thinking about how they would go about getting started. The creek south of the Hallows, or perhaps their own baths would be a good place for the fledgling raptor to learn how to keep himself buoyant until they could learn proper techniques like strokes and dives. He followed the raptor's eyes back out to the gulls over the ocean. Art had little doubt that with some practice, Zeph would be a swimming bird. Fortunately, despite his eagerness, Zephyrus was content to tamp down his desire to run off on a Boreal adventure right away, understanding in his youthful mind that they wouldn't want to leave Briar out of any major journeys together as a family. "I don't see why not," replied Art when he was questioned if Zeph could visit the Armada wolves when he could fly. "The Armada wolves are very close friends of ours, and the Fatalises are our family as well. So long as you mind your manners and respect Sirius and his rules, I think it would be fine. And you let me or Briar know where you're going." He had almost said "me or your mother", but didn't want to put words where he didn't know if they belonged. Did Zephyrus see them as his parents? His guardians? His caretakers?

While the two rested on the sandbar, the Aegis watched his young ward kick his talons through the sand, exploring the terrain. Artorias simultaneously flexed his toes, raking sharp claws through the sand to leave little trenches in their wake. For a few peaceful moments, Art just listened to the sound of the waves all around them, breathed in the salty sea breeze, observed the gulls swooping about on the wind and the way the water lapped at the shore around them. Then Zephyr asked what "Grandpa" was and caught the older wolf by surprise. "'Grandpa' is a name for a family member. He's the father of your father or mother," he explained. "Sirius is the father of Azure, who is the father of Basilisk, making him Basilisk's grandfather, or 'Grandpa'." A thought passed through the Aegis' head and made him chuckle, then laugh the more he dwelled on it. "Sirius is also Briar's father, so I suppose in a way that makes him your grandpa too." It was really amusing for the wolf to think about: the Warlord, feared alpha of the infamous Armada, one of the greatest warriors of lupine history, grandfather to a fluffy, downy bird.

"Artorias Carpathius"