Can I Keep It?

Before Bowen could answer his questions, the tiger spoke in fluent Lupine, catching Artorias by surprise. Wide amber eyes shifted to the tiger for a brief moment while it spoke to Bowen, still in perfect dialect. Those same amber eyes narrowed to points while he stared down with the tiger, still ready to launch himself into a fight if he needed to. "You speak Lupine?" It was less of a question and more of a stated realization. Great, so the cat could understand everything he was saying... Did that make things better or worse? Artorias didn't know just yet. Fortunately, Bowen still obeyed his order and slid from the feline's back, landing gracefully before coming over to him. When she was clear, Artorias was sorely tempted to take the opportunity to strike the tiger down right away—but Bowen stopped him with a gentle kiss to his cheek while she made introductions. Tej. The tiger's name was Tej. For fuck's sake, Bowen had a new pet...

Bowen assured him there was no need for his sword, but Artorias didn't put it away until she had explained how she'd rescued Tej from a slaver's caravan. Artorias knew exactly why Bowen had liberated the feline then. He knew about her past, her hatred of slavers stemming from it, and she'd acted as she believed was right to free someone she saw herself in. When it was clear Tej wasn't going to attack him, the dire brute began to gradually relax, eventually slipping his sword back in its scabbard with a grumbling sigh. Though he didn't trust the cat, it was clear Bowen did, and that would be enough for now. Artorias remained quiet, silently eyeing the tiger while Bowen explained how he was her friend and companion now, how she felt connected to him—and then begged him to let Tej stay with her in the Hallows. Artorias shot an incredulous look down at his smaller sister. She couldn't be serious! This tiger was a veritable stranger to both of them! Who knew if he could be trusted in the long run? And she wanted him to just let him live in the pack, amongst his wolves?!

"Bowen, that's... I don't know if that's a good idea," he said with a sigh, then peered back up at Tej with a guarded look of suspicion. He'd had nothing but bad run-ins with big cats before. And the fact that this one could understand him didn't make him feel any better about that fact. Thinking quick, Artorias switched to the only way he knew he could speak privately with Bowen. "Abia l-ai cunoscut. De unde știi că putem avea încredere în el? Dacă se decide să-i rănească pe ceilalți..." He once more glanced up warily to Tej, then slid a little closer to wrap a strong foreleg and large paw around Bowen. "...Dacă a decis să te rănească... Îmi ceri să-mi asum un risc uriaș." He didn't want to deny his beloved. He wanted to give her the world and everything she wanted, but he also had to consider the greater ramifications of those decisions. Bowen would have to convince him pretty damn well to disregard the safety of the Hallows like that.

"Artorias" | "Carpathian"