Leave It Up To Fate

Artorias listened with keen interest while Claire summarized the lifestyle she and Greed had been sharing for the better part of a year now. They had been living on their own up in northern Boreas, and something she mentioned piqued his interest. Her family clan had been up north, but it had fallen. For a brief moment, Artorias wondered if both of these wolves had once belonged to Incendium, the pack he and Ulric had tried to visit during their diplomatic mission, only to find it barren and desolate. He'd heard word that the pack had fallen, and that Sparrow's pirates had risen in its place, but he hadn't been present for the events that unfolded, finding out secondhand after everything had occurred. A downside to living on the more remote southern continent, he supposed. Artorias breathed a sad sigh when Claire spoke of her family's passings. Family was a cornerstone to the young alpha's life, and his mother's death had stricken him grievously when it happened. He could empathize with the woman who seemed just a hair older than he was. "I am sorry to hear of your family, Claire. I couldn't imagine what that must be like. It sounds like you're very fortunate you both have one another."

The group meandered their way across the plains to the western border and walked along the sloping cliffs that dropped down to the Shimmering Shore below, and the western sea beyond that, sparkling in the summer sun. When asked if she had any questions off the top of her head, Claire asked about the means one would leave the pack. A prudent question, as every pack was a little different. "That's a good question. No, anyone is free to leave of their own volition at any time. No one is forced to live in the Hallows. All of our members are here because they want this life, and because they believe in its ideals. Should anyone choose to leave for any reason, I only ask that you talk to me about it first." Artorias thought briefly to the wolves who had left the Hallows, and how each of them had left their marks. Ulric, Romulus, Deion, Dunkan... Though he missed each and every one and had wished they'd stayed, he hoped they had found what they were looking for out in the world. "The only time I'd say no is it it's one of my lead ranks seeking to leave. Since the pack relies heavily on mentorship and self-improvement, I would ask only that they stay long enough to help train their replacement. But I have no desire to keep anyone where they don't want to be. That's no good for anyone."

Artorias turned his gaze to Briar with a loving smile then. "Is there anything you'd like to add, my Queen?" he asked. "Maybe some things you see in the Hallows from an outside perspective that might help Claire and Greed?" Briar had the interesting perspective of having come from the another pack to the Hallows, and as such would be more observant to things he might have just accepted, as he'd been born in the pack. Coming from the Armada to the Hallows had been an adjustment, so perhaps she could offer some unique insight or answers to their guests.

"Artorias" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Eira" | "Argent"