funny how life changes

Ysmir dipped his head politely, then nodded to Gwynevere to provide Artorias with the answers he sought. Art had already expected this response, knowing of Ysmir's limited range of communication, and thusly set his fire opal eyes upon his sister. Gwynevere didn't waste any time in explaining the situation in succinct terms. Fireside was gone. Ysmir was without a home and was now seeking admittance to the Hallows. Fire-bright amber eyes blinked wide with shock. "Fireside is gone?! What do you mean 'gone'?" he reiterated, the surprise unrestrained in his voice. Fireside had been one of the few packs to receive him and Ulric when they'd gone about on their diplomatic mission around Boreas, way back when Artorias had been green to the ways of politics and had just been named heir. He still vaguely remembered Tyrian, remembered the cordiality of the alpha. To think that the pack simply no longer existed... it was flooring and left the Aegis with many unanswered questions. Did they disband willingly? Were they attacked and killed? Did they succumb to some sort of plague? How did a pack just... dissolve like that?!

Either way, the why and the how were irrelevant in the here and now. What mattered was what was happening to the wolves of Fireside—namely of the dark-coated one sitting at his borders right now, carrying his every worldly possession with him. Ysmir wanted to join the Hallows. Were it any normal day under normal circumstances, Artorias would have received the northern wolf without a qualm. His situation, if anything, only made it that much more imperative that he let the wolf in. The Hallows had always been a place of sanctuary and shelter for just such occasions. Even if he hadn't been seeking to make this place his home, Artorias would have welcomed the former viking in and given him asylum. Besides, he liked the mute brute. He had always been respectful and polite, and he had saved his sister after her assault. Not to mention he seemed to have a thing for Gwynevere, and vice versa. Perhaps him living here would do good for her as well.

"Well, regardless of what happened to Fireside, what matters is that Ysmir needs a home," said Artorias after a moment to collect his thoughts from the jarring news. He smiled and nodded to Gwyn and Ysmir, his gaze fixing on the other male afterward. "Of course he can live with us. The Hallows could no doubt benefit from the unique perspectives he has coming from another pack." Artorias strode closer to Ysmir, closing the space between them just enough so he could lift a paw and go to rest it on the shoulder of the wolf that was now a part of his pack, and by extension, his family. He looked into Ysmir's mismatched silver and blue eyes with a genteelness, yet seriousness as well. "Welcome to the Hallows, Ysmir. I don't know what the laws were like in Fireside, but here we have only a few, but they are unbending in their severity. The no bloodshed rule applies even stricter to members of the pack. Unless it is done in formal combat or defense of another, violence is not permitted. You'll be expected to help provide for the pack according to your skills, and expected to hone your skills to keep them sharp."

Dropping his paw from Ysmir's shoulder, Artorias glanced back to Gwynevere with a bit of a sheepish expression. "I, uh... suppose I should at least learn what that signing language you've come up with means, so I can talk to you properly. Gwyn's a good translator, but I don't think it's realistic to think she can be with us for every conversation." With the formalities taken care of, Artorias welcomed Ysmir into the Hallows with a warm smile and nod of his head for their newest wolf to cross the borders. He stepped around to grab a couple of Ysmir's things so he could help carry them into the castle. "C'mon, let's get you settled in a room. Gwyn can give you the grand tour of everything afterwards and fill you in on the other rules and customs of the Hallows, like our feasts and breeding laws." He said that last bit with a knowing smirk cast toward his demure sister before striding past them to lead the way back to the castle, and to Ysmir's new home.

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