*insert 'this is fine' meme*

The moment the words left his lips, Artorias saw the shame cross Avantika's features. She couldn't look up at him; honestly, he wasn't surprised. He would've found it more upsetting if she had been able to meet his gaze without some sort of remorse. At least this way he knew his sister still felt something. Tika didn't answer him for a moment, whether out of timidity or for gathering her thoughts, he couldn't tell, but it didn't matter which. The answer she gave him took him aback, fiery eyes blazing in shock as his mouth dropped open. "You had too much- Tika, are you listening to yourself? 'You had too much else to do'?!" Artorias tried to keep himself composed, keeping his breathing steady so he didn't snap or lose his cool. This was very unlike his sister. "What has gotten into you, Tika? This isn't who you are. The Avantika I know isn't a cold and unfeeling machine. The Avantika I know is a caring and loving soul with a heart of gold. But this..." Artorias grimaced as he looked from Tika's dour expression to her barely maintained coat and haggard appearance. She looked like a ghost of her former self, an unwelcome shade that had replaced his kind and loving sister.

Artorias took a couple steps closer to Avantika, still keeping some space between them to respect her boundaries and give her room to breathe. He was upset, yes, but he wasn't going to smother her to get to the bottom of this mess. "Go on then," he said, gesturing with a wave of a paw for her to keep speaking. "Tell me all about what's been so important that you stopped caring for the girl you loved, and the girl that loved you with all her heart. It must be something big if it's literally killing you." Artorias fully expected Tika to not have an answer for him, so he was already preparing his follow up response. "You're worrying me, Tika. You look just like mom did, right before the end—when she was isolating herself, and ignoring her mate's needs and cries for love, and letting herself waste away into nothing. Only instead of lashing out with teeth, you pushed your partner away with your cold indifference. You made her feel so unloved that she couldn't stand to be in the same place as you."

The Carpathian leader paused, giving Tika time to digest his words and process her thoughts before he cut straight to the matter at hand. "What's going on, Tika? What's happened to you?"

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