Undiscovered Beauty

While Briar wandered around the vernal grotto with him, gawking at the splendor of the strange and magnificent sights, Artorias followed close by her side. He studied the paintings with his wife, focusing in on the creatures he recognized and those he didn't, like the strange four-limbed ones that stood on their back legs in every painting. Briar mentioned that it had to be someone with a lot of time to kill and Artorias simply chuckled in response. That was the understatement of the year if they were going by the sheer number of paintings. Some even overlapped in places, like the artist had continued to be struck with inspiration long after they had run out of canvas to cover. This place really was something special. Art was glad he got to share this incredible moment with Briar. She encouraged his wanderlust and his love of adventure, and though he'd explored many lands with other wolves, Briar was by far his favorite adventuring companion.

When Briar slipped her head through the thin branches of the willows to reply to him, Artorias couldn't hold back the snort and smirk the humorous sight brought from him. It was moments like this that reminded Artorias why he and Briar meshed so well together. Even with all of her grace and beauty and regality, Briar was still just as silly and goofy as he was at times, unafraid to have fun and step outside the box with him. She was the kind of girl who knew how to charm a room full of important political figures, yet also enjoyed coloring outside the lines. She was lively and rebellious, decorous and inspiring. She reminded him on a near daily basis why life was worth living, from the smallest of ways to the grandest of adventures. Seeing her eating all of this discovery up with a ravenous hunger for knowledge just made her even more beautiful in his eyes, and without even trying Briar managed to steal his breath away.

Wearing a crooked smile on his lips, Artorias followed Briar through the curtain of willow fronds, the willowy branches parting easily around his massive frame like a beaded curtain. The moment his fiery amber eyes laid upon her, Art felt his heart race. Gods, he was so in love with her... Seeing her in her element while she studied the paintings on the tree trunks left him in awe of all that she was. He stood there for a minute longer, half draped by the willow branches, then he stepped fully behind the veil of foliage to lose himself in the private world they had discovered together. The Aegis stepped up behind his Queen, moving to brush his side against hers from rump to shoulder while he joined her. "Y'know, you look extra beautiful when you're focused on something interesting," he commented in a not-so-subtle flirt, capping it off with an even less subtle swat of his bushy tail to her shapely rump with a chuckle and a grin.

"Artorias & Briar Carpathius"