fly so high that i need to come down for oxygen

Leading a pack meant dividing his attention across all fronts that demanded it. It also did not allow him to divide that attention fairly nor evenly. That was one important lesson Artorias had fast learned in his first year as Aegis of the Hallows. It felt odd to realize that he'd been leading the Hallows for over a year now, especially when so much had happened that it hadn't felt like a year. Yet as he reflected on that time, Artorias realized that he needed to continue to work on managing his work-life balance, making sure that his duties did not steal him from his loved ones, nor that he became lax in making sure the pack was taken care of. It was that striving for balance that really hit home when Art saw Zephyrus out in the castle courtyard one day, marveling at how large his adopted son had grown. By now, the young avian towered over the Aegis, his fledgling feathers giving way to more permanent adult plumage with rich azure accents that almost mirrored Artorias' own fur. Seeing his son growing reminded him on the promise he had made the raptor some months ago—and now it was time to keep it.

Artorias had collected his sword and informed Zephyr that they were taking a trip up to Boreas together. The raptor's enthusiasm was palpable on the air while they traveled northward, crossing the Bifröst and arriving at the southern shore in no time. While they crossed the northern continent to allow Zephyr to explore and experience everything for the first time, Artorias taught his son some of the basics of the geography—namely how that while Auster was heading into autumn, in this hemisphere Boreas was entering its spring, its temperatures rising and days growing longer as opposed to their home's decreasing weather and shortening days. The pair crossed Boreas over the span of a couple of days, stopping to rest in the former Armada lands, where a wistful Artorias could reflect on his time there when the pack had resided in the plains. On the second day, they arrived at the Crystallum Cliffs. Art had chosen this location specifically for Zephyr to enjoy, giving him plenty of open space and coastal air currents to ride as he practiced his gliding and flying.

That was where he was now, Artorias seated on the edge of the cliffs, watching Zeph swoop, swerve, dip and dive with blossoming grace. A proud smile stretched across the young wolf's face while he watched his son have the time of his life. He briefly wondered if this was how every parent felt watching their child grow, learn, and discover the things they loved. Was this what Tamsyn had felt when she watched him practice fighting with his sticks? The onyx and azure brute chuckled beneath his breath, lounging out in the sun on the soft grass while a steady coastal gale rippled through his fur. After some time, Zephyrus made his way back to the cliffs, coming in for a smooth landing beside him. "You're getting very good at flying, Zeph! Pretty soon you'll be able to start making trips around the territories on your own!" he complimented the fledgling raptor with a beaming smile and bright eyes.

Zephyrus asked his question then, catching Artorias by surprise with it. He supposed the question wasn't outlandish, given that Zeph lacked the fur of wolves to make living in shifting climates a natural thing. He knew his son loved the summer months the most—apparently so much that he wanted to become migratory! "Well... you can," Artorias explained after a moment of thought, peering up at his gigantic adopted child from where he lay. "A lot of birds migrate north and south depending on the seasons and the weather. But if by 'we' you mean the pack, that's a different story. You see, wolf packs aren't nomadic like birds or bands are. It's very difficult to move a pack, especially when there are a lot of wolves in it. It also means our home would be left unprotected if someone tried to come and take it while we were gone." Artorias shifted to rise to a seated position, smiling up at Zeph while he placed a paw on the raptor's closest talon. "That doesn't mean you can't though. When you're old enough to fly on your own and can look after yourself, if you'd like to come visit Boreas during Auster's winter, I don't see a reason why you couldn't."

Amidst his reassurances, a sudden strong gust of wind blew up over the cliffs, whipping Artorias in the face and nearly sending him reeling. Whoa, that was strange! Collecting himself again and seeing the concerned look on Zephyr's face, the Aegis glanced out towards the sea. Heavy clouds as dark as night were rolling in from the ocean, moving fast with the gale force winds as they loomed in the distance. Even from here, Artorias could feel the shift in the air, the static charge of a coming storm that made his fur stand on end. Sharp amber eyes could see the flashes in the clouds that signaled lightning. This was a massive storm front—and it was coming right for them. All mirth had drained from Artorias' face when he realized the gravity of the situation they were in. They couldn't outrun the storm and it would be far too dangerous for Zephyrus to fly in those sorts of conditions. They only had one choice left then.

"Looks like flying's over for now, Zeph. There's a storm coming in." Artorias rose to his paws and shook the loose grass from his coat, fixing his son with a serious stare while he motioned to follow him. "C'mon, these lands used to belong to an ally of ours. They should still have some dens or caves nearby we can bunker down in until it blows over. Do you think you can scout ahead and see if you can find some shelter? Something on high ground." A distant rumble of thunder caught Art's attention and made his heart sink in his stomach. They didn't have much time.

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