Can't meet the future's eyes

The hardest thing that Artorias had found about being a leader was how responsible you suddenly became for everyone who relied on you. There was a tremendous amount of responsibility not just in making sure everyone was safe and cared for, but that they were happy, content to be a part of the Hallows. Some days that job felt easier than others. It wasn't a difficult thing to make sure those closest to him were happy and satisfied, like Briar or his siblings. But sometimes he felt like perhaps he wasn't doing enough for the rest of his family that made up the Hallows. Bound by blood or not, every wolf in the pack was someone dear to him, someone he cherished and wanted to protect. That was what made Lillith's, Bowen's, and Audra's departures from the Hallows so painful to him. Each of them had been someone he cared about—and in the case of Bowen, his own sibling—and each one he felt like he'd failed them somehow.

It was that mentality that gave Artorias reason to pause while walking down one of the upper level corridors and caught a glimpse of Emile out in the gardens harvesting herbs by himself. The Aegis stopped in his tracks, watching the other wolf from the window for a minute. He knew Emile had struggled for practically forever since the pack had moved from Boreas, but he didn't know the extent to which that was true. Ulric had kept his family's dirty laundry well hidden during his reign and that wasn't exactly information he had imparted to the young alpha when he handed that crown over. Artorias frowned; he didn't want to think anyone in his family was hurting. If he just continued to pretend and assume Emile was okay, how could he ever say he'd done all he could for the young man? Maybe it wasn't his responsibility to save everyone—but he damn well could have the backs of his own wolves.

Heaving a sigh, Artorias mulled over how to go about this. He didn't know Emile very well; the young man was a recluse on his best of days. But maybe that would be a benefit in this case. They'd both be starting from the ground up. There were no presuppositions or expectations to be met. And there was only one way Artorias knew how to effectively break the ice. Heading down to the wine cellar, the onyx and azure wolf selected a mild, sweeter summer wine and brought it with him back to the gardens. He didn't know if Emile was a drinker or not, but if he wanted to partake or try, this would be a good starting point. Artorias grabbed a couple of bowls from the kitchen on his way out, picking a table on the garden terrace and filling both with a small helping of the wine. Then he waited until Emile made his way around near him.

"Emile!" Artorias called out to the other male with a wave of his paw. "You've been busy harvesting those plants all day. Why don't you take a break for a few minutes? Come sit, have a drink. Let's chat." He motioned to the other cup of wine while he lapped at his own, sampling the sweet, fruity taste of the fermented grapes as he awaited Emile's response, hoping that he'd be able to have even a moment of the wolf's attention so he could make sure he was doing all right.

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