brotherly love / tolerance same thing

After their little cathartic tussle out in the Battlefield, Artorias had noticed Azure wasn't hanging around the Armada much while he and Briar were there. While that could have been written off as the Fatalis man simply having more important things to do than play host when Sirius and Zee had that more than handled, Art couldn't help but worry that perhaps he had caused some irreparable damage to the relationship he had wanted to foster with his brother-in-law. He knew he'd taken Hanako's offhanded remark at his wedding a bit too personally, and that he should really have had thicker skin when handling the matter, but that hadn't stopped him from doing what he'd done. Even afterwards, he still hadn't told Briar what had transpired. It wasn't for a desire to keep his mate blissfully ignorant—no, this time it was out of guilt. He felt shame for pursuing Azure so aggressively when his in-law had done his best to smooth over the rough terrain.

That was why when Azure did approach him and invite him out for an evening of hunting and reconciliation to make sure things between them were kosher, Artorias had gladly accepted. The two wolves headed out on their own, heading west across the dark sands of the Armadan shores. Artorias followed the practiced steps of Azure, the two sets of similar yet starkly different dire paw prints left behind in the sand the only evidence they had come this way. Azure guided him to a bridge to the island just off the shoreline, partially obscured by mist. Art raised a curious brow. Was this a ploy for Azure to take him somewhere isolated to finish him off? Well, if it was, he'd lived a good life, and he'd make the Champion work for his win. Artorias gazed about the island when they arrived, awed by the lush forested landscape hidden within the half-dome of craggy cliffs. It still amazed him how he could live in Boreas for almost three years and still find so many incredible sights he'd never seen before!

The brothers walked into the woods, Art quietly taking in the scenery until Azure spoke up. Ah, so he wasn't bringing him out here for an honor killing then? This was a bonding experience. Dinner and drinks. Under any other connotation, it would almost feel like a date, but Artorias didn't feel like pressing his luck with that kind of humor just yet with Azure. Maybe one day, but not this day. "That's a plan I can get behind," he agreed with an easy smile. Artorias slowed his gait, also studying his surroundings. "I'll warn you now, I was never the champion hunter of my family. You guide, and I'll act." So long as Azure had a plan, Art would help him execute it. "Maybe... some sort of snare? The trees here have thick limbs. We might be able to rig something up using them?"

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