I Can Explain

There were moments in life that meant more than others. Those pivotal moments where you stood at a crossroads and discovered who you were, what mattered to you, and what you wanted. They were the moments that remained in your memory long after the others had faded. For Artorias, this was one of those moments. He would always remember the day his mother died, the raw visceral emotions running wild amidst the carnage. He would always remember his wedding day, of the love he felt as he bound himself to the wolf he loved more than life itself. And he would remember today, of the day he learned what it truly meant to be a leader. It was the selflessness required to see the ones you cared about flourish, the care and devotion to put their needs before your own. It was celebrating with them in their triumphs and grieving with them in their losses. And no matter how much it sucked or how badly it hurt, it meant doing what was right. Letting Audra go was right. She needed to be free to discover herself, to find the purpose she sought that was being withheld from her by her circumstances. Knowing the reasons didn't make the hurt any lesser, but it did give him the strength to do what he needed to do. Destiny had a funny way of weaving the tapestry of life. Perhaps Audra's thread needed to be untethered from theirs so it could one day come back stronger than before.

As he spoke, Artorias watched the emotion shift and roil behind Audra's golden eye. She was hurting like he was. She needs this... he told himself over and over in his head. Audra didn't recoil from his touch, instead shifting into it. She didn't want to go either, but she had to, and she knew as well. Then she spoke, and Audra unraveled the last of Artorias' composure with her genuine and kindhearted words. Audra may have resisted pulling the Aegis into a hug, but Artorias did not. As soon as the earthen-furred woman leaned her head in against his chest, Artorias' arms were shooting up to wrap around her shoulders, pulling her into a tight, secure embrace. The taller wolf leaned his head down, resting his chin atop Audra's forehead while he held her the way family would when bidding farewell to one another after a long trip together. The tears in the corners of his fire-toned eyes were held back no more, and glowing teal dripped down his cheeks, a side effect of the illness from the Long Night that had enhanced his vision. He sniffled quietly, large paws holding Audra as if this would be the last time he ever would, like she'd simply dematerialize as soon as he let go.

"So are you, Audra. You're going to enrich so many lives," he replied in sincerity. He was struggling to keep his voice even and not quivering with the emotion he was still fighting to contain. "Whether you come back forever or not, we will always be your home. You will always find sanctuary with us." The gates of the Hallows would always be open to Audra and any she brought with her. She was a Carpathius in every spiritual sense. "Fie ca soarele să strălucească mereu pe calea ta. May the sun shine on your path always." Realizing he would have to let the girl go eventually, Artorias breathed a heavy sigh and reluctantly released his embrace on Audra. The dire wolf drew back enough to smile down at his spiritual sister, his glowing tears still cutting through the fur on his cheeks. He glanced back over his shoulder in the direction of where Wren and Sirius were, then turned a wistful smile to Audra, nudging her gently with a paw. "Your wolves are waiting for you, Audra. Go show them what you're made of." He still hadn't said goodbye, and he wouldn't. Artorias refused to believe that this would be goodbye. Just see you later.

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