The Calm Before

The days drew ever closer to the time when Briar was due to go into labor. What had begun simply as the two new parents sharing happy tears at the revelations of their new family had soon grown along with the pups in Briar's belly as the days of preparation for the next generation of Carpathians became shorter and shorter. Artorias had spared no expense in making sure everything was prepared and ready for the coming birth and arrival of his children, ensuring the Hallows was set to receive their pups in comfort and love. He had also made sure Briar's need was tended to, from neonatal care to food to supplies for the children to come. One corner of the alphas' sizable bedroom had been made up into a little nursery of sorts, with a sheltered area for the whelps to occupy until they grew big enough to wander the room safely on their own, and then eventually the rest of the castle. Some would have said Artorias was being overly cautious or called him a nervous new father—those wolves would be 100% right.

Artorias busied himself triple checking the puppies' bedding, making sure the section that had been fenced off with a wooden frame was secure enough that no pup would be able to slip out before they were ready and that the soft bedding of chamois skin that had been gifted to them by Eligos was properly padded and filled for maximum comfort. With it being the middle of Auster's winter, the warmth and comfort of his children was the primary concern of the Aegis. Art fluffed up the bedding with large azure paws for the fifth time that day, looking over the space with an approving nod. That would do for now—at least until he checked it a sixth time later. "Okay, I think the puppies' bed is set," he called back to his pregnant wife who had better still be relaxing on the furs by the fire. The Aegis tossed a quick glance over his shoulder to ensure his mate was indeed resting. Giving Briar an excited and anxious smile, he padded his way over to join her by the crackling fireplace, moving to gently bump his nose against hers. "How are you?" His amber gaze drifted down to her swollen belly. "How are they doing today?"

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian"