keeping promises as if my life depended on it

A barking laugh escaped Artorias' lips when Audra admitted her surprise to see snow in Auster. "Neither were we! We've adapted though, as we always do." As soon as Audra was settling in by the grand hearth to warm her up, Artorias dismissed himself briefly to go obtain some meat and water for her, returning with the meal to present to her while they talked. No sooner had he set the plate and bowl down before her, Audra was delivering the gristly tale to him. Artorias' happy expression slowly sank from his face while the earthen-furred woman detailed what had happened at Menagerie. The pack had fallen. Wren and several others had been attacked during a festival and killed. Artorias' heart sank at the news, his visage turning dour. He hadn't known Wren very well beyond the pleasantries they'd shared at a couple public events, but he knew that Audra and Mercury had both trusted the young wolf. That gave her enough credence in his books to be considered someone good.

"Gods be good..." the Aegis muttered beneath his breath with a shake of his head. It wasn't unheard of for predators or even other wolves to attack newly formed packs to test them for vulnerabilities, but even this seemed sudden. Wasn't Menagerie supposedly allied with the Armada and virtually neighbors? How had something like this happened? Artorias needed answers, but he knew there was only one place he would be able to get any. "I'm thankful you weren't harmed," he said after a moment to assess her for any obvious signs of injury and finding none. "You know you are always welcome within these walls, Audra. Stay for as long as you please." Artorias didn't know if this would be a temporary stay until the wayward wolf recuperated and got back on her paws, or... He dared to let himself be hopeful for the alternative.

"What happened to all the others in Menagerie?" Artorias wondered about Mercury, about Sybil, and the others of the fledgling pack. If they were still up north and in need of assistance, he would need to go see if he could offer them shelter or aid. Already Artorias had made up his mind to travel the continents to see what he could do, if anything, in the wake of this disaster. Even though he didn't wish to leave his pregnant mate, knowing he could have saved some lives and chose to do nothing would plague his conscience for the rest of his days. "And... what will you do now?" Curious amber eyes moved to look to Audra, that hope that perhaps she had come home not just for respite, but to rejoin her family still clinging to his heart. He would never fault her for wanting to travel more and be on her own, nor would he ever demand her to return to them, but if she chose to stay of her own will, he would do everything in his power to make the Hallows feel more like the home she had once known.

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