Reunited and it Feels So Good

Artorias saw the remorse twisting Bowen's expression, regret that she had hurt him evident in her emerald eyes. The Aegis' first thought was "Good". She had hurt him, she had broken her word and betrayed his trust in her. He wanted her to feel some guilt for doing that to him. But in all his upset, Artorias still did not desire to hurt Bowen back. He needed her to understand that her actions and decisions had consequences, but she was still his sister, still someone he loved dearly and with all his heart. Bowen breathed a sigh and set to explaining herself in great detail. Artorias listened intently, giving her the decency of his full attention while she tried to reason her decisions away. Of course it had been that fucking tiger's idea to desert their plans. Tej had seemed like nothing but a problem from the start, but thankfully he wouldn't have to deal with the feline anymore it seemed. Tej had gone off on his own adventures after Bowen decided to return home. Though he still did not like the tiger, he at least appreciated what he had done for his sister. Bowen was a night and day difference from when she'd left to how she appeared now. Only time would tell if she remained this way though.

Bowen lifted her gaze eventually and was met with Artorias' fire opal eyes fixed to her. Not once had the dire wolf looked away from his petite sibling. Nothing else in the world was as important as she was right now in this moment. Bowen declared that she was no longer weak, no longer the "wretched thing" that she had been, as she so eloquently put it. Then she came closer and reached for him, one minuscule paw raising until cream toes rested over his azure cheek. She pleaded for him to understand her motives, and he did. He knew why she had done so, but did she understand why he had been so upset and hurt by her actions? Did she truly realize how much she meant to him? Did she have any idea how his world would have crumbled if she hadn't returned home? Artorias swallowed thickly past the knot in his throat, trying to ignore the way her silken paw felt so wonderfully hot against the side of his face.

After a moment, Artorias lifted his own large paw to move to caress Bowen's cheek in turn, his fiery gaze locked wholly onto her verdant jewels. "Nu ai fost niciodată rău cu mine," he murmured beneath his breath, the words spoken in their language rolling off his tongue like he'd been speaking it his entire life. The massive brute leaned closer to place a tender lick to the end of Bowen's muzzle, grazing her chin and lips with gentle affection. The corner of his lips twitched upwards in a little smirking smile. "Mă bucur că ești acasă. Mi-a fost dor de tine." For the first time since the Hallows had moved to Auster years ago, the Carpathius family was finally reunited in its entirety in the Hallows. About damn time. The smirk on his lips turned a bit roguish the longer he held Bowen's gaze, brushing his paw pads against her soft cheek. "You were saying something about welcoming you home...?"

"Artorias" | "Carpathian"