Back home! Guess what?!

Artorias laughed aloud as he bounded after his puppies, chasing them about the gardens of the castle while golden autumn leaves fell around them. He didn't know where the strange and magical fall had come from, but in a way he was grateful for it. His pups' first season would be remembered with mild weather and beautiful colors, rather than dark and snow and ice. It was the world he and his littermates had been brought into, and now he could share it with his own children. Their game of tag around the gardens was cut short however by a howl of a familiar voice from the north end of the plains, catching Artorias' attention. Black ears perked up, head tipped in confusion. Rudy was back already? It hadn't been a full season since he and Fern had left for their extended trip, but they had returned early. Worry clutched the alpha's heart, hoping his brother and sister-in-law were all right. Passing his children off to Briar and their grandparents to continue the fun, Art slipped out through the castle gates and made his way north across the plains to greet his wolves.

While Artorias' fears of something being wrong were founded—especially given Rudyard's history of personal injury—what he found when he came across the two monochromatic wolves instantly dispelled all of his fears and brought a growing smile to the Aegis' face. Fern was notably more plump around her midsection, her growing belly an obvious sign of what had brought them homebound and what the two newlyweds had been up to since they'd left. Artorias trotted quickly up to them, greeting both Rudy and Fern with an affectionate nuzzle before turning his gaze to his pregnant sister-in-law. "Well well, you two didn't waste any time at all!" he remarked with a hearty, joyful laugh. "Fern, you look spectacular! Congratulations!" After taking a moment to really take in the sight of his brother and his mate, Art breathed a happy sigh. "It's good to have you both home again. How far along are you, Fern?"

"Artorias Carpathius"