What once was

Just as she had hoped, her father had agreed to take her on an adventure. Dusk had explored every inch of the castle, or at least every inch that wasn't behind most of the locked doors. Some she'd been able to open. Others were much harder and she didn't really want to break anything, so she gave up. Some day though... she'd see what was behind those doors. She was determined!

When she grew older, Dusk would have long, graceful legs. For now, she had a short, squat puppy body, still chunky and round. Her dads legs were much longer and, even though he kept his pace slow for her, she had to hoof it to keep up. It was all fine and dandy with the little soot sprite though. Dusk loved a workout. Ever step made her stronger and she was determined to be the strongest.

They moved into a land that was rich with new sighs and scents. The girl's obsidian nose sniffed this and that. The faint smell of wolves clung to the pathway that they walked upon. Artorias leaned down and nuzzled the top of her head, prompting a furious wagging of the child's long tail. He questioned her and the girl nodded, raising her fire opal eyes to meet her fathers. "Yes, Dadda. Let's adventure all the time!" With the energy of a pup, she began hopping around his forelegs, weaving her little body back and forth through them almost like a cat. Just as suddenly as she started, she stopped, looking out through the aspens with a seriousness that was rather uncharacteristic for her. "There used to be wolves here," she informed him as though he didn't know. Sitting down, she leaned back against one of her father's strong legs and looked up at him. "What happened to them? Do wolves just disappear?" Raising one paw, she absently swiped at the healing wounds on her cheek and lip from the caiman that she'd killed. It was a little itchy. Dusk continued to look at her father upside down, waiting for him to explain.

"Dusk Carpathius"