Fight Me

Smash! The crash and clatter of breaking wood falling to the ground echoed around the otherwise quiet dojo. Artorias snorted, nostrils flared and eyes narrowed in hard focus while he adjusted his footing on the ring, looking over the decimated training dummy he'd split to pieces. Strong jaws clenched harder around the hilt of Embershard, clutching his sword with intense focus. It almost felt like history repeating itself. When Artorias had lost his own mother, he had destroyed countless faux enemies to vent out his frustrations, anger, and general sense of uselessness. Now he did it to release those contained emotions around the loss of his wife's mother—his mother-in-law. He hadn't gotten a chance to know Zee very well, but every loss hurt, this one especially so knowing he'd never get that opportunity to now, and seeing the impact her death had on the Fatalis family as well as his own struck a hard blow. Ever dutiful, the Aegis did all he could to counteract the sorrow by caring for the Fatalis pups and encouraging his own family to befriend their relations while they were here. Looking out for Sirius had taken up most of his time as well, leaving Artorias with little opportunity to let the grief really hit him.

Of course, that grief didn't go away. Instead it mounted, bottled up and ignored until it was finally allowed to be released. Zee was not his mother, but she had been kind to him, treated him fairly, welcomed him into their family when he began courting Briar. She had been a mother to him in spirit, and knowing he'd never get the chance to know the wolf she was hurt. Artorias had been strong, for Briar and for his family's sake, and kept them moving forward and united in this dark time. It was the least he could do to help out. He didn't feel as useless as he had with Resin's death, being able to use his position as alpha to keep his family together in the Hallows, but still that insufferable ache of loss hurt his heart, more for Briar than for himself. He knew how his mate's relationship with her mother had been, how things had finally begun to go good for them, only for it to be ripped away. He stayed close to her throughout the loss, making sure she was cared for and had his support. Of course, she staunchly denied him, claiming she was doing all right, and he didn't push the matter. Everyone had to grieve and mourn in their own ways.

Which was exactly what Artorias was doing as he turned on the next training dummy, growling around the sword in his mouth, he lunged towards it. Back and forth the swordsman turned his head, bringing his blade across the dummy's body again and again. Pieces of wood and fabric were cleaved away, each blow stronger and more ferocious than the last and taking away more parts of it. The dummy shook under the impact of each hit, until with a louder snarl, the dire brute brought his sword down onto the dummy's head, chopping straight through and splitting it down to the base. The wood splintered, fractured, cracked and collapsed, rattling across the floor until all the pieces came to rest. Artorias slumped forward, putting his weight onto the broken dummy base and heaved a sigh, his breathing heavy from the physical effort and ragged with the emotion. Amber eyes closed, blocking out the world to focus on his breathing. A stillness returned to the dojo, a quiet Artorias hated. It felt oppressive, lonely...

Fortunately, that silence wouldn't remain for long. The sound of the dojo doors opening and swiftly slamming shut again causing fire-toned eyes to snap open and glance back with a start. Artorias was shocked to find Briar leaned against the doors, her body gently quivering with the emotion she had so clearly been trying to ignore and repress. "Briar...?" Artorias sheathed Embershard and leaned his sword against the broken dummy base, approaching his mate with slow steps and concerned eyes. He didn't ask what was wrong. He didn't need to. Artorias knew what he was seeing. He'd seen Briar's emotions overcome her when she tried to repress them. That had always been how she handled her feelings—hiding them until she couldn't keep them held in any longer. It seemed like she was reaching that point now.

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