Fight Me

The way Briar jumped with a start and turned to look at him with wide, startled eyes told Artorias that his wife hadn't been expecting anyone to be in here. To her credit, the dojo hadn't received much use when he wasn't doing his training in it, but it had always served as a good outlet for pent up emotions to come flooding out. While he approached her, Artorias saw the way Briar's ears folded back, how her gaze turned away from him. Was she embarrassed by her own emotional state? Did she not want him to see her like this? Art was very familiar with the Fatalis mindset of override and overcome when it came to emotional trauma, but he hadn't expected it from Briar. Not since she'd come to live in the Hallows and be a part of his family, at the least. Briar's lips pulled back from her teeth in a silent growl and Artorias' brow furrowed further, looking at his mate with concern and worry.

"Briar..." he called to her again, trying to get her attention. She didn't look up at him immediately, but when she did, he saw a furious fire smoldering in her cool turquoise eyes, setting them ablaze in a way Artorias had never seen before. His worry for his wife's wellbeing rose. Their gazes met and the Aegis held his Queen's incensed glower, trying to discern what he was seeing in her expression when she suddenly rose to her paws and began to stalk directly towards him, pointed eyes locked on him. Artorias watched Briar storm up to him, holding his ground at around the midpoint of the dojo's arena while he let Briar approach. Then she made her demand and Artorias' confusion mounted. His head tilted and brows narrowed while his brain tried to process what it was hearing. "What...?" Briar gave him no verbal response, but instead shoved his shoulder with one strong paw. It caught the dire brute off guard and forced him to stumble back a step, staring in shock and bewilderment at his beloved queen's beautiful face twisted with anger, her eyes pleading for him to give her what she demanded. Artorias just looked at Briar with a pained expression, empathizing with the hurt she suffered.

"Briar, I don't think this is the best thing-" But Briar cut off Artorias' words with a snarl and a stronger shove to his chest. This time, she had pushed him with enough force that even though he'd expected it, it still shoved him back a couple of steps. Again Briar demanded that he fight her. The emotion that choked and shook her voice broke Art's heart. He was so used to the beautiful lyrics of his wife's voice spoken with confidence and happiness. This voice sounded like a stranger to his ears. Artorias held Briar's gaze for a moment longer, looking back the teal jewels to the spirit of a wolf who needed to lash out at something she couldn't touch. She couldn't fight Death—nobody could. So she would fight him instead. Artorias recognized those feelings and knew them well. They were the same rampant emotions that had led him to stab Sirius innumerable times in a fit of blind rage and pain. Briar needed this release. And as her husband, he would help her heal.

Dark brows over amber eyes narrowed, set in his resolution. Briar wanted a fight. She would get a fight. "Then come at me, Deer Girl," he growled back and set his paws, his body shifting and muscles rippling to set into their combat stance. Ordinarily, Artorias would have set his defenses and let his opponent make the first move so he could intercept and parry, but in this case, Briar needed the aggression of a no-hold-barred fight. The dire brute charged right for his smaller fae, massive paws pushing off of the padded arena floor to lunge right at her. They weren't far apart to begin with, so one good stride was all it took to allow Artorias to pounce at Briar, seeking to slam his chest into hers and wrap strong forelegs around her neck so he could throw her down into a pin. It was a brash and direct first move, but it was exactly what he thought Briar needed.

Artorias vs Briar for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: 1+ years
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Damascus steel sword
Defensive Battle Accessory: Reinforced leather cuirass
Companion 1: Common raven, Male - Flying - Boosted
Companion 2: Silver cross fox - Battle - Boosted
*Companion 3: Common raven, Female - Flying
Mutation 1: Stronger teeth and jaws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Thicker fur - Defensive
Mutation 3: Enhanced vision - Perception
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Navigator
Specialty: Knight or Fleet-footed

"Artorias Carpathius"