Just Around the Riverbend

When he had been a puppy, all Artorias had wanted to do was get out of pack lands and go explore the world. Any chance he got, any opportunity he could seize to see somewhere new or foreign, he would insist and plead and demand that his mothers take him along with them. As he grew into an adult, that wanderlust never left his spirit, and Artorias had vowed that when he became a father, should any of his children show that same yearning for adventure as he did, that he would feed their passions without reluctance. Well, it seemed at least a couple of his little fuzzballs did indeed take after their father! Talyssa approached him one sunny spring afternoon and asked if he could take her out of the Hallows on an adventure, and remembering that itch in his paws when he was her age, agreed without a second thought. Taly's excitement was palpable and made the entire thing worth it for him, even if they hadn't left yet!

Artorias had of course heard of Briar and Talyssa's outing to the Aspen Dam recently, so when offered, it came as no surprise that his daughter would want to continue exploring around those territories. So to the Cedar Falls they set off! Heading eastward from their home and skirting the Wraith's Woods to keep his child safe, Art led Taly along the well-worn path through the forest that soon turned into dense collections of cedar pines. The father and daughter wolf followed the flowing river southward as it cut through the woods, the mellifluous melody of the water creating a soothing and tranquil environment for the pair to enjoy the warm spring day beneath the shade of the leaves. After some time of walking, the sound of the falls roaring in the distance grew louder the closer they got.

The lilting voice of his young daughter caught Artorias' attention, and he glanced down to meet Talyssa's curious gaze. She asked what that noise was and he offered his little girl a smile. "Well, I could tell you, but that would ruin the surprise!" he said with a chuckle and gave Taly a little nudge to the rump with his snout. "Go on, go see if you can find where the sound is coming from! I'll be right behind you." Artorias wanted to encourage his children to explore their world and make discoveries on their own. Sure he could have told her what a waterfall was before they got there, but imagining the excitement that would be on her tiny face when she saw it for herself kept the wolf's lips shut. As Taly walked, Artorias would follow right alongside her, making sure she didn't get too close to the water or run off ahead without him. He was her escort, but this was her day to explore. It was only once they finally reached the first in a series of short waterfalls would Artorias tell her what they were.

"Artorias" | "Carpathian"