Freshen Up

Briar smiled as she made her way down toward the stream along with Asheila, Bowen, Gwynevere, and Dusk. Preparing for the Bonfire Festival had become a highlight and something to look forward to after the grief and stress of her mother's death and the long stint that her father and younger siblings had spent staying in the castle–essentially doubling the number of pups that she and Artorias were responsible for in the process. With that time passed she was able to refocus on the family she had made with Artorias and the extended family she had gained in her marriage to him. Even though she lived closely in the castle with all of her sisters-in-law, she hadn't had too many opportunities to really spend quality time with them. She and Bowen had only found a common ground after she returned from her trip and she hadn't had an opportunity to speak one on one with Asheila at all. Gwynevere was perhaps the one she was closest with, but that was purely because of the many, many exams Artorias had made sure she had during her pregnancy. Now was a great opportunity to catch up and remedy that a bit while giving her daughter more time with her aunts as well–even if it wasn't the most exciting or fun task to do.

As they got to work with setting out the piles of furs into different groups, she helped Dusk with setting them out and smiled to Asheila with a nod of thanks as she passed around the soap and brushes from the cart. With Dusk weaving through her legs and requesting that they tell her what to do next, she grinned and dipped her head to catch her little inky girl with a nuzzle across the top of her head between the tiny bumps that showed her budding antlers. "Could you help us with splashing some water onto the furs to rinse the soap out after we scrub them?" she asked, letting Dusk agree before nudging her off toward the edge of the water. Briar then picked up one of the pelts and followed Ash's lead, using the brushes to work the water and soap through the fur and watching as dust and dirt flowed off of them into the passing stream.

"Briar Carpathius"