Here To Stay, Boyo.

Artorias watched his two sons practicing their sword sparring in the outside arenas, supervising their training as both boys learned the art of sword fighting. They were still very green and had a long way to go before they mastered the art, but they both showed immense promise and ambition, and the proud and dutiful father would foster that growth in his pups. The afternoon training was interrupted by a call from the familiar voice of Iolaire, announcing her presence back in Hallowed lands. Artorias smiled and issued a short call back to let her know he was on his way, then left the boys with instructions to continue their practice on the training dummies. The Aegis stepped away from the training grounds and trotted his way across lush grass fields, headed in the direction of the eastern border.

It wasn't hard to pick out Iolaire amongst the tall grasses, a dark figure surrounded by verdant green. What did surprise the Aegis was the presence of another woman with his adoptive sister. He did not recognize the gaunt woman, but there was something about her eyes and coat that reminded him of his close friend and Empress of Ashen. Whoever she was, she and Io were very close, and that helped put the Carpathian man at ease. "Io! Bine ai venit acasa!" he greeted the elder wolf in their native tongue as he approached the two faes, fire-toned eyes bright and smile wide. He tipped his muzzle to Deathbelle next. "And a warm welcome to the Hallows to you as well, Miss. Is your friend in need of aid, Io? Do I need to alert Gwynevere?"

At first glance, the taller fae accompanying Iolaire didn't seem injured, just a bit malnourished, but Artorias was ever cautious to make sure all their guests were healthy and tended to. The Hallows was first and foremost a place of healing and sanctuary, after all. Strangers showing up at the border needing medical attention was nothing new to any of the Hallows residents.

"Artorias" | "Carpathian"