They Have Hunger In Their Eyes

Out of all of his daughters, Artorias knew that Dusk was the most tomboyish of the lot. However, even that knowledge had not prepared him to see the little black soot ball of a pup practically vibrating with excitement with her long, whip-like tail lashing about the ground as it wagged furiously. Dusk had been thrilled by the battle, the coyote slaughter titillating her like a children's game. Still coated in blood, Artorias was afraid he would look a sight and startle the kids, but Dusk couldn't stop beaming at him despite his gruesome appearance and display. The small black puffball squealed in joy and exclaimed how cool the fight had been, bouncing like a bunny rabbit all around his legs while mimicking his combat moves he had been forced to display before her. Artorias' amber eyes blinked open wide, following Dusk's hyperactive movements around him. She was very clearly not hurt, nor was Caladia who responded in a much more timid manner by simply shaking her head. Both of them were safe. The Aegis breathed a sigh of relief. Too close... much too close...

With the high of battle passed and the adrenaline burning out in his veins, Artorias allowed himself to relax and slump back to his haunches, swallowing slow and even breaths to steady himself. He had been so, so afraid that he wouldn't get to Dusk in time, and had he been but a second slower, he might have found his daughter limp and lifeless in the jaws of one of those coyotes. The thought chilled the dire wolf with a fear the likes of which he'd never known before. All of a sudden, Dusk's mirth died down and she looked up at her sire with a dutiful seriousness in her matching fiery eyes. Artorias held his daughter's gaze while she told him how she had followed his instructions from their last conversation, how she had saved Caladia from imminent death and then called for help. Art just kept his eyes on Dusk's for a long moment, his eyes blank with confusion while his brain tried to catch up to what she was telling him, but as her words sunk in, a relieved smile slowly crept across the tall wolf's face and a breathy chuckle left him as he shook his head, baffled by the little puffball that was his child. Was this what he had been like as a puppy? Had he driven his parents as crazy as Dusk made him?

"C'mere," Artorias said and beckoned Dusk closer to him with a wave of his paw. When the little girl came closer, the father wasted no time scooping up his little princess in his giant paws and pulling her into a tight embrace, craning his neck down to nuzzle and lick her crown. Yes, he was very proud of her for defending her cousin without being reckless. But more than proud, Artorias was grateful that she was alive and unharmed. His children were his world. If anything happened to them, he would crumble. "Ce o să fac cu tine?" Artorias sighed, smiling down at Dusk with all the love a father could possess for his daughter. "You did very good, Dusky. I'm so proud of you for protecting your cousin and being smart with your safety." That was all Artorias could ask of his pups—be smart and make good decisions.

Another long lick of a broad pink tongue across the little black wolf's forehead would muss up her downy fur in a comedic fashion, drawing chuckles from her father before he released his pup. "Come, let's get you both back to the castle. You don't need to see any more of this." Art glanced back at the bloodbath he'd made in the grove. He'd send Mercury and Ezra out to clear the bodies once they got back.

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