Make good decisions

From the way Bramble stumbled over her own large paws, Artorias knew he had his daughter dead to rights. The guilt radiated off of her, almost palpable on the air as she slunk her way up to him, belly almost on the ground and tail between her legs while she turned her best smile up at him. Bramble could so easily melt her father's heart with those big teal eyes of her mother's and sweet smile, but Art reminded himself that he had to stay stern in this moment. She had broken the rules and he couldn't continue to be a softie over his children's transgressions. The Aegis did not respond to Bramble's question on his day. He did not feel the need to drive the guilt into her when she already knew she was in trouble and had been caught. But despite knowing she'd been busted by the Aegis' corvid companion, her tail started to wag as she recounted her day to him, confirming where she had gone and what she had been up to. At least she had the respect for him to not try to lie about where her course had taken her today.

Artorias raised his head a touch, a single brow raising questioningly over steely amber eyes while Bramble described the Grapevine Cathedral for him and the events that had transpired there. At least she hadn't been looking for trouble, he supposed, but trouble had found her nonetheless. Without uttering a single word, Bramble confessed to everything in only the way an excited child could, spilling the details of everything like a triumph to her father. Artorias humored his daughter’s request to hear her out, from the venture to the Cathedral to the right with a drunk bear, to meeting a certain wolf from the south that was becoming fast familiar with the plethora of his children. That genuinely caught Artorias’ attention. He would have to make a trip down to Tojo-kai to talk to Hattori sometime soon.

As her story came to an end, the gravity of the situation seemed to sink in, and Bramble asked if she was in trouble while averting her gaze down to his large azure paws. "Yes, yes you are," he replied in his rich, rumbling tones, keeping fire-toned eyes on his pup. "You disobeyed our rules and went beyond the territories we permitted you to go. Your mother and I don't make these rules to be strict or mean, Bramble. We make them because they keep you safe. What would have happened if Hattori hadn't been there? If you had been in trouble, do you know how long it would take for us to come help you? Do you know what a full-sized bear is capable of doing to a wolf, especially a puppy?" Artorias didn't want to scare his daughter, but perhaps a healthy dose of fear was what she needed. This was the second time she had gone and done something reckless without any regard for her safety. Artorias was sure his children had given him more than a few gray hairs already and they were only a half year old!

Artorias gave Bramble a moment to absorb his scolding words, disappointed eyes set on her all the while. After he had given her some time to think about what he'd said, the giant father breathed a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping as his stern posture relaxed some. He still looked upset, but not as angry as she might have feared. If anything, he was just grateful that Bramble was okay and unscathed. "No more venturing beyond the outlying borderlands, Bramble. No exceptions. Not without one of us with you, and not until you turn a year old. Am I crystal clear?" Between Dusk maiming her brother and Talyssa's run-in with the stranger on the beach, Artorias was growing very concerned for his daughters. Keeping them safe and instilling good decision making skills in them was turning out to be a greater challenge than he had expected. With his reprimanding done, Art softened a little more and lifted a paw, opening it up to allow Bramble to snuggle into his paws if she wanted to. No matter what happened, she was still his little girl, and he loved her more than life itself. "What am I going to do with you, Bramble Carpathius?" he teased with another sigh and a shake of his head, flaming eyes set on his pup with a look of tender love replacing his sternness.

"Carpathius Family"