continental trip round 2: auster

Despite his general social anxiety around mislabeling or offending either wolf, the two brothers seemed actually pleased that he had asked for their preference. They were two souls, they said, and preferred to be addressed as such. Artorias nodded; that was easy enough to do, treating them as two beings. "It's a pleasure to meet you both, Sol and Khonsu," he began easily enough, a friendly and welcoming smile adorning his features while Sol began to explain the purpose for their visit to the Hallows. The two were newcomers to the lands, nomads seeking a permanent residence. Artorias' eyes lit up with intrigue. It never failed to amaze him just how many wolves came seeking the Hallows out on their own. He had done little to advertise their presence—something the Aegis really should be doing better, he supposed—and yet wolves kept coming looking for them. It seemed the pack's reputation far exceeded his own expectations!

Sol asked in polite tones for an explanation of the Hallows, the brothers wishing to learn all of the packs in Boreas and Auster to decide where they wished to call their home. The smile on Artorias' face brightened and his tail began a giddy wag on the grass behind him. "I'd be glad to! Come, take a walk with me. You can see some of our lands for yourselves while we talk." Artorias motioned for Sol and Khonsu to freely cross over the border and join him for a short stroll in the warm summer sunshine while they conversed. Artorias led the brothers around the plains that surrounded the castle, letting them take in the sight of the rolling green fields, smell the salt on the air from the adjacent coast and the shimmering sea, and see firsthand all that the Hallows was. "At its core, the Hallows is a sanctuary pack. We offer shelter, safety, and aid to any who come in peace," explained Artorias with a touch of pride in his voice, a smile always on his lips while he surveyed his home lands. "The pack was the lifework of my late mother. She had lived a life full of strife and violence and wished to create a safe space for any who wished to escape that kind of existence. It's a second chance for a lot of wolves; a fresh start for those who need a do-over or just a helping paw. She chose the castle as our home as a symbol of protection and stability. It's been the home to my family for three generations now, as well as the home to more wolves looking for a peaceful life than I could probably count."

The alpha left the air open after his brief synopsis of the pack, allowing Sol and Khonsu to ask questions freely as they thought of them. Art turned his head to regard Sol and Khonsu then, a curious tilt to his head. "Did you have to travel far to get here, Sol and Khonsu? You're welcome to spend a few days resting with us if you'd like. We have plenty of food, drink, and warm beds to go around." He was genuinely curious about the brothers' backgrounds. Their incredibly rare mutation aside, getting to know them would help the Aegis determine if the Hallows would be the right home for the two brothers as well. "Do you mind if I ask what you're both looking for in a home? What values are important to you both?"

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