What Peculiar Neighbors we Have

Talyssa shared her reasonings for wanting to speak further with Hattori, and once more Artorias was impressed by the maturity his very young pup showed in her logic. She had clearly put some thought into her interactions with the koi alpha from Tojo-kai and it had been on her mind for some time. Artorias gave Taly a little nod of his head and replied, "If that is knowledge you wish to pursue, then I don't think it would be a bad idea to ask him for his side. The worst he could say is no." Art made a mental note to have a conversation with Hattori, perhaps inviting the other alpha to the Hallows for a visit so he could once again meet the Aegis' inquisitive daughter and be subject to her good-natured interrogations. It would be the first interaction the Hallows and Tojo-kai had ever had officially, and it would all come about because of Talyssa's curiosity. His daughter was shaping up to be one hell of a diplomat before she'd even had her yearling birthday!

The next part of the conversation was the part that Artorias had been most anxious about having. He did not suspect Talyssa would take his lecture about the dangers of the stranger on the beach badly, but he had also never discouraged his children from making friends and interacting with others either. Now he was doing exactly that, hoping that Lyssa wouldn't think he was being mean or unfair by warning her to steer clear of that boy. But true to her character, the small tawny pup took everything in stride. She listened attentively while her sire spoke, and Artorias could already see the gears turning behind those bright blue eyes as she processed and thought over his words. When he finished, Taly seemed almost... ashamed. Artorias' brow furrowed a touch as his daughter replied. Some part of her had known she should have run from the boy while another part wanted to try to correct his misbegotten ways. In that moment, Artorias saw himself in Talyssa's spirit, and in that moment the haunting words of his sister echoed in his head again.

"You can't save the world, Art."

Artorias drew in a deep breath, held it in his lungs for a few seconds, then let it out in a slow, controlled breath. He understood well how Taly had felt. He had felt those same impulses and drives, especially in his younger years. "It's difficult for wolves like us to look away when we see injustice or malice in the world. Our family has a drive in us to do good. I have it... now you have it as well, Taly." Art offered his daughter an empathetic smile and gentle eyes. "I'm not upset at you for doing what you felt was right. Your moral compass told you what you saw was wrong and you wanted to make it right. That's exactly what I want you to feel. It means you're a good wolf, Taly, and I'm very proud of you for knowing something was wrong when you saw it."

However, there was a catch to the father's pride. "But your safety and wellbeing is paramount to everything else. A wolf with violent tendencies like that is extremely dangerous, Talyssa. Your body and your life are the most precious things you own and you only get one of each. If you sense danger, protect them at all times, whether it's by running, fighting, calling for help, or avoiding them altogether. It's okay to want to find the good in all creatures, but having a healthy dose of suspicion for those you don't know or those who make you feel what you felt today is also good and can help keep you safe and alive." He hoped his words made sense to Talyssa. This was an incredibly heavy subject for a child, and though Art was skirting most of the gristly and explicit details of wolves like the boy on the beach, he hoped that she might understand even a bit without him having to rob her of that naivety just yet.

When Talyssa looked him in the eye and made her promise to him, Artorias could have breathed a sigh of relief. She had taken this conversation so well—not that he really expected any differently—and he trusted his daughter to keep her word. "Thank you, Lyssa. I just want you to be safe and make smart decisions in life." Wasn't that what every father hoped for their children? A life of peace, prosperity, and health? She also promised to call for his help if she ever needed it, and Art could have scooped her up into a snuggle right then and there. His warm smile returned again as he slid across his belly closer so he could lean in and nuzzle his daughter's crown. "You'll always have me to turn to, Taly. I would run to the ends of the earth and back again if it was to protect you." He would also cut down anyone who dared to threaten his darling princess, but Talyssa wasn't one of his combat-inclined children, so he didn't feel the need to share that with her.

Talyssa's request for him in turn was one that both took him by surprise and was really no surprise at all when he thought about it. The sire wolf's smile widened and he nodded. "We can have these kinds of talks whenever you'd like, printesa mea. Any time, any subject, you can come to me and I'll be happy to share this time with you, just the two of us." Ethics and morals, pack and family history, hell Artorias would even talk girly stuff with her if she felt like chatting to her dear old dad about that! Anything and everything, whatever her heart desired, he would make it so. Leaning closer, Artorias would go to place a gentle kiss on Taly's forehead just above her brows, looking at his little girl with all the love in the universe in his flame-kissed eyes. "Ești atât de prețios pentru mine. Te iubesc asa de mult, Talyssa Carpathius." With a slight tilt to his head, the sapphire-furred brute asked, "Was there more you wished to talk about, my little angel?"

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian"