Yo, seen your brother around?

Malachai's indirect answer did not inspire confidence in Artorias. He hadn't seen Grimshaw? What did that mean? Had something bad happened to Grim?! A million questions arose from the single non-answer in the Aegis' mind, but thankfully the Armadan wolf gave him a little bit more clarity and insight in his next statements. Each word that fell from Malachai's lips made Artorias' heart sink lower in his gut. Grimshaw had gone missing. Nobody seemed to know where or when or how. Art's mouth hung open in shock as his brows narrowed in confusion. "Wait, hold up. He's just gone? He vanished and no one knows anything?" Now Artorias was concerned. True, he and Grim didn't have an orthodox sort of relationship as far as adoptive brothers went, and they weren't exactly close per se, but Grim was still his brother at the end of the day. When his wayward sibling had found a home in the Armada, Artorias had been truly hopeful that Grimshaw had finally found his place in the world. That, it seemed, had been a pipe dream.

Artorias released a growl and shook his head. It still didn't make sense to him. Grimshaw had a good life, a relationship that (as far as he knew) was going well, a notable rank in a renowned pack. He wouldn't simply walk away from all of that... would he? No, something must have happened to him. "I'm sorry, Malachai, but he hasn't been down here since the wedding. I assumed he was with you and the rest of the Armada," Art explained with a heavy sigh in his voice and lips pulling together as he mulled over this dismal news he had received. "But I'll keep my eyes and ears open for any signs of him. I'll have my Knights stay alert for traces of him on their patrols. If he's in Auster, we'll find him, and if we do you'll be the first wolf I call." Malachai's dislike of him was not unknown to Artorias. He knew why the Klein brute harbored a distaste for him following the drunken night he and Grim had spent together. It was understandable, but he still respected Malachai as Grimshaw's boyfriend. If the Hallows found any traces of Grim, Malachai would be the first to hear it from the Aegis. It was the least he could do to offer some kind of olive branch.

"It's a long trip back to the Armada. You're welcome to stay with us for the night. You can rest up and have a meal before you start your trek." Artorias had a feeling Malachai was likely to decline his offer of hospitality, even when he could see the noticeable scar on the other male's left foreleg and notice how he was favoring his weight to his other side. Art looked up to meet Malachai's mismatched eyes with his own fire-kissed ones. "I know you don't like me, and quite frankly I get it. You don't have to like me to eat our food and sleep in our beds for a night though. Regardless of how much you hate me, you're still my ally and someone important to my brother, so I want to help you. You can set out to search for Grim in the morning. I'll even go with you to search Auster if you'd like." Artorias didn't know if Malachai would take him up on his offer, if for no other reason than to use him as an extra pair of eyes, but gods dammit he was trying here!

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