Fostering Wanderlust

Artorias couldn't help but let out a barking laugh at Clove's infectious enthusiasm to go venturing, even if it was just to the other side of the Hallows. The giant father craned his neck down to boop his nose against his little daughter's forehead as she bumped her head against his leg in a sign of affection, unable to keep from grinning ear to ear as he watched Clove spin around like an energized whirlwind of excitement. The tiny pup ran for the stairs exclaiming that she was getting a bag to bring with them. "Go on, little love! Who knows what treasures we'll find out there!" he encouraged her on, making his way to the foyer to wait for Clove while she got herself ready. When his daughter did reappear with her bag slung across her back and ready to go, Art flashed the pup a toothy grin and motioned with his head to the open doors leading out to the gardens. "Ready to go?" he asked, and when she declared she was ready, he added, "Then let's go on an adventure, Clovie!"

Turning to lead the way out of the castle and across the gardens and courtyard, Artorias stuck close by Clove's side every step of the way. He let her walk on her own so that his pup could feel like she was taking her own steps on her first big adventure, but if the girl got tired or just wanted to ride on his back, Art was ready to scoop her up at a moment's notice and act as her noble steed and a better vantage point for her to see all around them. The pair of wolves passed through the towering gates of Hearthstone and once they were beyond the walls, the vast plains that surrounded the castle on all sides came into view. Art gave Clove as much time as she needed to take it all in, seeing the outside world for the first time. He distinctly remembered the first time he had seen how huge the whole world was when he was a pup about her age and what a memorable moment that had been for him.

Once Clove had her moment of awe, the giant father motioned with his head towards the north. "The Wildberry Grove is our northernmost territory, just across the plains," explained Artorias, glancing across the expansive plains to the distant trees that made up the grove. "Do you see those trees all the way across the plains? That’s the Grove and that’s the way we’re headed." Warm amber eyes looked down at his little girl with a paternal warmth in them as he motioned for Clove to follow him. Dire-sized paws tamped down the soft spring grasses beneath him, moving at a leisurely gait so Clove's smaller strides could more easily keep pace with him.

The pair would reach the edge of the Grove by mid-morning, the warm vernal sunlight filtering in through the canopy of fresh green leaves. Many of the berry bushes and fruit trees were blooming or in bud in the warmer weather, some little unripened berries even popping up here and there in preparation for the coming summer. Artorias looked about the bright woodland, scenting the air for trespassing predators before turning his gaze down to Clove when the coast was clear. "All right, little love, we're here! Explore and have fun, your dad will be close by the entire time if you need me." While Artorias would walk a patrol around the Grove, Clove was free to discover this new part of their home while her sire stood ready to answer any questions she had or help her with anything she needed.

"Artorias" | "Carpathian"