The Summer Bonfire

Midsummer had reached Auster, and with it came long hot days and warm, pleasant evenings. That meant it was once again time for the Hallows' annual bonfire festival. Every year as this time drew near, Artorias would begin to gather up deadwood and driftwood from the nearby beach and pile it out on the plains, set over a patch of sand and dirt to prevent over-burning into the plains. The rest of the Hallows would contribute to the pile of kindling as they could over time, and once the middle of summer had come, the pile was quite sizable and ready to go. Artorias worked on soaking some of the lower parts of the pile in flammable oil as the late afternoon drifted into early evening, the day still light but quickly turning into sunset. It was almost time to begin.

As he set to preparing the bonfire, Artorias reflected on the past year and the changes that they had all been through. His newest litter, the growth of the Hallows, their friends and family who had come and gone, including his eldest son. Artorias' heart ached when he thought of Zephyrus and silently prayed that wherever his adopted child was, he was safe and healthy and would one day find his way back home. Tossing the last of the oil onto the dry wood, the Aegis stepped back and admired the unlit bonfire. This year's would be a good one. With a small smile, he then looked down at the birch branch he had at his paws—a switch pulled from the tree his adoptive mother rested beneath. He had placed a branch upon the bonfire every year since her passing as a token of remembrance. The bonfire was as much a time to celebrate another year passed with loved ones as it was a chance to pay homage to those that had been lost along the way.

Picking up the birch branch in his teeth, Artorias carefully laid the offering to his mother's memory atop the pile of kindling, swallowing hard to keep the emotion welling up in his heart from spilling forth. No matter how many years passed, the memories never stopped feeling so bittersweet. Taking his place before the bonfire while Argent brought up a piece of flint and steel, Art lifted his head and called for the rest of the Hallows to gather for their yearly celebration. Food and drink had been laid out in a massive open picnic for everyone to enjoy, ranging from cooked and raw meats to honeyed berries and fresh wines, as well as some rock sugar candies from nearby Ethne for the pups to savor. Then he waited, waited for the rest of his family—blood and bond—to arrive, to offer their own mementos as they chose, and to celebrate together as a pack and a family.

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