Marvelous misadventure

The despondent wolf did not respond verbally to him, but did acknowledge Artorias' consideration for him, seeming almost surprised that he was addressing her. Wordlessly she motioned for him to follow her, and after a quick glance at the other two wolves, Artorias followed his guide into a blanket of fog that seemed to appear out of nowhere. The further he walked, the thicker the fog got, until it obscured his vision entirely. Before long, he could no longer see the trees of the grove nor the other two wolves, nor could he hear the voices of his family behind him. Artorias took pause, looking back and around as he tried to figure out what was happening, but with no other explanation or choice, he quietly followed the slate-furred woman as she guided him onward, using her scent reminiscent of the sea he loved so much to lead him forward.

Eventually, they both emerged in a clearing surrounded by massive willow trees, the likes of which he had never seen before. Artorias was immediately struck by their imposing size. It was like the forest of willows near where he had grown up as a pup, memories of how they had dwarfed him and his siblings returning front and center in his mind. Artorias gazed in awe at the splendor of the grove, his pace slowing, but never stopping to follow his nameless guide as she led him to a crystalline pool of water. The Aegis studied the small whirlpool and the path of stepping stones leading to it. The wolf wanted him to cross the water, looking at him expectantly. It was clear what she wished him to do.

Artorias looked back to her, amber eyes reading the hopeful look in her tear-filled gaze. There were no words exchanged, just a silent understanding of what was expected and what he needed to do. "Okay..." he murmured mostly to himself as he made his way to the edge of the water. With all his days spent exploring and traveling, Artorias was a seasoned and agile navigator. The stepping stones made the most sense to use to get a better look into the lake. Putting all his trust in his paws, Artorias took a breath to steady himself, then strode out onto the path of stones, taking his time paw over paw.

CHOICE MADE: DEXTERITY

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian"