That's Gonna Leave a Mark

Rain beat against the windowpanes in a rhythmic melody, gentle and consistent as it fell across Auster. The world was still dark, just before dawn and with the heavy canopy of storm clouds blotting out the stars and moon, there was little light except what spilled out from Hearthstone's windows from the torches, candles, and fireplaces. The castle was still and silent, still asleep in the early morning hours, all of the occupants sound asleep. That included Artorias, who lay curled up in bed with his wife and their pups. Last night had been difficult for the Aegis to find rest, the worrying parent watching the hailstorm outside and hoping that Dusk was all right. His daughter was a wanderer, just like he had been at her age, and when she didn't return to the Hallows that evening he hoped that she had found somewhere safe to hunker down for the night. In all honesty, were it not for the weather, he probably would've taken Mercury out to go and track her down, but he couldn't put his wolves at risk just because he was an anxious father.

It would turn out that he should have done precisely that. Roused from slumber by a howl at the border for him, Artorias peered through groggy eyes around the dimly lit bedroom, taking information from his surroundings. Everyone else was still asleep and outside the windows was darkness. It was early—much too early for visitors. Someone needed aid. Untangling himself from Briar without waking her, the dire brute rolled out of bed to his paws, giving a stretch to rouse his stiff muscles before heading out of the room and down to the foyer so he could set to greeting their unexpected guest at the borders. Except that guest hadn't waited to be invited in, it seemed, as just when the Aegis was descending the grand staircase, he heard the main doors open and then close. That woke Artorias up out of his sleepy stupor in an instant, now on high alert as he rounded the staircase to see who had just let themselves into his home.

The sight he was greeted with was every father's worst nightmare. In the foyer stood a stranger, russet red and white all over, a younger male standing just shorter than he was and drenched head to toe. And with him across his back lay the limp, bloody body of Dusk. Artorias' heart stopped, eyes wide and mouth hanging open in a horrified gasp. Dusk, his Dusk, his sweet little girl...! Panic and fury filled the Aegis in an instant, and in the blink of an eye the dire wolf had stormed down the stairs to confront the stranger. Had Dusk not been on his back, he likely would have thrown the young brute up against the wall and interrogated him then and there. "Dusk!" cried Artorias as he approached the two, eyes panicked as they rested on his daughter, turning to a pointed leer as he looked at the stranger. "What the hell happened to her? And who are you?" His words were curt, guarded, suspicious. The lad smelled like Ashen, which helped ease some of Art's nerves, but he was still a stranger with his wounded daughter on his back. Gods, why did all of his daughters keep running into trouble and returning home injured by strange boys?! First Talyssa, then Bramble, and now Dusk!

"Artorias Carpathius"