we’ve had a good run, haven’t we?

Late autumn was always a perfect time to enjoy the outdoors of Auster. The usually hot continent had begun to cool off into temperate mildness as the wet winter season began its approach. The leaves of the trees and the wisterias in the castle gardens had turned to bright vibrant reds and oranges, and all around a sense of transition was felt. Time, ever marching onward, would always herald change. No clearer was that to Artorias than when he looked at his almost adolescent daughter. Ember was growing out of her puppy phase and into the lankiness of her teenage seasons, so close to her first birthday, which meant his eldest litter would soon be full fledged adults. Gods, how were they almost adults already?! It seemed like only yesterday he was snuggling with his first five when they were wiggly little loaves and now here they were, becoming their own selves and making him the proudest father alive. Time was going by much, much too fast for his liking.

The clatter of wood striking wood kept the gardens from being too silent as Artorias sparred with Ember amongst the grasses, the dire wolf sire clutching his wooden training sword in his jaws as he deflected strike after strike from his child. Ember was ferocious and tenacious, all great qualities of a warrior, and even he had to admit that his little girl was giving him a run for his money! "Bine! Keep your blade up, always be ready to block a strike." Artorias demonstrated by deflecting Ember's next swing and slid his wooden sword along the length of Ember's, twirling it around in a counterattack. Ember did her best to block it, but Art was quicker and gently smacked the girl's shoulder with his sword before ducking out of the way of a couple retaliatory swings from his child with a playful laugh.

Movement on the terrace caught Artorias' attention and his amber eyes lit up to see Laeta and Mel coming out to enjoy some of the sunshine and warm weather as well. The corners of his lips turned upward around the sword in his mouth, his tail giving a little wag to show his happiness seeing her up and about—and then a hard whack on the back of his head snapped him out of it. "Ow! Hey! No sneak attacks!" he turned back to Ember, fixing her with a stern gaze. Artorias brought their spar to a short break and made his way up the terrace with his daughter in tow, going to sit with Laeta and Mel for a spell. "Come to enjoy some autumn sunshine, Lae? Or are you here to watch my daughter kick my butt all around the gardens?" Art called out to the gaunt wolf whom he cared so much for. He set his wooden sword down against the railing of the terrace and moved to sit near Laeta, all smiles to match the positive energy she always exuded. Yet despite his optimism, there was a darkness hiding in the Aegis' eyes, a clouding and lingering worry.

How much longer did she still have with them...?

"Artorias" | "Carpathian"