we’ve had a good run, haven’t we?

Artorias quietly watched Ember interact with Laeta, initially quite proud of his polite little princess. She was sweet and personable and everything he and Briar had raised her to be. Laeta's response about her role in the pack and her life brought a grateful smile to the Aegis' muzzle. It was truly no stretch to say that the Hallows was only as good as it was because of the light that Laeta had brought to it, and to the lives she had touched with her methods of healing the mind and the soul. Then Ember asked Laeta about what happened to her during the Long Night. Artorias' proud smile dropped into a mortified look of shock. Dammit, Ember, you can't just ask wolves things like that! He had just opened his mouth to gently remind his daughter about her manners when Lae started to answer, giving Ember her recounting of the horrific events that had plagued the world so many years ago.

All the while Laeta spoke, Artorias remained quiet, listening in reverence and contemplation as he absorbed his Specialist's perspective of what had happened. The Long Night had affected every wolf differently, and its effects were more visible and permanent on some more than others. He exchanged a look of empathy with Lae as she finished telling her story. Yes, some wolves just never got better... It did make Artorias wonder and worry about his own health after seeing what was happening to his wolves that had been quite ill during the Long Night. Perhaps he had never recovered either... Was that why his tears still glowed?

After Ember had asked her questions, Art approached behind the small girl and leaned down to plant a kiss atop her crown. "All right, little firelight, break time's over. Time for you to get back to your exercises." Passing her training sword back to her, Artorias directed Ember back down to the gardens. "Show me your forms. Laeta and I will be watching from up here." As soon as Ember had left their presence and begun going through her battle stances with her sword, Artorias moved to sit himself beside Laeta, watching his daughter practice. Now the two of them could discuss things out of earshot of the child. "How much longer...?" the Aegis asked in low tones, glancing at his friend beside him. The question he didn't ask was clear in his tone, in the morose look in his eyes. They both knew Laeta was dying. How much longer would his friend be with them?

"Artorias" | "Carpathian"