I seek the opinion of one unbiased

Artorias had not seen Bellamy since the day she had left the care of the Hallows to return to her family. When she had checked out as a patient, she had been stronger, more herself than she had been since her mate's death, and the Aegis had been so pleased to see her returning to the indomitable wolf he had known. Now, in the wake of the trials and tribulations that Ethne had faced as of late, Artorias couldn't help but wonder and worry about his fellow alpha. Haydée had expressed her own concerns about her mother's wellbeing and the stresses of leading a pack and he feared that same stress might undo the work she had put into herself. Now, as the dust began to settle around the Austral packs, Artorias found himself at the head of what he feared might devolve into total war. The world that had once seemed so stable and balanced now felt as if it danced on the precipice of chaos and collapse. Like a powder keg waiting for a single spark to ignite its fury.

Heavy thoughts weighed on a heavy mind. They kept the Carpathian from restful sleep that night. When dawn began to break over the southern continent, Artorias rose and began his early morning routine as he always did. Kiss his wife in her sleep, don his armor and sword, and relieve the night watch for his patrol. Walking the eastern border, the Aegis turned his steely gaze out to the woods that had once been the home of Norad—now silent and lifeless in the wake of the Syndicate. He scowled as he passed the tree line and continued his way around his home. As he neared the southern borders, a call for him in a familiar voice raised his attention and his spirits. Bellamy. The brute picked up the pace, his walk now a spirited lope as he closed the distance toward where she waited for him. Art arrived some minutes later, and when he saw her, he immediately knew he wasn't the only one who had been losing sleep lately. Bellamy looked tired. The kind of weariness that weighed down one's soul from fate shoveling too much shit upon it at once. Artorias knew the feeling all too well...

The Aegis approached the bare leader of Ethne and dipped his head in quiet reverential greeting as he came to sit on his haunches before her. Haydée had told him about her actions and behavior during the raid on their home. She had mentioned going back to talk to the Raiders. His guards had seen Ethne wolves march northward across the Bifröst, presumably to retaliate for their lost fowls. The fact that Bellamy was sitting here like this told him things had probably not gone to plan. "You look like you've seen some shit," he observed with gentle jest, offering Bellamy a half smile, hoping to provoke any kind of reaction on her dour visage. "I'm guessing you're not here to shoot the breeze, huh?" Whatever Bellamy needed of him, she knew that Artorias would give it freely if it was within his power to. Even if it was just a shoulder to cry on.

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