The Summer Bonfire Festival (Year 20)

Wolves from all walks of life began to gather as twilight crept over Auster, bathing the world in navies and indigoes as the golden sun bid its farewell to the world for the day. Armadan wolves, Elysian wolves, Hemlock wolves, Raiders and Tojo-Kai alike. Artorias looked to Sirius when his father-in-law stepped up to join him and leave his offering for Zee on the fire. The Lord of Cinder greeted each wolf that came to leave offerings on the fire for their lost loved ones, grateful for their presence. When Modesty and Gilgamesh arrived and let loose their latest litters upon the Hallows, Art couldn't help but break out into a smile. He was such a dad and just loved puppies so much! Seeing the little balls of fur go tumbling about as they explored the unfamiliar territory stirred something instinctual inside the dire brute. Perhaps next summer would call for more Carpathians...

Identification: A pale golden fae approached him, one he did not recognize and who bore no scent of a pack on her. She introduced herself as Identification—a curious name—and thanked him for his hospitality. Artorias dipped his head back to her in greeting. "A pleasure to meet you, Identification," he replied in his low rumbling baritone voice, a warm and welcoming smile on his muzzle. "Thank you for joining us tonight. Enjoy the festival."

Clove: The soft footfalls of paws coming up beside him caught Artorias' attention, and a quick glance down found his smallest daughter coming to join him. Smallest, but certainly not a little girl anymore. Clove looked so beautiful and grown up with her makeup and Carpathian pendant hanging around her neck. Artorias couldn't help the swell of pride he felt fill his heart as he admired the young woman his Clove was turning into. Smiling brightly at her, Artorias craned his head down to nuzzle and kiss his child's forehead. "Good evening, Clovie," he spoke affectionately to her, his voice warm and full of love. "Arăți frumos în seara asta, micuță prințesă."

Dusk and Sitri: As he and Clove continued to put out the last of the libations for their guests, Artorias felt a nudge against his side and neck. Amber eyes turned to find the matching fiery jewels of his eldest daughter, greeting her with an affectionate smile. He leaned down to plant a tender kiss upon Dusk's crown, noting Whisper gleaming in her tail, as it always was. "Încearcă să te relaxezi în seara asta, copila mea. Totul e bine." Looking up to Sitri,

Ember and Erik: As Dusk and Sitri walked off to find a place to sit, Artorias' eyes glimpsed movement approaching from across the plains. The familiar dark coat of his daughter was unmistakable, and it looked like she had brought some friends from the north with her. Artorias couldn't help the happy wag in his tail to see her again, a smile naturally finding its home on his muzzle, but he restrained his enthusiasm for now. Was Ember still mad at him? Should he remain passive? Art moved to greet Ember as the Hemlock group joined the party, and when his daughter smiled at him and nuzzled his shoulder, the Lord of Cinder was awash with relief. His smile widened as he nuzzled Ember back, placing a kiss upon her forehead. "Bună, fiica mea. Mi-a fost foarte dor de tine." Amber eyes raising to meet Erik when Ember directed his attention over to him, Artorias marveled at how much the boy he'd met on the mountain had grown. Well well, was he trying to court Ember now...? Erik is polite and well-spoken, thanking him for allowing Ember to aid Hemlock. Artorias gave Erik a lopsided grin and chuckled. "You're very welcome, Erik. Your family and your pack are always welcome here." But on a more serious note, Artorias had a concern he hoped the young brute could help put to rest. "How are your father and mother? Is there anything we can offer to help them?" Víðarr and Tenshi were friends to Artorias; if he could help them in any way, he would.

Akito and Clove: While Ember began to immediately catch up with Clove, a dark-coated lad approached and bowed his head respectfully. Artorias recognized the yearling from the previous Harvest Ball, and the smell of Tojo-Kai on him tipped him off that this was one of Hattori's children. Artorias turned his attention away from the boy for a moment—until Clove's call for him brought his attention right back to them again. Clove was at the boy's side, a brightness emanating from his littlest daughter's expression that he hadn't seen before, but one he definitely recognized. She introduced the boy as Akito, and Artorias met Akito with a smile and intrigued eyes. "Pleased to meet you, Akito of Tojo-Kai. I'm very glad someone so important to Clove could join us tonight." Art shot his daughter a playful look, clearly teasing her to get a rise out her like any father would. Clove had never introduced someone to him before; this boy must be incredibly special to her to get that kind of royal treatment. As Clove led her "friend" away, Art watched the two of them with a knowing smirk, seeing the blossoming affections between them. He'd have to keep an eye out for Akito around more often...

Mae: Another loner approached the Lord of Cinder—a dark-coated fae who introduced herself as Mae. For a moment, Artorias was almost struck dumb. She reminded him so much of how Laeta had shown up to their bonfire one year, just out of the blue. It was almost like reliving deja vu. Except Laeta was gone; just another memory and a branch on the bonfire now. Artorias offered Mae a welcoming smile and dipped his head to her in greeting. "Be welcome, Mae. I'm glad we can bring you happy memories of your home."

Venom and Maverick: As Mae moved away to mingle with the crowd, Artorias' eyes saw the forms of two familiar wolves coming to the festival. Their appearances almost seemed like ghosts coming back from the dead, but the joy they filled his heart with assured Art that they were very much real. Artorias broke from the group after Venom had left her offerings on the bonfire and intercepted the Klein woman in a tight embrace, just thankful to see her again in the aftermath of everything. "You had us all so worried," he spoke softly for Venom's ears only, reveling in the presence of his friend and longtime peer. "I'm so glad you could come." To the man Venom had bound herself to, Artorias offered Maverick a thankful nod, the gratitude in his eyes resounding.

Cerberus: A face from his long distant past approached after he let Venom go to get comfortable. Artorias would remember the russet and black brute anywhere, though he was so much larger and grown now than when he'd last seen the boy! "Cerberus, welcome! How is Chimera doing?" Art was always concerned for his friend's wellbeing, especially since he'd never seemed to be able to shake his illness from the Long Night. More and more, Artorias worried that this time might be the end of his friend. He sincerely hoped not.

Briar: Turning to meander through the crowd and greet some of the others that arrived, Artorias spotted a flash of tawny brown and turquoise that was worn by the most beautiful fae in all the world. Amber eyes fell upon his wife and lingered on her, the Lord of Cinder gazing at his Lady with nothing short of pure love. He watched with quiet reverence while she left her offerings to her mother and their lost wolves amongst the kindling. Artorias just followed her with his eyes while Briar went around greeting each of their children, then her father, and then came to join him, by then a wide and affectionate smile painting the dire brute's face. She kissed his cheek and Artorias intercepted her lips with his own for a tender kiss before she could pull away. He couldn't help it; he just loved his Deer Girl so damn much.

Bellatrix: After he'd given his wife a bit of affection, Artorias turned his head to look over the crowd of wolves once more and was met with the familiar magenta galaxy of Bellatrix. The elder alpha's eyes lit up with recognition and he welcomed her with a smile. He showed no disappointment in her, for there was none to show. Fate had dealt her an unfortunate hand, but a loss was not defeat unless she allowed it to be, and he knew she wouldn't be kept down. "And you as well, Lady Bellatrix," he greeted her in turn, "Thank you for joining us tonight."

Deimos and Kintsugi: It was impossible to miss the Mendaciums' arrival with their bright galactic furs of violet and blue. Artorias met Deimos with a welcoming smile. He still didn't know the new alpha very well, but there was always time, and the Hallows and Elysium had always been close. "You and your family are always welcome here, Deimos," he replied to the King's gratitude, then smiled to Kintsugi as Deimos introduced his daughter and bowed his head. "A pleasure to meet you as well, Lady Darika. Please, enjoy the bonfire!"

Haydée: The presence of Polaris wolves at the bonfire was not unexpected, but it was cause for Artorias to keep a watchful eye about. In the aftermath of the alphas' meeting, it was still unclear where Polaris stood in relation to the Hallows, given their new alpha had yet to come entreat with him, but he assumed they were still in the friendly category for now. Not allies, but not enemies either. Art had told Modesty the Hallows would remain cautiously neutral to the pack until such a time that diplomacy occurred, but so far it had not. Still, Artorias met Haydée with a rueful smile. She had lost much over her short life—she had a reason to make offerings to the fire. "Hello again, Haydée. Be welcome." But the look in his eyes told her the second part of his message unspoken. Be careful. With this many Raiders about and one of Polaris' wolves showing up armed, Artorias had concerns.

Atreyu: As the time to light the fire came closer and closer, a wolf clad in vibrant pink and red-speckled fur approached. The young woman bore no pack scent, nor was she someone the Lord of Cinder recognized. But on this evening, all who came in peace were welcomed. "You are not, my dear. Welcome to the Hallows. If you have any dead you wish to honor and remember tonight, feel free to place something in the bonfire for them." He dismissed her with a nod of his head to mingle. He'd have to find out who she was at some point tonight. The Lord always made it a point of knowing who all the wolves in his lands were.

As dusk swallowed up the sky and stars appeared in the moonlit heavens with bands of rippling auroras starting to form overhead, the time finally came for the bonfire to be lit. Standing and taking his place before the giant pile of wood, kindling, and reverential offerings, Artorias turned to address the crowd. The biggest turnout they'd ever had. "Thank you all for coming tonight! Our annual Bonfire Festival is a time for us all to come together to celebrate life, and the lives of those we have loved and who have passed on. This bonfire is a symbol of the light we all carry inside ourselves; special, unique to us. It keeps the darkness at bay and reminds us that we are never alone in the light. I look at you all here tonight, wolves from all over the world, from different packs and sects, of different origins and creeds, families together again for the first time, all here to celebrate life. This night is special thanks to each and every one of you."

With his speech done, Artorias picked up the lit torch staked into the ground and faced the fire. Gazing up at the pile of kindling, the Lord of Cinder tossed the torch into the pile, watching as the oil-soaked wood immediately began to catch, the flames spreading fast and hot. Light and heat immediately began to blaze, chasing away the dark of the night for several hundred yards around the bonfire as the sun finished disappearing below the horizon. Artorias smiled to himself and stepped back to admire the fire as it grew, the symbol of his family burning intense and strong. Turning back to address the party, backlit by the massive fire, Artorias swung his paws open wide with a grin from ear to ear. "Be welcome, friends and family! Eat, drink, revel! Live for tonight and share your light with the world!"

ooc: The Bonfire Festival is now in full swing! No post orders needed from here on out. Feel free to continue posting in this thread or make alternating branching threads in the Starlit Plains or Wildberry Grove as you all wish!

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