You shall not pass!

Winter came fast and hard to Auster, a sudden and shocking changing of the seasons that had not been felt so extremely in the southern continent in some time. The expected cool and occasional flurry of a typical Austral winter was instead replaced with biting cold and sheets of ice that Artorias had not seen nor felt since the ice age of his childhood. He sincerely hoped this time would not be anything like that brutal season that had claimed his mother's life; he refused to allow his family to endure a hardship like that again. Hearthstone remained alight with fires in every hearth, keeping the castle warm and bolstering out the frigid cold, as it always had and always would. A light in the dark of winter.

As part of his plan to continue to keep the Hallows safe from any dangers that stalked around the cold and the dark, Artorias had added more patrols around the castle walls to the regular routine of border patrol. That way should any threats try to sneak in under the cover of the snow and ice, they would be detected before they could reach the castle. He was walking one of these patrols now with Solaire at his side, taking his son on patrol to spend time with the now grown adult young brute while also teaching him the strategies of keeping their home safe. The howling wind whipped around the ramparts of the castle walls, whipping up the thick black and orange-trimmed cloak wrapped around the Lord of Cinder's neck to keep him warm out in the cold. As their circuit led them around the gates of Hearthstone, movement out in the dusky twilight caught Artorias' eye. He peered through the snow, squinting to see the group of figures heading for the castle. Strangers seeking shelter? No one had called for him though, and anyone surely would have smelled the scent boundaries around the land.

The closer they got, the more visible the figures became. It was a small collective of wolves he did not recognize, large in stature and bracing themselves against the cold and wind. "Stai aproape," he instructed Solaire and led the way down the slippery stone stairs from the high walls down to the courtyard below to meet their unannounced guests. His paws crunched through the fresh snow and ice along the cobblestone paths toward the gate, arriving just as the group of wolves were crossing the courtyard. Artorias stood before them on the terrace before the massive doors of Hearthstone, cloak rippling in the wind, blocking any further advance. "You have entered Hearthstone without permission nor announcement. State your business or begone."

His commands paused the wolves, who leered up at the Carpathians with vicious sneers. "This place emits warmth and smells of food. We're claiming it for ourselves. Submit or die," the wolf at the head of the group snarled in response. Artorias' fiery eyes narrowed and he bared his fangs in return as the group dropped into fighting stances, ready to take on the residents of the castle.

"So be it."

Artorias unsnapped the brooch holding his cloak closed, letting it fall from his body in the wind and granting him easier access to Embershard slung across his back. With a quick glance back to Solaire to make sure his son was ready for the inevitable violence about to occur, Artorias drew his sword and held his ground, daring the invaders to push up to them. The lead wolf snarled and took the bait, rushing up the terrace steps to engage the Lord of Cinder with bared fangs and vicious intent. Artorias met the invader's charge with stalwart strength, catching the other wolf's jaws with his blade so his foe's fangs gripped nothing but sharp steel. Artorias growled as he struggled back against the other wolf's assault, pushing forward to topple the large wolf backwards and down the terrace steps. The wolf yelped as he fell back down to the ice and snow, startled and stunned but alive. The wolf snarled and snapped his jaws, signaling the others to attack, and then the whole group rushed the two Carpathians.

WC: 695
Total: 695 / 1500

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian"