At the beginning

Artorias knew that his mother would likely try to dismiss his thanks for her being the greatest parent to him and his siblings—it was just her nature as Tamsyn to do so—but he refused to let the appreciation and love they all felt for her go unspoken. Tamsyn didn't rebuke him this time though, instead reaching a paw up to stroke his cheek and brush away some of his glowing tears in the way she had done since he'd been a little puppy and she'd done the same then. At her gentle insistence, Art lowered his head to her level so she could grace his cheek with a motherly kiss, bringing an affectionate smile to the dire wolf's muzzle. As family oriented as he was, Tamsyn held a high place of prestige and honor in his heart, and she always would.

Tam called him by her nickname for him, bringing a soft chuckle from the big bad Lord of Cinder, a fresh wave of tears coming when she called being his mother her greatest honor and joy. Artorias leaned his head forward to gently bump his forehead against hers in an affectionate nuzzle, his tail giving a slow wag behind him in the snow. "I love you too, Mom. So, so much. More than I could ever say." As much as he hoped to deny it, deep down in his soul Artorias knew Tamsyn was reaching the last of her years. Everybody died eventually—even his mother, as much as he wished it wasn't so. He dreaded the thought, refused to entertain it, but refusing it didn't change reality. He knew one day he wouldn't have her around anymore. So he was going to savor all the time he was able to keep her for.

Art felt Tamsyn's paws lift to wrap around his neck, pulling his gently down so she could tuck his large head underneath her own like she had done time and time again when she'd comforted him growing up. It was so comical to the giant dire wolf with their size difference, but she was his mother and he'd never turn down mom snuggles. Laughing softly amidst the tears along with her, Art nuzzled into Tam's chest and gently leaned his body back into hers, letting himself get swept up in his mother's embrace. She jokingly asked how she could shrink him back to blueberry size and Artorias gave a barking laugh, grinning cheekily from ear to ear. "So you can watch me ride tortoises around all day again?" he remarked in jest, tipping his snout up to nuzzle at his mother's jaw. "I'll always be your little blueberry, Mom. Even if I get ridiculously big. I'm just a big blueberry on the outside now."

"Talk" | "Carpathian"