Traveling this far north had taken them longer than he had hoped. While it had only taken them a day to cross up from Auster into Boreas to get to Ashen's borders from their own, it had taken them nearly two days to travel up to the Sparse Pines after departing from where they had stayed at Sunset Falls. The terrain was rougher and despite it being summer and far warmer than he had been in the last couple of seasons, they still ran into some snow and ice that made traveling more difficult. They traveled through the Stone Steppe, past the Rock Garden, along the edge of the Polar Sound, and still had to navigate through a portion of the Northern Mines to make it up to where the wall blocked off the beginning of the Sparse Pines.

He was grateful for Artorias' navigation skills since he was fairly certain that even though he had passed though here a few times before, he probably would have ended up lost trying to find this place. They were now on their fifth day of travel since leaving The Hallows and already he was ready to be back home with his children and was ready to see Eska again. In an awful way he almost hoped that the situation with Aranea would resolve itself before he returned, but that was cruel of him to think. He pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind as they came to a stop at the pack's border. It was mid morning when they arrived since they had stopped for the night in the Northern Mines so that they wouldn't be quite so ragged from travel when they got here. He had no idea what to expect from the northern pack, but he felt it was only right to pay them a visit since they were visiting all the other packs as well. He howled for their alpha before settling back onto his haunches beside Artorias to wait and see who would answer.

Ulric Adravendi

A cold wind whipped across the open tundra of northern Boreas as the two wolves made their way to the border of yet another pack. This was one Artorias had never heard of before. Incendium. Even something about the name put him on edge for reasons he couldn't explain. Wasn't this pack supposed to be Winterfell? That's what he'd learned as a pup when his parents taught him about the packs in the world, at least. Getting here from the Sunset Falls had been a hell of a trip. Navigating the rugged mountainous terrain around the Polar Sound had been treacherous, but thanks to his outdoorsy nature and wanderlust, Artorias had forged a path clear through the mountainside, guiding Ulric along the safest route to the other side.

They had camped out in the Northern Mines the night before, Artorias listening to the wind howling outside and awed by how vastly different all of Boreas' terrains and regions were. It was so easy to forget how big the world actually was, but now he finally had the chance to get to experience some of it! A quick cursory search of the mines before they left had revealed nothing other than the skeletal remains of a giant wolf in one of the caves, and then they were off to the only northern pack. Despite the quiet and solitude the north offered, it did little to calm Artorias' nerves. He felt the same nervous energy he felt when he'd fought with the extra dire wolf back in the extended winter, as if there were tension in the air while they approached the border.

Ulric howled for the alpha, and Artorias sat beside his Aegis, amber eyes alert and scanning the open horizons and sparse trees for any signs of life. He cast a wary glance over to Ulric, the look in his eyes betraying his concern for being here. Something didn't feel right... but without any reason or cause for alarm, Artorias waited patiently, steeling himself to meet whoever would show to answer their call.

"Artorias" | "Corbin"

One big happy family

Artorias has two ravens named Corbin and Eira and a fox named Argent. Assume they are within calling distance at all times.
As his mate, Briar may enter Artorias' threads unless marked Private.
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Time ticked by and the longer they sat at the border of the pack the more he felt like coming here had been a waste of time. He hadn't minded the no answer when they visited Habari and Abaven as much since the weather there had been pleasant and it was still early in their journey. This was very out of the way to not have anyone come to talk to them. His paws ached from sitting in the snow and he finally gave up with a sigh. "Come on, lets go. I know we'll at least have better luck with Valhalla." At the very least they had a better chance with his relatives since he had no doubt that Aurielle would answer his call. He turned and walked away from the tundra dotted with pine trees, wondering to himself why anyone would live this far north.

Ulric Adravendi

As the time went by, Artorias began to grow more and more impatient. No one had responded to their call, not vocally nor physically. It was as if this pack also didn't exist, despite the scent markers that lingered on the edge of the territory, though even those were beginning to grow faint. Was there even a pack still up here? Time dragged on, and he could see the frustration mounting in Ulric's expression. After some time, his alpha gruffly declared that they were moving on, proclaiming his belief for better luck in Valhalla. Artorias frowned and shot a narrowed gaze back out across the lands of a pack that seemed like it had ceased to exist. What was up with all these packs?! Were they that closed off to diplomacy and outsiders, or was everyone dying off after the long ice age? Either way, Artorias would remember how this pack had scorned their attempts.

- exit Artorias -

"Artorias Carpathius"

One big happy family

Artorias has two ravens named Corbin and Eira and a fox named Argent. Assume they are within calling distance at all times.
As his mate, Briar may enter Artorias' threads unless marked Private.
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