**Set a few days after this thread**

Haydée’s head is positively spinning with all the recent events that have happened; Gil’s berating and maiming of her, a retaliatory raid against the raiders, Norad’s sudden fall, and the need to find enough food and housing for all the refugees within Ethne’s borders. It has been a few days since she had seen Artorias at the gathering of Norad exiles and, while she would like to put off any heavy talks right now, the young Leader knows that there are things that really need to be discussed.

Plus, Beauregard has explicitly told her that Ethne is not to seek retribution for the Syndicate takeover but, worried for them and her own pack’s safety, the young woman wants to seek the more experienced man’s advice on the subject. Also, she should let him about what happened with the follow up raid since it seems Ethne has made an enemy recently. It is nearing midday when Haydée crosses the beach that lays between them and the Hallows and she comes to a stop before her paws are even near the grass that will lead up to the castle.

Lifting her head, the young woman issues a call for the Lord of the castle, her voice laced with the need to talk, share news, and seek advice. With that done, she lowers her head, her recently stitched together right brow and cheek dully aching from the movement as she awaits the Lord of Cinder’s arrival.



"Haydée Kedieo"

The days were dark with worry following the fall of Norad and the rise of the Syndicate. Artorias had put all of his warriors on high alert, monitoring their borders tirelessly even long after the Syndicate had left Auster to return back north. Not knowing where they were headed as a full-fledged pack was very much a concern to the Lord of Cinder, but he couldn't rightly pursue the bastards without starting a war, and he had no intentions to inciting open conflict with the group—not yet, anyways. And following his altercation with his daughter after the fact, Artorias' mind was heavy with thoughts. Self doubt began to cloud the alpha wolf's mind. Had he done the right thing? Had he done enough? Should he have intervened directly with the Syndicate? So many what ifs, and of course there was no way of knowing what would have happened, but still... Ember's words plagued his conscience.

Thankfully, it was Haydée's familiar call at his southern border that shook him out of his brooding. Artorias glanced up from the hearth he had been staring long and hard into, his mind catching up to his ears. He left Hearthstone and headed down to greet his guest who was becoming quite a familiar face around the Hallows as of late. He found the little alpha waiting for him down where the beachhead met with the grasses of the plains, looking as tired as he felt, maybe more. Art regarded Haydée with a gentle smile as he approached her, gesturing for her to walk with him as he led her up the grass to a spot raised just above the beach where the view of the western sea was exquisite.

"I know that look," he remarked, looking to Hay's distressed expression again. "What's on your mind, Haydée?" Now up close to the young woman, Artorias realized just how badly beaten up she looked. "Parting gifts from the Raiders?"

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian"