**Backdated to follow immediately after this thread**

With Gilgamesh possible laying at death’s doorstep, the small Leader does not hesitate to race across the golden sands toward where the spiraling turrets of the neighboring castle awaits. Fear pushes her to her limits, short legs churning with a speed that she had never before reached in her short life. Eltrys and Saga travel with her, the rumbling quake of the polar bear’s paws striking the beach do not slow her as Haydée pushes on ahead, needing to reach the friendly pack’s borders and get help as soon as possible.

The world melts away as her vison tunnels and the only sound that reach her ears now is her own ragged breathes, any calls for her slow or stop never reach her ears not when she in the face of sheer, overwhelming panic. Part of Hay knows that the Raiders Hollow will blame them for what has happened and, while it was an accident that he brained himself on a rock, the bitch slap that her sister had delivered to Gilgamesh had been fully deserved. Still, while she may not like the man, she certainly does not wish him dead.

Green grass appears before her and she pushes herself one more time, urging every last ounce of speed that she can summon into her legs. As the border approaches, Haydée skids to a stop at a respectable, kicking up the golden granules to spray every-which-way as she swiftly sucks in a breath and howls an urgent summons for Artorias. Fine tremors wrack her legs from the exertion and her wide emerald eyes sweep around in search of her two pack mates. Quickly, she tries to calm herself and order her thoughts so that she can explain everything calmly and clearly when the Lord of the castle appears.


"Haydée Kedieo"

"Speech"

The man sprints alongside the Ethne Leader. This was the way that one youth went, he could see the tracks in the sand. His paws thud against the earth but not as powerfully as Saga's. His barrel chest takes in the air smoothly and his face is set into a serious grimace. He believes the other man got what he deserved, he had launched himself at Haydee after he was already trespassing and invited to be escorted back to the border. The law was clear in this instance but they do not wish him dead.

He breathed hard as Haydee slid over the sand and he slowed to a stop himself. He joins her voice to call with her, a deep bellow enters the sky in search of the one called Artorias.

He steadies his breath as they end the call and he meets her gaze. She is wracked with anxiety.
"The law is clear Hay. He trespassed, was offered an escort out, and then went to attack you." He offered as they waited, hopefully, the Hallows would agree.

Artorias barely had time to comprehend what was happening within his own castle with Modesty and her children racing out as quickly as they had arrived. Poor Syanna had barely managed to do a triage of Siduri's injuries before one of her younger litter came rushing into the castle screaming about how their father had been killed, and then they were gone, despite his protestations. Still reeling from what had just occurred, the call from Ethne wolves at their border was just another layer of confusion on top of an already bewildering miasma. What the hell was going on?! Leaving Bramble and Syanna back in the castle, Artorias marched out of Hearthstone and down the slopes of the hills towards their beach border. He was going to get to the bottom of what was happening between these two packs.

As he arrived, right there waiting for him was Haydée and a collective of her wolves—or, a wolf and a fucking polar bear what the fuck?!—looking as anxious and impatient as the Raiders had been to hightail it out of the Hallows. Somehow, whatever had transpired, he had a feeling they'd be at the center of it. Being careful to reserve judgment yet clearly showing frustration on his face at being caught in the middle of a feud, Artorias approached the group, fiery eyes scanning over each one in turn before coming to rest on Haydée herself. "My physician was in the middle of treating Modesty's grievously injured daughter when they all fled in a panic, and now I have Ethne calling at my door," Artorias mused aloud, raising a brow at the fellow alpha, seeking an explanation from her. "Please tell me it has nothing to do with you."

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian"

Chest heaves as Haydée waits for Artorias to appear, fear etched into every line of her young face as she lifts her voice Eltrys weaves his own into her’s. Together, they sing a call for Artorias, urgent and imploring him for help. As the call fades off, the earthen man’s words pull her green gaze over to him and, for a moment, the vulnerable, lost child that she feels is on full display. Just as quickly as it appears, the russet woman wipes it away, offering him a weak but grateful smile as she dips her head in silent thanks.

It doesn’t take too long for the huge alpha to appear and, while she had waited, she has done her best to school her features into a somewhat calmer mask. How successful she is, the young Leader is not sure. The frustration that the Lord wears is clear and his words slam into her with all the force of a mentor disappointed in his student. Haydée visibly wilts underneath his smoldering gaze and Saga is quick to excuse herself, rushing off without a word as to where she was going.

Taking a deep breath, trying to keep herself calm, cool, and collect, Haydée begins to explain, “Not too long ago, Gilgamesh trespassed onto Ethne land. My mother and I confronted him and tried to talk things over but he made demands and showed no respect for us or our pack. When I told him to leave and asked some of my members to escort him to the border, Gilgamesh lunged at me when I turned my back. My sister, Saga,” a paw waves absently at the retreating form the polar bear, “intercepted him and knocked him away from me.”

Lip trembles and she sucks in a breath before continuing, “Unfortunately, his head hit a rock when he landed. I… I don’t know how bad it is but my healers are tending to him right now and we need the help of your healers. Please, for Gilgamesh’s sake, please help him.” A slight tremor has entered her body as she pleads for help, stating the facts and hoping that Artorias won’t condemn her for what was truly an accident. Wide, fearful, emerald eyes stare up at him, begging for help, not for her but for the injured and possibly dying man.



OOC: Permission to pp Saga given by Dragon


"Haydée Kedieo"

"Speech"

The look she offered him with her warm summer eyes nearly shredded the ache in his chest and set it aflame. He tore his gaze away to follow the large form of the Lord of Cinder as he approached them. Carefully Eltrys moved to stand beside the small woman like a solid oak tree as she spoke. Ready to take her weight if she chose to lean on him.

Without taking his cool eyes off Artorias he nodded along with the retelling of events.
Eltrys respectfully bows his head to the leader of The Hallows before speaking after Haydee's plea.

"It is as she says." He started with a warm stoic tone. "It seems he had come to seek trouble and he found it. We wish him no ill save to leave us in peace. We do not want him to be made a martyr for his people when our relations with them are already strained. Could we rely on your aid in this matter?"

As soon as he spoke in those low, grumbling baritones, the giant polar bear excused herself with Haydée and then left in a hurry. Artorias was surprised to see the big ass bear turn tail and leave so quickly, but perhaps he had overestimated the bear's intimidation factor. Burning amber eyes returned to Haydée once more as she wilted under his terse words, but the Lord of Cinder says nothing, still waiting for the Ethne Leader to answer his question. When she does, she tells him a disturbing tale of Gilgamesh trespassing into Ethne lands, the confrontation that followed, and the subsequent violence that proceeded it. Through it all, Artorias paid close attention to how Haydée portrayed everything—including how she made sure to emphasize that Gil had been the aggressor throughout. Perhaps that was true, or perhaps it was an over exaggeration of the facts. Artorias had not known Gilgamesh to be blatantly violent, but he also knew of the bad blood between the Raiders and Ethne.

Haydée ended her tale with a plea for help from the Hallows' healers to ensure Gilgamesh didn't die. The Lord's mouth set into a thin, hard line while he considered his options. The wolf at Hay's side backed her up—as expected—and his words turned the Hallows alpha's fire-toned eyes over to him. Something in the way he spoke rubbed Artorias the wrong way. "A wolf's life is on the line at your pack's paws and you're worried about how him dying will look on you rather than whether he lives or dies?" His words are hard, sharp to convey the severity of the situation that he seemed so indifferent to. "Instead of worrying whether he'll be made a martyr, worry over making sure he lives. Because if he dies, martyrdom will be the least of your concerns." If Gilgamesh died, Artorias had no doubts that all of Raiders Hollow would burn Ethne to the ground.

Breathing a sigh, Artorias once more turned his sharp gaze back to Haydée. He was no healer like his sister was, but he knew enough about head injuries from his own he had sustained as a yearling to know they were always serious. "Haydée, you know I like you and your mother. You know I'm invested in your leadership. But now you're asking me to put my own wolves in the middle of this feud between you and the Raiders by asking us to help fix the consequences of your pack's actions." Artorias let Haydée digest his words. If Gilgamesh died while in the care of his healers, would they be held culpable for his death? "Is he conscious? Is he responsive or able to be moved?" When Haydée confirmed both points negative, Art heaved another sigh and shook his head. "I will send one of my healers down to help stabilize him and make sure he isn't dying. But I want your solemn vow that if he perishes, the Hallows will not be held liable. These are Ethne's consequences to handle. But I will do what I can to help an injured wolf." This was the only compromise Artorias was willing to make. He would not put his wolves in jeopardy for someone else. If Gil could be stabilized enough to relocate him to the Hallows, then things would be different, and he would give them the same opportunities he gave the Raiders.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian"

Haydée looks at Artorias, begging him to come and offer aid to the injured man and his words hit the troubled Leader like a physical slap across her face. Shoulders draw inward as her head lowers slightly, ears slicking back a moment as she listens to the scolding that is given and the woman visibly wilts. As he finishes, the small woman takes a deep breath and steadies herself, drawing in peace before saying, “I am not trying to drag the Hallows into any feud that is between us and the Raiders Hollows. I came here simply to ask for help for the injured Gilgamesh.”

Taking another deep breath, she lifts her head, no longer ashamed or even scared but calm and balanced with task at paw. Bowing her head reverently, Haydée respectfully implores the tall Alpha, “The Hallows is known as a neutral pack who is always willing to help those in need of aid. I come to you as a friend, seeking that aid for someone unable to ask for it themselves because Gilgamesh is in Ethne’s lands bleeding and injured from an accident that occurred at our paws. You and your pack will not be held responsible for anything that happened or will happen. Please, Artorias, for Gilgamesh’s sake, please aid him now.”

Raising her head, Hay meets the amber eyes that burn into her like hot coals and she softly adds, “I only want to give Gilgamesh a fighting chance to live and it is known that the Hallows has the most experienced healers. Right now, he lays unconscious where he fell, our healers are doing their best to tend to him without moving him in case it would aggravate his injures.” Emerald green eyes gaze warmly up at Art, beseeching him to understand and grant Gil the healers he so desperately needs.


"Haydée Kedieo"

Eltrys stands without flinching or turning his gaze as the Hallows Leader echoes his statements back at him in a sharp tone. Perhaps the earthen male had oversimplified his sentiments but it seemed the charcoal and blue leader was on the same page. Though the tone was abrasive, Eltrys merely blinked in response as the leader turned his attention back to Haydee.

Eltrys agreed that the Hallows should not be held liable should things escalate. The lord seemed adamant about maintaining neutrality and appeared to hold the life of a wolf above all, regardless of what the wolf did wrong.

The male made a note that laws seemed to be easily forgiven around this one, and would not expect aid in the future should any of Ethne laws be broken on Ethne lands. Fair enough. He wondered why Haydee believed Artorias would have even given them aid in this matter in the first place. Gilgamesh broke their law and waltzed on Ethne's lands like he owned the place and attacked Haydee when her back was turned. If Saga had not been there the entire pack would have turned on Gilgamesh right then and there.

He turns to Haydee as she responds, she steadies under the Lord's cautious and penetrating gaze. Eltrys imperceptibly shifts his pose to let his fur gently press into her side, hopefully reminding her that she can lean on him if she needs to, and his closest paw moves shifts over the ground to press gently just on the outer side of her black paw. Proud of how she was holding her ground and steadying her voice.

Artorias acquiesced to their request, and Haydee gave her promise.

His icy blue gaze turns back to Artorias, "Thank you, Lord Artorias. We will remember your aid in this trying time." He replied simply. There was no reason for him to offer his voice further, but the Lord of Cinder would not find Eltrys so easily cowed by sharp tones and abrasive agreements.

"Speech!"

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