Following his clandestine meeting with Sirius at the border and the Warlord's invitation for the young heir to go to a training program he was hosting, Artorias had run back to the castle with direct intention to find Ulric and fill him in on everything he had been offered. The Carpathius lad was still a little sad Sirius had decided not to come in and see everyone, but he clearly had a lot on his plate, so he understood. Walking back into the castle courtyard, Artorias spotted the large brown form of his alpha walking alongside his mother's, deep in conversation. His eyes lit up at his good fortune. Maybe if he could get Ulric's permission quickly, he could stop Sirius before he got too far and let him know he was 100% in.

"Ulric! Mom!" Artorias called out and scampered across the courtyard to them, greeting both wolves with an excited smile. "I just got a call from Sirius. He was at our borders looking for me. He wants me to be part of a new training program he's starting up in the Armada to help teach up and coming wolves how to become leaders." He gave both wolves a moment to process what he had said, then finished with, "I know it's a big commitment, and it would take me away from home for a little while, but I think this could be a great opportunity to learn the things Sirius knows from being alpha so I can be a better Baron and help the Hallows more!"

"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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Considering how many wolves Indigo had been gathering, he had a feeling that the violet man would be taking his leave sooner rather than later which was the only reason why he was hesitant when Tamsyn came to him requesting that she step down from the Templar rank. He was in the middle of discussing the change with her and the reasons she had behind it when he heard his Baron's voice calling for the two of them from across the courtyard. He paused mid sentence and lifted his head, spotting a clearly excited Artorias running toward them. He smiled a bit at the young man's energy, wishing he had a bit of it himself. He didn't feel like an old man quite yet, but he certainly didn't feel as spry as he once had. Although, he had lived with worries weighing on his shoulders for most of his life so he wasn't sure he had ever known what it was like to be carefree and excitable.

He lifted a curious brow to Artorias when he immediately began to speak, telling them of how Sirius had called for him and invited him to be in a training program the Warlord was putting together. Ulric blinked with surprise, honestly just shocked that Sirius had time to dedicate to such a thing. He could barely find the time to keep up with all of their patrols and maintaining the pack's food stores while still finding time to spend with his children and Eska. Sirius certainly was a talented wolf it seemed, or perhaps he was just having better luck at finding wolves to fill his higher ranks. Either way he was intrigued by the idea even though he didn't like the thought of one of his most trusted wolves being away from him for even a little while.

"Well, that does certainly seem like quite the opportunity," Ulric agreed with a chuckle. "I'll be honest, Artorias, you'll be sorely missed considering Indigo might be departing from us soon and our other Knights haven't gotten gotten their skills sharp enough to reach that Templar level, but... I can't deny that Sirius would be an amazing wolf to learn from. He's been an alpha far longer than I so I have no doubt that he'll know more about it than me. If you really want to go I won't stop you." He didn't feel offended in any way that Artorias might want to learn from someone other than himself, especially when it was someone he respected like Sirius. He gave Tam a glance, curious to see what her response would be, though he knew how close she was with the Warlord.

Ulric Adravendi

Tamsyn looked up at her son as he approached her and Ulric in the middle of their conversation, more than happy to pause the world for her boy. Seeing him pulled a smile to her lips and her mint gaze lingered on him curiously. However, as he spoke of Sirius wanting to take him away for a training camp for young and promising leaders her smile faded a bit and worry flickered across her features. She was careful to bite her tongue and keep herself form saying anything until Ulric had spoken his piece. Unfortunately, she knew that Artorias was an adult now and Ulric would ultimately have the final say in the matter, but her stomach flipped nervously when Ulric agreed that he could go. When Ulric was done and glanced at her she told him, "Ulric, would you give Artorias and I a moment, please?" The Aegis slipped away and he gave Ulric a thankful glance before she fixed her mint gaze onto Artorias once more.

She sighed and settled back onto her haunches, letting her worry shine through now that Ulric was gone. She hadn't wanted to tell anyone outside of Sirius' family about what had happened with him during the festival and had only really told Kane because she needed someone to vent to after it all, but she truly didn't want to feel like she was spreading rumors. She knew it wasn't a rumor since it was a fact of something that had happened to her while she was with the Warlord, but she couldn't shake that feeling all the same. "Artorias, I... I don't want you to go," she told her son truthfully. She knew that it would be hard for him to hear. She knew how much he looked up to Sirius and understandably so - she had only ever sung his praises for his whole life, she'd given Artorias his name, she'd named Sirius as the godfather of her children. And now to suddenly change her tune would certainly feel like a whiplash moment for her son.

"He wasn't himself when I spoke to him after the feast at the festival. He's still delusional and violent about Zee and I... I don't trust his intentions with this." She frowned, her gaze pleading with Artorias to reconsider. There was something in her gut telling her that this wasn't right, that there was some darker ulterior motive in this and she didn't trust it. "I'm sorry, Artorias, I just really don't think it's safe. I'm afraid he's just doing this to hurt me or try to steal you away..." She would rather Sirius attack her directly, hurt her, even go after Kane instead of this. She needed her son and her children more than anything and even beyond her own needs The Hallows need him too.

Tamsyn Carpathius

Artorias was grinning from ear to ear when Ulric admitted that his absence would be felt and he would be missed, but the opportunity sounded too good to pass up. He nodded his head to his alpha. "I understand it's not the most ideal position for the pack, especially with so many Knights that still need training. I'll be sure to make sure things are in place before I leave so their progress doesn't halt because of me," he assured Ulric. Perhaps he could ask his mother to act on his behalf in his absence as a Templar and make sure the others were keeping up with their training regiments. "Thank you, Ulric! I won't squander this opportunity!"

His mother, however, seemed markedly less enthusiastic about the offer Sirius had extended to him. She looked nervous and panicked over something, and it squashed some of the boy's excitement right out of the gate. He cast a confused look to Tamsyn when she asked Ulric to give them a moment of privacy. He knew that look on her face. It was the same worried, concerned look she wore whenever she senses something was wrong. He didn't have to ask what was causing it though, for as soon as Ulric had stepped away, Tamsyn said she didn't want him to go. Artorias' mouth dropped open, fur bristling for a beat while he bit back the urge to immediately demand to know why. His mother had to have reasons, surely. She wouldn't just want to hold him back—that wasn't the kind of wolf she was.

As he predicted, Tamsyn took the moment of silence to further her explanation, telling him how she had spoken to Sirius at Ashen's festival and how he was even more delusional and violent than he had been when he'd been in Auster in the previous season. She finished by saying she didn't trust his intentions and that she didn't believe he was safe to be around. Artorias' heart wrenched and plummeted into his turning stomach. He had been so excited for this opportunity to learn from Sirius and be a better leader... How else was he ever going to live up to Resin's legacy and be someone worthy of shepherding her pack? The disappointment was palpable in the boy's eyes, some of the light going out in them and turning darker at the revelation of Sirius' condition. It didn't make sense. That didn't seem like the wolf he had just embraced and spoken with at the border.

"I... I don't understand, Mom. Why didn't you say anything before? Why would you keep something like that a secret?" he asked, fixing her with prying eyes, though they were still soft and concerned and not hard or accusatory. "I just spoke with him and he didn't seem delusional or unhinged. Why would you think Sirius is trying to hurt you or steal me? He's always been a friend of ours... hasn't he...?" There was one more question on his mind that was far more pressing than anything else though. She claimed Sirius was turning more violent in his delusions and slipping sanity. His blood ran cold to think of that kind of danger lingering around Briar—his Briar. "Do you really believe he's dangerous and violent...?" Tamsyn knew Sirius better than anybody else. If she really felt he was a danger to himself and others, that would just raise more worries for Briar's safety.

"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.
____________________

She could see how much her statement crushed him, she could see him deflate as she ruined his excitement, and guilt twisted at her stomach. She never wanted to ruin her son’s hopes or discourage him, but she never would have lived with herself if she hadn’t said anything. If Artorias had just run off to the Armada and ended up hurt or became a pawn in some madness that Sirius had dreamt up she would have lived with that guilt forever. It was worth ruining his excitement this time in order to try and keep him safe.

He was understandably confused and his questions were ones she had expected. That didn’t make them easier to answer, but she knew he wouldn’t understand. She didn’t really understand herself. ”He was a friend of ours,” she told him quietly, her ears folding back against her head as she gently corrected his statement. ”I… I’d like for him to still be our friend, but…” She frowned, her gaze shifting toward the ground. Why hadn’t she told him or Ulric or any of them about what Sirius had said, what he had done? ”I didn’t want to just… spread around what was going on with him. It didn’t feel like the right thing to do. I told his son so at least his family knows.”

He hesitated with a heavy sigh, feeling as if she was not making any sense or at least feeling as if she was all over the place in her explanation. It was hard to keep her thoughts straight about the whole situation as it was, much less trying to explain it in some kind of sensitive way to her son. He asked about Sirius being dangerous and violent and she frowned, finally bringing her gaze back up to his. I… I don’t think it’s the same kind of madness that took Resin,” she admitted after a moment, still speaking quietly so it stayed between them. ”But just… the way he spoke to me, the way he seemed so sure that Zee was there… It was so unlike him and I just don’t trust his mental state right now. I don’t know how violent or not he’ll be or how stable he’ll be moving forward - whether it was a one time thing or… I just don’t know. It’s the uncertainty that makes me too nervous to say you should go.”

Tamsyn Carpathius

It was his mother's reluctance to fully detail the degree of how bad Sirius' mental state was that put Artorias off the most. He knew for something to rattle his well grounded mother like this, it would have to be something extremely serious or dangerous. Tamsyn wasn't a shrinking violet when it came to facing adversity. Whatever Sirius had said or done at the festival, it had been severe enough for her to want to sever their lifelong friendship and bond. That did not bode well. Artorias' ears flicked back and the concerned expression on his countenance deepened his frown. He still didn't feel like he was getting all the details, but even what little he was getting had him worried and confused.

He sat quiet for a moment, pondering over everything his mother had told him. The way she described the Warlord, that was nothing like the wolf he had just been speaking with. It was nothing like the Sirius he had seen come to the Hallows time and time again. His mind was trying to wrap that into reality and it just couldn't. He was glad to hear that it didn't seem like the same kind of madness that killed Resin, but tp what degree was Sirius slipping then? So many variables, so many unknowns... But what concerned him the most was Tamsyn's admission that she didn't know how violent he might become in the future if he kept deteriorating. That all but sealed the deal for him. If Briar was living in a state of danger and didn't even know it, he would have to go, if for no other reason than to protect her.

"If he's as dangerous as you're making him sound, then... then I have to go, Mom," he said after a moment, bringing his eyes up to meet hers as he spoke. "If he's dangerous, then everyone in the Armada is in danger—including Briar. He's already almost killed her once, and that was before all of this. I have to go protect her, or at the very least find a way to bring her back here where I know she'll be okay." He didn't expect Tamsyn to be happy with what he was saying, but if Briar was in mortal danger, then he didn't need her to. He just hoped she could understand his rationale and why he had to go to the Armada. Unless she came up with a better alternative, he couldn't risk losing Briar—not again.

"You still haven't told me why Sirius would want to hurt you, or why he'd want to steal me away..." he pointed out, fixing his mother with an adamant stare. She had brought up that concern, and he wasn't going to let it go until she explained everything in full. He was owed at least that much, to know where his mother's worries were coming from.

"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.
____________________

Tamsyn knew Artorias probably wouldn't want to agree with her request that he not go away to the Armada for this training that Sirius had set up, but what she hadn't really expected was him insisting that he had to go in order to protect Briar. She blinked with surprise and wanted to tell him no, but the longer she listened to him her expression began to soften with understanding, a small smile pulling at her lips as she looked at her sweet, protective boy. She didn't know if he realized that this was love he was feeling for Briar yet or not, but she couldn't blame him for wanting to protect the girl he loved. She could see it plain as day on his face as he spoke with a determination to be there with Briar and protect her from her own father. As hard as it was for her to let him go she knew he would do it with or without her permission. He was old enough now to make his own choices and if this was what he felt like he needed to do then she couldn't deny him. She nodded quietly after a moment, admiring her son's dedication.

Tamsyn's smile faltered some when he insisted on her telling him why Sirius would have an issue with her specifically and she glanced away form him, her ears flicking back. This whole situation just made her more angry and frustrated with Sirius even from afar. It felt like he was a possessive bastard that caused rifts everywhere he went. She hesitated for a long moment, her jaw tensing, before she finally just sighed and admitted the truth to Artorias - or at least the truth as she knew it. "Because even though he couldn't pick me over Zee he still doesn't want anyone else to have me either," she muttered, her brow pulling together with aggravation. Not at Artorias, but at this whole mess that Sirius had caused. "I think he smelled Kane's scent on me and somehow that triggered him to think that I was Zee and then he started accusing me or... well, Zee I guess... of cheating on him. When he came to and realized I wasn't Zee he just lashed out at me instead over it and... and said some very cruel things about me."

She knew that Artorias knew of Kane at least vaguely just from him being around the pack for a while and she knew they hadn't exactly been secretive about how much they had been hanging around one another, but she also hadn't said anything official about him. She hadn't really felt the need to yet, but she didn't know if she was going to get that choice now and that just made her even more mad at Sirius for putting this on her. "Like I said, I don't know Sirius' real motivation behind any of this, but... if that was how he reacted at just the thought that I might be with someone else then..." she sighed, hesitantly bringing her gaze up to his again. "I just... I can't do it any more. I can't go through watching someone get eaten away by madness again. I can't tear myself apart trying to help him anymore. I don't have anything left to give him. I... I just want to be happy. Kane makes me happy." Her voice grew softer and wavered as she spoke of her happiness and how Kane made her feel, blinking away tears that started to form in her mint gaze as she looked up at her son, pleading with him to understand.

Tamsyn Carpathius

Artorias didn't understand the look his mother was giving him when he mentioned needing to go to ensure Briar's safety and the safety of the Armada, but whatever it was, it got her to relent and give him a reluctant nod. He had her permission to go to the Armada, at least for a little while. Artorias felt a worry lift off of him, but in its place came a new nervousness. He was about to walk right into the lands of a wolf described as violently dangerous. While he had no doubt in his prowess to fight and protect himself, this was the Warlord they were talking about, the most feared and ferocious warrior in Boreas. If push came to shove, would Artorias truly be able to best the dire wolf? Would Sirius actually try to kill him? He had never considered that a possible reality, but maybe now he should. Artorias swallowed back his nerves. He'd have to make sure Embershard was sharpened at all times, just in case.

Tamsyn still seemed hesitant to answer his pressing question when he dug further into Sirius' motives to hurt her. Her smile faded and instead she just looked angry and hurt. Artorias didn't understand why until she began to fill in the blanks for him. Sirius had smelled Kane on her and gotten jealous. He had known the Warlord had kissed his mother in the heat of a panicked moment, but it suddenly seemed that Seer's possessive streak ran far deeper into his DNA than he thought. If Sirius couldn't have Tamsyn, then he didn't want anybody to. Artorias' expression shifted to a more severe and stern look, his jaw squared to prevent him from saying anything. He had seen this Kane guy around the pack, their newest addition, a hunter and healer of some sort. He knew he had saved Gwyn's life, and he knew that he had been spending a lot of time with his mother, but Artorias had been reluctant to see things as they were. Yes, he knew about the conversation he had had with Tamsyn shortly before Resin's passing about her eventually moving on, it just felt like eventually had come too soon. Even still, that didn't excuse Sirius' behavior towards his mother.

Artorias met his mother's cool gaze with his ever-burning eyes, remaining quiet and only nodding occasionally while she spoke. He reserved his thoughts and comments for when she was done. Ultimately, what it came down to was Sirius losing control over himself, and Tamsyn trying to be happy again. Whether he approved of it or not didn't matter. He had bigger things to worry about than who his mom might be dating. After all, she hadn't come out and said anything officially to him or his siblings yet about Kane, and he wouldn't force her hand, not when she was already hurting from Seer's envy. The look Tamsyn gave him while tears of pain and frustration formed in her eyes begged him to understand and accept her desires. It was hard. A part of his heart still felt like his mother was moving past Resin too soon—but then what would be more acceptable to him? More time of loneliness and grieving? That wasn't fair to her. He thought about Briar, how she made him feel, and wondered if that was how Kane was making his mom feel. That was what she deserved, no matter what he thought or felt.

"You deserve to be happy, Mama," Artorias reaffirmed while leaning forward to tenderly nuzzle the side of Tamsyn's cheek and nudge the tears from her eyes. A soft sigh left the young wolf. "If Kane makes you happy, then... then you deserve to be happy. Fuck what Sirius thinks. He doesn't own you. And Mom... Mom would've wanted you to be happy to." He had to pause with that last statement to choke back the emotions that came up when he thought of Resin. He pulled back just enough to find his mother's eyes again and give her a reassuring smile. "Kane better treat you like a queen, that's all I have to say." A wry grin and a chuckle escaped the young brute. He might not have said outright that he approved of Kane, but Tamsyn hadn't officially said they were together yet either, so it felt appropriately measured. Tamsyn would tell them on her own time, and until then, he would reserve his judgment.

But that still led the big looming question of Sirius Fatalis. Artorias' expression turned dour once more, but the flames in his eyes never died down. He couldn't save his mother from her madness, but maybe he could still save Sirius from his. "I know you don't want this, and I promise I will be extremely careful. I have to try to save him though, Mom." More importantly, he had to keep Briar safe too. He kept thinking about what happened that night... Briar kicking and struggling to get away from Sirius while he tore into her throat. She had gotten extremely lucky that time—there might not be any luck a second time. If he lost Briar... No. That world was too dark to imagine. Briar would not come to harm, this he swore to every god and deity that ever existed. "It'll only be for a few weeks. I'll bring Corbin too, and if anything happens, I'll send for you immediately. I promise."

"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.
____________________

She could tell that Artorias didn't really approve of the idea of her being with Kane, but she truly wondered if he'd ever he content with her being with anyone else. It was really all she could ask of him when he agreed that she deserved to be happy. That's all she really wanted for now and hopefully one day Artorias would come around to liking Kane as well. A sad smile pulled at her lips as he nuzzled her cheek and brushed the tears from her eyes, her ears flicking back as he mentioned how Resin would have wanted her to be happy as well. She knew that was true, not matter how much guilt she wrestled with over it. Kane did truly make her happy and she felt like she had found herself again with him, she just hadn't expected to find that love and happiness again so soon. Her eyes met his again and she smiled a more genuine smile at his bit of a threat, chuckling softly. "I promise he does," she assured him in return. At this point in her lift she wasn't willing to just be with someone for the sake of being with someone. She only wanted this for herself because of how Kane made her feel and how much he looked out for her.

As Artorias brought the conversation back to him leaving for the Armada's training and back to Sirius and his madness, her smile faded, but with a serious expression on her face she forced herself to give him a small nod. She certainly appreciated the promise to have Corbin come to her if anything happened and was silently thankful for the Raven that had taken Artorias under his wing when he was a pup - literally. "I know you'll be careful, I just worry," she told him with a sigh. "But... I understand wanting to protect Briar. I understand you wanting to help Sirius." Even if Sirius had wronged her and finally pushed her to her breaking point, the Warlord was still a mentor for Artorias and she couldn't fault him for wanting to help him. She still wasn't happy about him going, but she'd have to let him do it. He was so incredibly headstrong and noble - things she loved about him, but drove her crazy as well.

"I guess things are going well with Briar, huh?" she questioned after a moment, a small smile pulling at the corners of her lips. She had called it from the very beginning, teasing him about the crush the two had, but it warmed her heart to know the two of them were still as close as ever. If one good thing could come from all of this it was that the two love birds were getting pulled closer together.

Tamsyn Carpathius

Tamsyn assured him that this new Kane wolf made her happy, and the heartfelt smile she wore told him all he needed to know. Yes, this new man made his mother happy. He hadn't seen Tamsyn smile like this in a very long time—not since Resin had started to get sick. While he didn't know how he felt about it, he guessed it didn't really matter much. He had promised his mother that when she found someone to make her happy, he would do his best to understand and accept it, and so he would. Thinking about how happy being with Briar made him... that was all he wanted for her too. He could try to get to know Kane better once he got back from his time at the Armada. But gods help the dead wolf walking if he ever did anything to upset or hurt his mother.

She still didn't seem happy with his decision to go to the Armada for a little while, but he didn't expect her to ever be okay with it, not after what she'd just told him about her crumbling relationship with Sirius. All he could do was promise to be careful and to come back to her. But his mind had been made up once she mentioned how volatile he'd become. He had to go to keep an eye on him and to look after Briar, even if she had ended their relationship. The Fatalis family did not seem to be in a good place right now. Sure, he could cut his losses and run, but they were like family. Family didn't abandon family. He gave a forced smile and a slow nod when Tamsyn acknowledged understanding where his head was at. "Thank you, Mom. I'll come home soon, I promise," he repeated, leaning forward to nuzzle her cheek with his own again. It was just in his nature to help the wolves he cared about, no matter the cost.

Artorias' ears flicked up when his mother mentioned things going well with Briar and he felt his heart break a little more. A shy smile and hot flush came over his face, chuckling under his breath while ears folded back to his head. "Well, uh... yeah, I mean, I thought they were," he stammered out between nervous laughs. He knew what she was hinting with her sagacious smile. Tamsyn had called his relationship with Briar from the start, even before there had ever been a relationship. "We've, uh... we've been hanging out a lot, and like, talking... and maybe kissing and stuff..." His bashful smile grew, flashing his teeth while he rubbed the back of his neck with an embarrassed paw. His smile soon drooped from his face though and the mirth died in his normally blazing eyes, leaving them dull and empty.

"But after the Ashen festival, something happened... I don't know what caused it, but she... she left me... She was really quiet around me and when I tried to talk to her after everything, she broke up with me and just left to go back home." Artorias' heartbroken expression deepened on his face a while he recalled how Briar's attitude around him had shifted during and after the festival. He remembered her words that had cut him to the core and how nothing he had said seemed to do any good. "I don't think I did anything to upset her, but she just looked so mad and sad at the same time. She said I deserved better and wouldn't talk to me. And now all this with Seer, I'm just... lost, I guess? Like I dunno what to do now?" He looked back up to his mother with apprehension in his eyes. He didn't mean to pull her into his personal drama, but he didn't really know what else to say or who else to turn to for guidance when it came to matters of romance.

"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.
____________________

Tamsyn watched Artorias' reactions to her question curiously, a little grin playing on her features. She knew from the first time she saw the two together around the castle that they would eventually become something more and she had been thrilled to watch the little budding romance from a distance - with some teasing toward her son thrown in for good measure of course. She had expected the shy, bashful smile, but when he spoke she caught the "thought they were" part of his sentence and she raised a questioning brow. She didn't question right away though, instead letting him talk as he mentioned how they had been talking a lot - and snuck in a bit about kissing and "other stuff". Surprise colored her face and she chuckled, giving a little shake of her head. Well... Like mother like son, she supposed. She made a mental note to circle back to that bit since shortly after the joy in his expression seemed to fade, causing her grin to fade as well as concern pulled at her expression.

She frowned a little as she listened to how Briar had acted after the festival, breaking things off between them, how upset she had been, telling him she deserved better. Since she had stuck close to the tournament all the way through to the final rounds she had ended up watching almost all of the fights. She did remember how Briar lost her first fight and how disappointed she had looked after that, but she hadn't thought too much of it since she had stuck around anyway and sat with them and Artorias through the rest of the festival... But maybe it had affected her more than Tamsyn thought? Seeing the heartbreak written across her son's face told her that no reasoning was going to make things better and her heart hurt for him, giving him a sympathetic look when he looked up to her after saying he didn't know what to do.

She reached forward and slipped a foreleg around the back of his neck, pulling him into an embrace and nuzzling the top of his head comfortingly. "It's nothing you did, I promise," she assured him, trying her best to put herself in Briar's point of view. She had spent a large portion of her life living with or around Sirius and in the Armada. She knew how much of a pressure and an emphasis was put on being a strong fighter in that pack. She had seen how those high expectations had affected Sirius' older children so she could only imagine how his younger children were feeling now with their mother and brother gone and with Sirius in the state he was in... "Try to be patient with her," she told him after a moment, giving his forehead a soft kiss before letting him sit up so that he wouldn't have to stoop down to her any more. "I doubt she knows how to deal with any of this any better than we do and if she's anything like her father she'll probably try to push away what would help her most - even if it ends up hurting herself in the process. She probably feels like she'd be pulling you down with her and is trying to spare you. I'm not saying that I agree with her mindset, but if I had to guess that's what it sounds like to me."

Tamsyn Carpathius

The moment Tamsyn pulled him into a motherly hug and gave him an affectionate nuzzle, Artorias felt as if nothing in the world could hurt him. His mother had always been a protector of their family, chasing away the hurt and the sorrow and the fear. Even now as he got older, she had an uncanny ability to make everything feel as if it was going to be all right. Artorias smiled while he bowed his head to reach his mother's gentle affections. She reassured him that he had done nothing wrong, and although he trusted his mother's words, it didn't do much to help the hurt of his broken heart. He didn't care who was at fault, or if anyone deserved to have blame pinned on them. What mattered was that Briar had left him, pushed him away and run from him.

Tam's advice to be patient with her, to let her sort out her feelings, thoughts, and emotions, and reasoned that if she was like her father that she would lash out at those closest to her and push them away. That had indeed seemed like what had happened. It had all been a blur, unfolding so fast that he hadn't really processed what had happened until it was over. Since then, he'd played that moment over and over and over in his mind, trying to figure out what went wrong. His smile deepened as some of the stress melted from his shoulders when Tamsyn kissed his crown; nothing like a mother's love to wash all your troubles away. He couldn't really see the perspective his mother described, but he also hadn't lived with the Warlord as his father. He didn't know the stress of living up to his legacy or meeting his expectations. He did know that Briar's family name meant a lot to her, the pride she felt at being a Fatalis. Did she really feel like she was a failure? From his standpoint, he could only see her strength and grace.

"Thanks, Mom. I hope you're right. I really... really liked her..." he spoke softly once she released him from her embrace so he could sit back up at his full height, smiling at her. He made a mental note to give Briar as much space as he could while he was up in the Armada. He didn't need the constant heartache, and she certainly didn't need to keep comparing herself to him, which would be significantly easier once he was staying in her home for an extended period. Right now, he was just glad she hadn't started questioning him on what sort of things he and Briar had been up to prior to their separation. That would have been an awkward conversation to have!

"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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