All the thinking she had been doing lately about the past and all the events that had led her to this point made her realize that in all the time since she began to connect more strongly with Aslatiel she still hadn't actually introduced her to Artorias, not even after getting her advice about all the hormones that had been tugging at them when they were together. It had slipped her mind before their relationship got rocky, but once everything was put back together Asla hadn't been around the pack and then their mother reappeared... But today was the day! Today she was going to put everything else on hold so she could finally introduce her sister and her boyfriend.

She lead Artorias across the plains to Asla's den. She had caught a hint of her sister's scent in the territory just the day before so she hoped that they would actually find her, though it felt like she had been in and out more and more. She certainly couldn't judge - she had been away more than she was here over the last couple of seasons with all the times she had escaped to go stay in The Hallows. As they got near the den her turquoise gaze started sweeping the area looking for her. "Hopefully she's home today... Though she might be out hunting," she commented to Blue Boy, glancing his way with a smile, her tail brushing his thigh.

Briar Fatalis

Hunting was indeed what Aslatiel had been doing. The mighty little hunter had managed to bring down a yearling doe on her own and was slowly dragging half of it back to her den. The other half had been left with Ocean and Chrystelle. Though she imagined they were capable of finding their own food, Aslatiel enjoyed killing things, so why not feed them while she was at it? As she pulled the bisected doe back towards her den so that she could process the meat, the scent of Briar entered her nose. The antlered girl was the only one of her younger siblings that she connected with. The others were aloof and, honestly, boring. After their mother 'died', Aslatiel made an effort and that effort had gone unrewarded, save for Briar. The girl had thrust herself onto Asla while she'd been stuck inside with a broken leg. That tenacity had turned the coldness to affection. Coming forward into the clearing around the den, Asla noted Briar and a blue and black boy. Ahhh... was this the one that Briar had mentioned to her prior? Dragging half a carcass across grassy plains was bound to make one a big bloody. Asla released her hold one the deer and approached the pair, licking the blood from her maw as she did so. "Briar, you've brought a snack, I see." The woman's galactic gaze sparkled with mirth as she looked the tall boy over. "Speech"

When Briar had told him that morning that she wanted to introduce him to her sister, Artorias felt an odd nervousness at the prospect of meeting the Armada's Reaper. Meeting with Zee and Sirius as Briar's official boyfriend, while nerve-racking, had been fairly straightforward. He just had to be polite and not say anything stupid. But Aslatiel was a wolf he needed to like him. He knew how important she was to Briar, and he wanted to much for them to get along for her. To be honest, he knew precious little about the firstborn Fatalis daughter, so this would also be a good chance for him to get to know more about what she was all about. But if she was the Reaper, she had to be one tough bitch.

Artorias followed Briar across the Armada plains until they arrived at the den, then glanced up at Briar when she mentioned she might be hunting. The brush of his girlfriend's tail against his thigh gave him a bit of a start and left those wonderful sparks against his skin. He shot her a wicked glance that spoke promises of things to come for her later if she kept it up, but the reaction was short-lived as the sound fo something dragging got closer. Amber eyes turned, and what he saw surprised him beyond words. A small, blood-covered tan fae was slugging a bisected deer carcass towards the den, pausing to drop the meat and approach them while cleaning liquid crimson from her muzzle.

This was Aslatiel. Artorias had definitely not pictured her small. Pretty much every other Fatalis child was sizable, many of them showing their father's genes in their size. Asla was the outlier, but the fire he saw in those galactic purple eyes told him that she would have no problem fucking him up if he stepped out of line. Asla didn't need size to be a powerhouse or a force to be reckoned with. Asla teased him, noting how Briar had brought a snack for them, and instantly Artorias' wit couldn't be helped. "I'm not sure how good I'd taste," he remarked, a roguish smirk on his face. "But Briar would be better to answer that question than me." He grinned at Briar, the look of "no regrets" in his eyes. Asla had been the one to encourage Briar to enjoy him in the ways she had, after all. There was no doubt in his mind her older sister already knew everything her little sister was up to.

"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.
____________________

Sure enough, when her sister appeared it was indeed while dragging a half of a split doe, leaving a bloody trail in her wake. A grin pulled across Briar's lips as she turned to face her older sister, giggling to herself at the fact that this was how Artorias was meeting her - bloody and bringing home a half of a deer. It was the perfect representation of why she loved and respected her sister so much. She was significantly smaller than most of their family, but had more fire and tenacity than most of them combined. Her tail wagged happily as Asla dropped off her kill and approached them, eager to finally introduce her to this boy that she had spoken to her so much about. She smirked at the comment about bringing a snack, but before she could respond Artorias did it for her, making his own quip about how she would be the better one to ask about how he tasted.

The insinuation he made immediately made her face flush bright red and her eyes went wide as her gaze darted over to him. "Artorias!" she hissed with exasperation, hitting his shoulder with her paw and rolling her eyes with a shake of her head. It was still hard to keep the grin off of her muzzle and even though she was furious with him and embarrassed beyond belief, she was still giggling and playfully glaring at him all the same. She sighed and waved a paw between the two of them, clearly giving up on making this any kind of normal introduction. "Artorias, Asla. Asla, Artorias." Briar nudged his shoulder with her own, giving him another glare. "I swear, I can't take you anywhere, can I?"

Briar Fatalis

The boys quick quip sent Asla dissolving into deep, true laughter. The woman's purple eyes lifted and her bloodied maw parted, flashing teeth as she showed just how much she'd enjoyed the comment. Still snickering, Asla turned her attention to Briar. "Oh, I like him." Briar's embarrassment made it all so much better. Her little sister nudged the black and blue boy and Asla merely snickered again. She could see the chemistry between the two and was glad that she'd encouraged Briar to follow her instincts. She was also glad that she'd told the girl to be careful. Artorias was a handsome boy. "Good to meet you, Artorias. I trust you've been taking good care of my sweet sister." It wasn't a question. She could see how happy Briar was, despite her embarrassment. With a pull of her skull, she motioned for the pair to follow her towards the den. Asla latched her teeth into the bisected doe one more time and began to pull it towards the den. Once there, she rolled her muscles like a snake and the motion brought the corpse into the air just enough to be propped over a rock that seemed to be made for just that purpose. Asla then moved to a basin of collected rainwater and washed the blood from her muzzle and paws. "Help yourselves if you're hungry." Wolves these days seemed to enjoy cooked meat, but Aslatiel liked hers raw and bloody. As fresh as she could get it. The day was still quite nice, so she decided that they should stay outside. Sliding down to lay upon her stomach, the huntress relaxed, feline claws digging into the earth for a moment. "So you've brought him home to meet the family, eh?" The brow on the scarred side of Asla's face rose, as did the corner of her maw as she smirked. "Speech"

Artorias' remark had gotten him exactly the reaction he had been hoping for: deep, hearty laughs from Asla and a flurry of embarrassment from a very red Briar. He snickered with unabashed amusement while he took the hit to his shoulder. It was deserved and all in good fun, so he accepted his repercussions. No doubt Briar would give him hell for it later, but it had been worth it. The ice was broken and he was off to a great start with Asla. Briar made the proper introductions between them and Artorias nodded his head to her in respectful greeting. He knew she was the Reaper, a position of tremendous honor and responsibility in her family, and she deserved the reverence.

"It's good to meet you as well, Asla. Briar's told me a lot about you." He shot a genuine smile toward Briar, ignoring how flustered she still seemed to be when she remarked about not being able to take him anywhere. He simply snickered again and shook his head; nope, he was probably going to be an embarrassment to her wherever they went just so he could provoke more of those cute flustered reactions from her. To Asla's non-question, Artorias gave an affirmative nod. "As best I can," he said while following Asla toward her den. "I'm still learning, but I think I'm doing all right so far. Though truth be told, she's been looking after me just as much." Between the extended winter difficulties and the passing of his mother, Briar really had been his support through it all. He relied on her as much as he tried to be there for her. The look he gave over to Briar shone with affection for the Fatalis princess. Losing her had been the greatest pain he'd ever endured, and getting her back had been his greatest joy.

Asla offered some of her hunt to them, and Artorias graciously accepted a bite, part out of politeness, and part because raw meat was not something he'd had in a long, long time. Almost all of the food in the Hallows came cooked or prepared in some way. There was a simple joy to enjoying fresh, bloody meat, and once he took over the pack, that would be going back on the menu. While Artorias swallowed his mouthful, Asla relaxed and began speaking to him and Briar again. Artorias gave a nod while he licked the blood from his muzzle while Briar responded first, lowering himself to lie on the cool grass as well. "I'm also spending the season with the pack, learning from your father how to lead a pack and how to be a successful alpha. I've just also happened to be getting my rounds of boyfriend death threats from your family while I'm at it." He grinned and waved a paw toward Asla. "Which you're welcome to join in on, if you'd like! Right now, Sirius has made the most creative death threat."

"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 sighed and shook her head as Asla said how she liked him, obviously amused by Artorias' comment. "Noooo you'll just encourage him," she complained, but she was grinning all the same. As embarrassed as she might have been, it still made her happy for him to be off on a good foot with Asla. As her sister brought up him taking care of her, she smiled and looked toward Artorias as he confirmed that he had been to the best of his abilities and assured that she had been looking after him as well. She returned his affectionate look as they began to follow Asla toward her den, leaning her side into his for a moment. They both had times when they needed one another and every time something happened they just seemed to get closer and rely on each other more. "He's been doing a great job," she added, her gaze still happily on Artorias. He was far too humble with how much he had done for her and how wonderful he had been to her since they started dating.

"Thanks, Asla," she said as her sister offered them some of her kill and Briar stepped forward to help herself to some as well. She pulled off a few bites worth and settled down beside Artorias across from Asla as she finished washing up her paws and relaxing into the grass. She grinned a little as she swallowed a bite just as Asla asked her if she had brought him home to meet the family. "He found his own way here, actually," she began, glancing toward Artorias. "But I figured while he was here I should properly introduce him to everyone." Artorias went on to explain his actual reason for spending the season in their pack, talking about how he was here to learn from their father. She laughed a little when he mentioned how Sirius had given him the most creative death so far, smirking as she finished off her snack. "I suppose that's true," she agreed. "He did get an awful lot of detail for how he'd do it at least. Much more detailed than mom saying they'd all need a turn killing you."

Briar Fatalis

As the pair settled down and began to eat, the topic of Artorias and his reason for being in the Armada rose. The blue boy mentioned how he had come to learn how to be a successful alpha and Aslatiel huffed lightly through her liver colored nose before turning her galactic gaze away momentarily. "You won't find that here," she mumbled under her breath. It was no secret that Aslatiel was unhappy with the way that the Armada was being run. Or wasn't being run, depending on the day and her father's various mood swings and instability. He had proved to her that he wasn't the man that he had once been. She loved him in her own way, but he wasn't the giant that she had once put on a pedestal. Pushing away the nasty feelings about her family, Asla forced a grin back onto her face. "I'm glad that you two are taking care of each other." Artorias joked, speaking of Sirius making the most creative death threat so far. Again Asla snorted. "I'm sure he has..." With a shrug, the cream colored fae sighed nonchalantly. "I don't need to make any threats. Briar is entirely capable of handling her own affairs." But her sister knew where to go if she needed help. "So, since you're learning how to be a leader... I imagine that Briar will be moving to the Hallows with you." Asla hoped that Briar ran away from here before she became warped and used as well. "Perhaps the pups and I will see you on our travels. We're leaving in the spring." It was no secret, though she hadn't deigned to tell anyone. No one really deserved to know, but Briar surely did. "Speech"

It didn't come as much of a surprise to Artorias that Asla didn't see eye to eye with the Fatalis patriarch and alpha of the Armada. From what he'd been gathering, the Fatalis wolves were fragmented at best and without a sense of unity. It did disappoint him to hear just how disillusioned with Sirius Asla had become and silently wondered if those sentiments were echoed in Briar as well. After the Warlord's mental break over the past few months and the way he'd bitten Briar in her sleep, it wouldn't have surprised him. "It's been a learning experience for sure, just not quite the one I was expecting," he agreed and nodded assent. Sirius was so frenzied, so manic in how he was managing his pack, Artorias wondered if there was ever a point where Sirius didn't feel one extreme end of the emotional scale or the other.

It was easy for Artorias to nod to Asla's assertion that Briar could take care of herself and didn't require her big sister to threaten her boyfriend. "That she can. Briar is one of the most talented and capable wolves I've ever known." He turned to look at the young tawny fae in question and gave her an affectionate smirk. "And I'm not just saying that because she gives me kisses." It was sweet, but it was also the truth. Briar made him feel happy, kept him level when he felt like he was spiraling out of control or losing his temper. She'd beaten him in single combat and fought off numerous predators by his side. Briar was a warrior princess, and brought every bit of pride to the young brute who was lucky enough to call her his.

Asla mentioned Briar moving to the Hallows and Artorias gave a little chuckle. "Assuming your dad ever lets her go," he said. He knew convincing Sirius to let his precious little girl go free would be no easy task. "It's what I'm hoping for, but it also depends on what Briar wants and if she wants to leave the Armada." He glanced over to Briar to let her voice her own desires on the matter. Whatever the future held for them, the Hallows would always be home for her now.

Asla made a passing comment about coming to visit them with her children when they leave the pack in the spring. Artorias' ears perked up. "You're leaving the Armada?" He was a little surprised. He knew Asla was the Reaper of the Armada, and would be only the second Fatalis to leave the family pack. Briar had always spoken of Aslatiel's commitment to her family and the pack. Things must really have been going downhill if this was the decision someone as dedicated as Asla was making.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Corbin" | "Argent"

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.
____________________

Briar gave Aslatiel a grateful grin as her sister insisted that she didn't need to make threats since she knew how to take care of herself. As much as she could appreciate her family's protective nature, she sometimes wondered how much that played into her feeling as if she wasn't capable and worthy at times. Asla had really been the only one to not sugar coat things or jump to her defense immediately when something happened - instead putting her on her own feet and just taking care of what needed to be done. She didn't have a doubt that if it came down to it Asla would be there for her if she was ever needed, but it felt good to have her confidence as well. She turned her attention to Artorias with a bashful flick of her ears as he echoed the sentiment, calling her talented and capable and making sure that they knew he wasn't saying that purely because of the kisses. She giggled and nudged his shoulder with a grin again before leaning over to kiss his cheek. She still believed she wouldn't be half the wolf she was without Artorias' encouragement, but she appreciated the nice words either way.

She turned her gaze back to Asla when she asked about the possibility of her moving to The Hallows with him. It was an easy assumption that if Artorias was going to be leading The Hallows then he obviously wasn't going to be moving to the Armada to be here with her. Although, if she was being honest, she probably would have wanted to move to The Hallows instead of the other way around even if that was an option. She liked The Hallows and the castle they lived in and she felt more comfortable there than she did in the Armada. Artorias' statement about her leaving being dependent on if her father would let her go made her ear flick with a touch of annoyance, though she did her best to hide it. It wasn't directed toward Art at all - it was just a continuing issue she had with her controlling father. She didn't like feeling as if her choices were subject to his approval even though she logically knew that as the alpha he did ultimately have the say of whether she could leave or not even if he wasn't her father. She just knew that he would be even harder to convince because of that. "I'll definitely be moving to The Hallows at some point," she said a little more straightforwardly when Art glanced her way, giving him a little smile. "I'd like to go sooner rather than later, but... I don't expect that dad will allow it until summer." Maybe once she was two he'd be slightly more agreeable.

Her ears perked with surprise when Asla admitted that she would be leaving with her pups in the Spring, though she probably wasn't as surprised as Artorias seemed to be. Asla had been very dedicated to the pack and their family for a long time, but she understood that feeling of wanting to leave. The mess of the last couple of seasons had shown some of the true colors of certain wolves and the issues that came along with them and she couldn't really blame Asla for wanting to get away. "Good for you," she said with a little grin. "I definitely hope we'll see you while you're traveling. I bet Arc and Tira would enjoy climbing around a castle."

Briar Fatalis

The words that Artorias spoke in regards to Sirius letting Briar go... Aslatiel's purple gaze hardened and she didn't try to hide the fact that the statement rubbed her the wrong way. "What my father and everyone else fails to realize is that we aren't slaves. Any wolf of this pack can come and go as they please. There's nothing keeping us here short of actual slavery." Asla's gaze then pulled to Briar. "Don't let him bully you just because you share blood. Tell him what you want and don't settle for less." Sirius was no god. He hadn't even been able to run his own pack. He couldn't hold it together. Why would anyone listen to anything that he said? How could he still have the faith of his pack?

The pair seemed to be shocked when she told them that she was leaving the Armada. Artorias more so than Briar. Asla imagined it was because he wasn't part of this pack. He wasn't yet able to see through the façade that was the Armada. "The first day of spring. The pups and I are gone. He's my father. I don't hate him. He will miss his grandchildren. We came to an agreement." He asked her to wait until spring and she would comply as far as the very last day of winter. Perhaps if he'd shown a little bit of gratitude. If he'd acknowledged that Azure, Mortis and Indigo were fuckups. If he'd thanked her for the trouble that she'd gone through to hold his pack together. Maybe things would have been different. Ah, but no... the golden children were back and she was pushed aside once more. It was a joke.

Briar suggested that Asla and the pups visit the Hallows and Asla nodded. "We'll definitely pay a visit or two. I'm going to teach them how to live on their own. Be self sufficient. They'll never have to rely to anyone." That was her hope, anyway. "And when they're older and can decide for themselves, they're free to join any pack they wish." The cream and grey fae gave a light shrug. A few more months and this would all be over with. Then she could focus wholly on her children and making herself happy again.

"Aslatiel Fatalis"