Sota was tired. He felt it deep in his bones, a sort of all-encompassing fatigue that he could no longer shake, no matter how hard he tried. Auster's cold season had grown far too miserable for the tiny wolf- no amount of fur blankets seemed to help stifle the cold. Slowly rousing from sleep, his body fighting him every step of the way, he lifted his head and looked to the window. Sun streamed in through the dirty window panes, just barely beginning to melt away the layer of frost that coated them. For Sota, it'd never been hard to find the beauty in even the smallest things, and he laid his head back down and watched for a while, noting the way the frost melted into slow droplets and finally disappeared as the morning sun rose higher, fighting to warm these frigid lands. Trying to muster up some strength, the Songa was slow to move, stretching out his limbs slowly as he embarked on one final task. Kaito dozed peacefully nearby, sleeping in a soft fur bed, and Sota crept about quietly so as to not disturb his dear friend. He'd acquired an old piece of tapestry, and he set about his room gathering objects he'd been slowly collecting over the last few months. Everything was exactly where he'd left it, his belongings sparse but laid out methodically. Unlike some of the Hallows wolves, he'd never cared much for physical things, and his room was still rather bare bones. Just the way he liked it. A small bed lay in the corner, piled with soft furs, and a storage chest that lay open, just barely small enough for him to reach into. He'd never even wanted a room when they'd first moved here, not really- but over the years he'd grown to love the little nest he made here, even if he didn't spend much time here until lately. Climbing up to reach the windowsill, he grabbed a few objects from there before collecting the rest from the storage chest. Bundling up the makeshift bag, he set off, dragging it almost comically down the hall behind him. Once he reached the staircase, he grabbed a bundle of flowers and branches as well as a piece of rolled parchment, and slowly made his way upstairs. Outside of everyone's door he left an arrangement of dried flowers, each picked carefully for each wolf. For Bramble and Ember he left some pretty blue flowers, while Clove was left with a more personalized gift. He left a small section of old parchment he'd instructed Kaito to scrawl on, using ash from the most recent bonfire to loosely sketch out a map. He'd not forgotten she had a friend down in southern Auster, and had wanted to map out the journey there- he added a few places he wasn't sure she'd ever gone, trying his best to recall some of the places he was most familiar with. The canyon to the east, the volcano below, and the vast stretch of woods that lie between. He didn't expect her to improve upon this map, but he hoped it'd help lay a foundation for one she might make herself. For Thorn he left a few loose twigs, wrapped up in a bit of dried vine with flowers laced between them. A symbolic gift, a reminder of the little lesson he'd given the now-fully grown wolf once he'd been but a boy, when he'd taken him to Aspen Dam. The other inhabitants of the fourth floor received flowers, and some other dried plants he thought looked quite nice. After some time, he made his way back down to the floor he'd always lived on, leaving similar gifts there as well. Nobody was forgotten, his efforts careful and deliberate as he arranged the gifts just outside the corner of their doorways. He was quiet, not wanting to draw attention to his little task. Making his way slowly down to the second floor, dragging his bag behind him and down every step, he started to feel even more tired- but he wasn't going to give up yet. He wasn't done, even if these gifts felt even harder to live. For a long time he lingered outside of the room that belonged to Artorias and Briar, wondering if he ought to say goodbye to them properly, to thank them for the home he'd had here. The truth was that he was far too tired for those conversations. He didn't want them to cry for him, nor try to dissuade anyone from finding a way to prolong the inevitable. Not when he was happy, and so deeply at peace. He hoped this display of gratitude would be enough for them especially. Outside of their room he left a few gifts. For Artorias, a crown of thorns and flowers, woven with Kaito's help. The project had been a meticulous one, and he'd practically sensed his companion's annoyance as he asked him to so carefully weave and unweave bits of grass and vine until it was just perfect. It was a gift fit for a king, and Sota had known no greater ruler than Artorias. For Briar, he left one of his favorite possessions, an iridescent seashell he'd collected one day exploring Hermit's Cove with Audra. Maybe she'd see that she'd left behind  a matching one, and know where it'd come from. Hopefully it'd make her think fondly of the both of them. Other rooms received more flowers, some accompanied by twigs and vines, all carefully crafted and arranged. The last room felt the hardest. He lingered at the door to sweet Bowen's room, trying to remember the first time they'd met. She'd been so young then, so hungry for adventure- and treasure, he remembered quite clearly. He felt tears prick sharply at his eyes at the memory, though they were happy tears rather than sad ones. Here he left his most prized possession of all, an old piece of stained glass. It was sea-green, though cast a lovely array of colors when the light hit it just the right way. He'd kept it on his windowsill for so long, another trinket he'd acquired with Audra when exploring The Forgotten Isle so, so many years ago. Another gift was left there too, a piece of concrete that he'd extracted from one of the tallest towers in the castle so long ago. It was a place that he hadn't gone in some time but had often escaped to, years ago. He remembered fondly how peaceful he'd felt, looking out over the castle grounds and the plains beyond. He never thought he'd feel so happy in all his life. Fighting the urge to see if she might be inside, he headed back upstairs. The journey was slow, almost painfully so. By the time he reached his room he was pleased to see Kaito was still sound asleep. Sota had never felt quite so peaceful in all his life. Satisfied, he slipped back beneath the furs that lined his bed, drifting into a deep and endless sleep. -exit via death-

A piece of glass and a piece of stone.

They were the first things that Bowen saw when she opened the door. A strange feeling had come over her and she knew that she needed to look. Leaving her task of picking up puppy toys and scattered items, Bowen had moved towards the door. The woman was puzzled for a moment then, gently, reached down and lifted the piece of shimmering green glass. There was a warmth that filled her as she looked through it, but it wasn't anything that she could describe.

Bowen then lifted the piece of stone. It was a nice sized chunk, but not terribly heavy. Some might have seen these items as trash, but someone had gone through the trouble of placing them there, so Bowen brought them inside and placed them upon her mantle beside the glass ball that she and Artorias had found when they were puppies.

As Bo lifted the stone, she caught the faint, familiar scent of Sota. Surprise lifted her brows and she carefully placed the items up out of pups reach before moving out the door and towards her friends room. She wanted to thank him for the surprises.

A sable gloved paw lifted and she rapped at the wooden door, expecting Sota to come tottering out with a smile on his face as he always did. This time though... there was no one to open the door. The caramel and cream fae placed her ear against the wood and thought that she could hear faint, soft sobbing. Privacy be damned, Bowen opened the door.

Kaito lay there beside Sota's sleeping form. The little lemur was a mess, crying and shaking his long time master. The moment that Bowen came in close, the lemur leaped towards her, burying his little face in her neck and refused to let go. She was able to sit him between her shoulder blades at least so she could tend to Sota. Was he sick?

Bowen's mind refused to grasp the reality of the situation. One small paw reached out and settled upon her friends shoulder first. There was no rise and fall of breath. No... he was just sleeping deeply, that was all. She gave him the slightest of shakes just like Kaito had been doing. The small man's body was rigid and cold. Ah... but he looked so peaceful. "Ah...Oh Sota..."Bowen spoke softly through the tears that were relentlessly streaming down her cheeks. Gods... how she had loved the little brute.

Kaito scooted back to her chest and Bowen held him close. Together the pair mourned their friend. "It's okay," she soothed the little lemur. "You can stay with me, if you'd like." She offered him a home and a place of continued love and care.

Glassy, emerald green eyes, close to the very color of the glass that Sota had left her, stayed fixed on the "sleeping" form. Bowen leaned forward and placed a soft kiss upon cold lips that still seemed to be smiling. One paw gently caressed his cheek, smoothing silvered fur. "Safe travels, my dear friend. May the wind always be in your sails and may the sun always warm your face." She then sent Bishop off to collect Artorias. Everyone needed to know that The Hallows greatest treasure had crossed on to the next adventure.

"Bowen"

There was stillness all throughout Hearthstone. Quiet, somber silence in the pre-dawn hours of the cold winter night. The residents of the castle tucked up snug and warm in their beds. All but one, who would never wake again...

Waking from slumber, Artorias felt... off. Something instinctual in his heart that not everything was right. He couldn't place it, he couldn't explain it away. Rising from beneath the covers, careful to not disturb his sleeping wife or pups as he began his daily routine. Up before dawn to do his stretches and meditation, then his patrol. Nothing about his preparations was any different, yet that unease never left him. The Lord of Cinder picked up Embershard in his jaws and carried it with him as he stepped out into the hall, quiet as could be. The world was still dark and quiet. He didn't wish to disturb anyone. A sentiment that had been shared by another all too recently.

As soon as he was out of the bedroom, he gingerly closed the door and turned—only to bump something on the ground with his paws. Taken a bit by surprise, Artorias blinked down at the items laid just outside his bedroom door. An iridescent seashell and a woven crown of thorn, vine, and flowers. What? The question repeated in the Lord of Cinder's mind as he carefully picked up the crown in his paw, turning it over to look it over. Where had these come from? The craftsmanship was exquisite and intricate, done by someone with years of experience. But who...? Amber eyes moved from the crown to the shell. Then they slowly peered down the empty corridor. Even in the dark, Artorias' improved eyes picked out the bundles of flowers left at each door. Flower arrangements he recognized from other Hallows events.

Artorias' eyes widened as realization dawned on him. A clatter of steel on stone as he dropped his sword to the ground, and then Artorias was running down the corridor, blowing right past Bishop as Bowen's raven tried to get his attention. He raced up the stairs to the third floor and then hurried down the east wing to reach Sota's room at the very end. Each room he passed, Artorias felt his heart sink more and more when he saw the gifts left in front of each of them. They screamed of finality that filled his heart with dread. He didn't even notice Bowen's scent in the hallway until he was at Sota's door. Unlike Bowen, Artorias didn't knock. He'd apologize to the little wolf if he was wrong, but he couldn't wait. Art pushed the bedroom door open. Then he froze in the doorway.

There lay Sota in his bed, still and unmoving, and Bowen at his side, weeping and holding Kaito to her chest. The lemur was also crying and making soft, heartbroken sounds. For a long moment Artorias just stood in the doorway, staring at the scene before him. His heart broke, wrenched, then broke again as reality crashed into him. Tears brimmed in amber eyes as he met Bowen's glassy gaze and he understood. Slow strides brought the large wolf into the room and over to the bed. Art laid his front half across the bed beside where Sota lay, opposite of Bowen so their friend was surrounded by wolves who loved him. It didn't feel real. Nothing felt right or real about this. But as Artorias reached a paw over to stroke across Sota's beautiful black and white fur and he felt the cool stillness of his dear friend's body, there could be no denying reality. Sota had passed on.

"Oh, Sota..." Artorias' voice was filled with reverence and wavered with a profound sorrow as he spoke his departed friend's name. He leaned over Sota's body to cradle the small brute in his arms, nuzzling the back of his neck with fraternal love. Sota had been a part of his life since the day his litter had been born. A founding member of the Hallows. A friend and brother to them all. An uncle to his children. It felt like ice had been stabbed into his heart as Artorias held onto Sota, glowing teal tears spilling from the Lord of Cinder's eyes to dampen his cheeks. "You've always been a treasure to us all, my friend. You made all our lives an adventure. Thank you for everything." Artorias choked out his whispered words between body-racking sobs, breath stuttering while he tried to keep himself steady when all he wanted to do was to fall apart. "Fugi liber, frate. Fie ca tu să găsești noi aventuri pentru totdeauna. Te iubim atât de mult."

As Artorias and Bowen wept and held their dear friend, outside the morning sun was beginning to crest over the eastern horizon. Golden rays of dawn sunlight spilled across the land, melting away the frost from the window to bathe the final expression of Sota in brilliant light, as if the sun itself was beckoning him home and on to his next adventure.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian"