(PK) Brother Bear

[VoidDimensions 280]

 

As Angruth rested beneath the crimson canopy, he leaned against Artio as he had done countless times before. The old bear’s graying fur brushed against his armor, a quiet reminder of passing years.

He glanced down at him, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“Artio… I remember when you were just a scraggly little cub,” he murmured. “Barely big enough to stand. I had to feed you milk.”

A low chuckle left him as he shook his head.

“You’ve carried me far longer than I ever carried you.”

Artio let out a slow, tired yawn, settling into the earth as sleep took him. Angruth rested a hand on his fur, soon drifting off beside him.

————————————————————

A roar split the forest.

Angruth bolted awake.

It was not the cry of any natural beast; it was something deeper. Wrong.

He surged to his feet, snatching his axe and stepping out from the tent, scanning the crimson woods. The air felt heavy. Suffocating.

A wail.

From behind him.

His heart dropped.

Angruth turned, rushing back inside. There, before him, Artio writhed, flesh clumps of fur slowly falling off his body, turning to dust, and soon flesh and muscle followed suit.

“No… no…”

Angruth fell to a knee beside him, gripping what little of his fur remained.

He knew.

The hunt for the great Bear-mani.

And Artio was being taken with it.

The knight clenched his jaw, breath shaking. There was no saving him. No cure to be had.

Only mercy.

“I won’t let you suffer.”

With one swift, practiced motion.

The axe fell.

Cleaving Artio’s head off

Ending pained wails

Angruth remained there, crouched beside the body of his oldest companion. His grip tightened as a single tear carved its way down his cheek.

Slowly… the withering continued.

Flesh faded.

Bone remained.

When all that was left was a skull, Angruth reached forward and took it in his hands. He stared at it for a long moment.

Then, without a word

He placed it upon his head.

Rising to his feet, the knight stood alone beneath the crimson trees.

His voice was quiet as he said

“You carried me long enough…”

 

 

Edited April 25 by VoidDimensions

[ApetheticOrange96 92]

Spoiler

peak

 

[ChainedDragons 1374]

Spoiler

NOOO I ******* FORGOT ANGRUTHS BEAR
+Sobs+
This is the real tragedy