Your journeys begin today

For as long back as she could remember (which, in all honesty, wasn't very far) Ember's days had been easygoing and simple. Wake up, bother her parents for breakfast, play with her siblings, try to ignore Vendrick's whining when he inevitably got pounced or found some other perceived slight, hang out at her mother's side, eat, and sleep. Wash, rinse, repeat. Monotonous, but not unpleasant. Still, Ember was more than ready to see what was waiting for them outside those great mahogany doors that kept them sealed inside their parents' bedchambers. Any time her father or mother would step outside, the little midnight-furred pup would try to stick her head out to steal a peek before it was inevitably slammed shut, but to no avail. Gods, c'mon, she wanted to go explore!

Finally—FINALLY—it seemed like the day had come! While Ember was finishing up her breakfast with her siblings, she noticed their sire standing beside the doors, studying them with great intent. Swirling blue eyes locked to Artorias, barely contained enthusiasm in those bright jewels as she silently prayed and hoped that he'd say the words she longed to hear. After a beat, she got her wish. Artorias asked if they would like to go outside and Ember was scrambling for her paws, yipping and barking with excitement as she leapt from the bed beside her mother to skitter across the stone floor towards the doors. She and Vendrick were there in a flash, Ember's tiny tail wagging so fast across the floor she was kicking up small clouds of dust behind her. Their father laid out the rules for their first outing, and being the good girl Ember was, she was most definitely listening to every word he said. Yessir, no doubt about that! Something something no leaving the castle, got it!

"Yes, Dad, we understand!" Ember declared for herself and her littermates, hoping that by speaking for the pack, he would let them go out quicker. The moment Artorias opened the door felt like a whole new world had just been opened up to her. Little eyes went wide as a vast stone hall was revealed to her, and suddenly Ember was very much aware of just how big Hearthstone actually was! Barking with excitement again, she ran out of the bedroom with Vendrick, tearing down the corridors with peels of laughter echoing behind her. To the stairs the siblings went, leading the charge straight down as fast as their little legs could carry them. Everything was so big and grand! Where her brother came to a spectacular crash on his descent, Ember was much more graceful in her movements, practically gliding down the stairs until she reached the bottom and nosed at the crumpled Ven with a look of concern. Oh no, was he dead?! The moment the boy spring back to life, she breathed a sigh of relief. "C'mon, clumsy! Let's go see the gardens!" Ember grinned and took off for the front doors, rushing out into the outside world for the first time in her life.

"Ember Carpathius"