As If

Ember loved getting to spend time with her siblings—her littermates and elder siblings alike—so any chance she got to do things with them, she snatched them up in a heartbeat! Today, that opportunity came when Dusk offered to take her and Solaire out for their first ever patrol around the northern territory of the Hallows. Ember had never been up to the Wildberry Grove before, so this would be her first time venturing past the plains and boy, was she excited! Practically bouncing with each prancing step, the little Carpathian princess followed close behind Dusk, keeping close to her older sister while still poking about and exploring as they walked the well worn patrol routes. Ember wanted all of her older siblings to like her and wanted to be around them all the time, so she was doing her best to get on Dusk's good side. She didn't think the black-coated Carpathian hated her or anything, but Dusk had kept to herself for the first few weeks once her litter had been let out into the world, so she was trying to get things going on the right foot.

Amidst their patrol, the vibe in the woodlands began to shift and change, growing tense and uneasy. Ember did not know what it meant, but it felt distinctly and unsettlingly different from how she had felt coming across the plains. Like something was off, but she could not quite place her paw on it... Some time passed, and then animals began to hurry past them—prey animals rushing by like something had spooked them. Ember watched as a herd of deer ran through the woods in the opposite direction they were heading in. The dark-furred girl tilted her head in curiosity. That was strange... Then more animals came, prey and predator alike, all fleeing from the way they were headed. "What do you think they're all running from?" asked Ember, but her question never got answered. No sooner had she spoke, a giant bear came lumbering through the woods, crunching through the underbrush in its frenzied panic, and coming careening too close to the wolves for comfort.

Ember stepped in closer to Dusk for safety. That was when the ebony princess acted, and Ember watched in awe as Dusk's tail whipped about and sent her bladed whips screaming through the air toward the bear. Ember gasped in awe as the blades made contact, cutting into the angry ursine and getting its attention on her big sister. The bear was wounded, bleeding, and oh so angry now. Ember's heart beat fast and strong in her chest; her first real fight and it was against a freaking bear! She watched while Dusk squared off against the bear, refusing to back down, and now both wolf and bear were readying for the inevitable fight. The bear charged and Dusk responded with another whip of her blades against the side of its face. Ember cheered and bounced in place behind Dusk, cheering her sister on. Then Dusk looked back at her and Solaire, fierce determination in her fiery eyes, and told them to hide and call for their father. The last bit made sense—their dad was the greatest warrior of all time, after all—but hide?! Ember scrunched up her nose in distaste at the idea of hiding.

"I can help, Dusk! I can help!" she shouted back with a proud determination in her little voice. Not wanting to fully refuse their big sister's direction, Ember did run back a few paces and give a few sharp puppy howls for their father, alerting him of the danger, but then she was running right back to Dusk's side again. "I wanna help protect our home! I can fight!" And fight she would. The only thing keeping Ember back by Dusk's side right now was not wanting to get in the way of those sharp tail blades. So instead, the tiny midnight black pup stayed back by her sister, puppy teeth bared at the bear as she growled threateningly back at the massive predator.

WC: 675
Total: 1307 / 1500

"Ember Carpathius"