demons are a girl's best friend

Erik smiles at her as she arrives, and it makes her feel... well, it makes her feel probably a lot like how her older sister felt being the belle of her own ball. She likes the way he's smiling at her, likes the attention he gives her. Ember's not starved for affection or attention in her family by any means, but hell, why not take more when it's freely given? Erik boops his snoot against her cheek, earning him a delighted little giggle from the Carpathian girl, her braided tail going mad like a wild metronome behind her. He dismisses his companion, leaving them alone in the peacefulness of the grove to talk. The importance of which is not lost on Ember. She knows speaking is one of Erik's greatest challenges, so if the viking lad had something to say then it had to be something damn well worth listening to.

He remarks that he knocked, and Ember shoots him a dubious smirk. "So you did... from several dozen yards within Hallowed territory," she noted, glancing back behind him to where the grove continued on as if to prove a point. She wasn't disparaging him, only teasing. She knew he could take it with that wild grin and good humor, so she didn't have any worries poking a bit of fun. That was where the humor ended, however. The next words out of Erik's lips were worrying news. Celeste had been abducted. Ember's amused expression swiftly dropped into a more grave look of concern. Víðarr had sent word out to Artorias, which meant he was calling on the aid of other alphas to help find her. This was a severe matter indeed. "We'll tell my dad. I know he'll want to help. We have ravens, many of them. We'll do what we can to help find her," she reassured Erik. Ember knew she didn't have the kind of power or influence to make those promises, but she could see the worry deep within Erik's fiery eyes, and every fiber in her being demanded she make things all right again for him. She wouldn't give her father a chance to deny his request.

Ember looked back past Erik to make sure his canine had actually gone off before she turned those bright multi-hued blue eyes back up to him, meeting his gaze with her own. She gestured for him to follow her with a motion of her head, then turned to lead him further into the grove. "I've never met Celeste, but my dad has. He liked the Stargazer Band well enough. I can't imagine he won't want to help." Was she saying all this to reassure Erik, or to convince herself of what would happen? Ember wasn't entirely sure. But he seemed like he needed a little bit of encouragement from his best friend in the whole wide world, if she said so herself. Ember glanced up at Erik while she led them through the trees and berry bushes on their walk. "Does your dad have any suspects in mind?" Any clues, any leads might be valuable information she could help present to Artorias to get him involved in the search party.

"Ember Carpathius"