twilight of the thunder god

Wrapped up in his arms, Ember feels like a part of her that had been ripped away was back again, like she was home. She never wanted to be out of his embrace, basking in the warmth of his fur, the strength of his broad muscles surrounding her like a blanket, his masculine scent of musk mixed with pine and the mountains. His claws combed through her fur, rubbing her back and Ember practically melted under his touch. Her eyes closed, letting darkness sweep her away while she buried her face in Erik's chest, letting herself be surrounded by him. He told her how he'd thought of her throughout his trials, how she'd been the one to keep him going. It made the princess' heart do a little flip in her chest. This, this was what she'd wanted and ached for. To know she mattered to him the way he mattered to her.

Ember would have pulled him into another heated kiss just to let out more of her pent up desire and need for him, but the familiar baritone voice of her father calling out behind her brought reality crashing into them in this cathartic moment. Em lifted her head from Erik's chest with a great deal of reluctance, looking up at her viking with a gentle smile while he wrapped his coat of polar bear fur around her, the warmth instantly shielding her from the cold—not to mention it smelled like him all over. Ember tried to be surreptitious about breathing in his scent from the pelt while he and her father spoke, the Carpathian girl making a point of staying at Erik's side the entire time. She was making her position known to her sire; she wanted Erik here.

Erik stated his case to Artorias and Ember gingerly rested her dainty paw atop his larger one, offering silent support to him. She knew this was difficult for him to do, but she was proud of him for putting aside his pride to help Víðarr. Ember peered up at her father once Erik finished, pleading blue eyes meeting Artorias' amber ones. "They need us, Dad. They don't have anywhere else to go." She was gently reminding him of the uncertainty of Hemlock's future. If they didn't help Víðarr and Erik now, there might not be another chance. "Stăm de pază pentru cei pe care îi adăpostim." Ember didn't think her father would turn away Erik and Víðarr, but she didn't want to take that chance without voicing her opinion.

"Ember Carpathius" | "Carpathian"