c-o-l-d to go

There was something about the sweet innocence of puppies that ember adored. Even though she was only just now a newly minted adult, she could remember days being as small as Ionela, where their father would piggyback her around the plains and their mother would show her how to bake fresh pastries and sweets. Memories she would cherish from her childhood forever. And now Nellie would get to experience growing up as a Carpathian princess as well! Still grinning from ear to ear as her little sister squealed with delight and bounced around excited at the prospect of going outside, Ember motioned with her head to the front doors of Hearthstone. "C'mon then, let's go play in the snow!"

Ember pushed open the front doors to the snowy wonderland waiting just outside for them. A fresh snowfall the night before had coated the gardens in an unmarred blanket of white just begging to be run through. The cold wind whipped into the warm castle, making Ionela give an exaggerated shiver as she asked if it was always this cold. "Not usually! Auster is actually very warm and sunny most of the time. We're having a very cold winter this year," she replied, pausing to throw on her winter cloak for added warmth. Seeing Nellie dancing around between her legs eager and ready to go out, Ember giggled and grabbed one of the smaller puppy cloaks from beside the doors and pulled it down over her sister's head to help keep her warm outside.

With both princesses now dressed for the elements, Ember bumped Nellie's rump with a gentle paw to nudge her out the door. "C'mon little sis! Let's go say hi to the snow!" Leading the charge, Ember strode out into the snow, kicking down paths for Nellie to follow in her wake. The snow wasn't too terribly high out on the terrace or down in the gardens, but Ionela was exceptionally small for a pup, so Em made the going as easy as she could for her. Leading Nellie over to the steps, Ember lowered her body down to offer her tiny sister a piggyback to cart her down to the gardens so she wouldn't have to try to navigate the snowy steps on her own. "Snow is rare down in Auster. It's much more common up in Boreas, like where Mom's family lives." If Nellie wanted to go see the rest of the world when she got a little older, Em was happy to show her the Armada.

"Ember Carpathius" | "Carpathian"