Dad sent a raven-- Celeste was missing.  While Erik would usually detest being used as his father's errand boy, especially when he was on the other side of what basically felt like the whole world, this was different.  This was family.  It was a message that Erik needed to deliver himself, one that he would make Tate bring him to the Hallows for.  His brother had mentioned something about Ethne after, or maybe... during?  To be clear, Erik wasn't actually listening as his brother explained the plan.  While Tate didn't have the same personal investment in the situation, it seemed like he wasn't going to pass up an excuse to darken Art's door either.  

To Tate's credit, he hung back, insisting that the boy go ahead on his own to the Grove and call for Ember.  Was that some kinda sick joke?  Tate's dog (a good dog, what a good fucking dog) immediately realized where his handler had seemed to lack consideration.  Waving Potato off, Kaiju escorted Erik the remainder of the way, calling for Ember on the almost-yearling's behalf.  He would wait for Ember to appear before slipping off to monitor from the shadows, content to be at least some semblance of a responsible presence.  Good enough.  

"Speech"

A call for her presence was not something Ember was particularly used to. Usually all the visitors to the Hallows called on either her father or mother for obvious reasons, and sometimes on the rare occasion for one of her older siblings or other family. But for her? Never. It piqued the dark-furred girl's interest even more when an unknown voice called for her to the northern grove, delivered on behalf of Erik. Ember's mood immediately perked up at the notion of getting to see her viking friend once more, and despite being in the middle of practicing different ways to braid up her excessively long flowing tail, she hurried to wrap up so she could go see him. Her tail was mostly braided and the parts that were still in progress she just did up in a messy but functional tail to the otherwise neatly done braid of luxurious fur. Ember hadn't been awake for very long, still in the process of getting ready for her day, but the rest could wait. This was Erik they were talking about here! She couldn't keep her friend waiting!

Ember paused just long enough to slip her antler charm around her neck and tighten it into place around her throat, the cord just taut enough to keep the intricate charms resting at her collarbone. Then out of Hearthstone she ran, her raven in tow as long legs sprinted north across the plains to the shady grove of fruit trees. In her early adolescence, Ember was just beginning to emerge as a young fae, nearing what would be her adult height and slimming off much of the puppy chub. She still had a ways to go before her metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly was complete, but already she was beginning to look a lot like her mother's daughter—long slender legs, lithe body made of lean muscle, her flowing tail kept up in a braid to keep it from dragging on the ground, and the graceful look of a sprinter and swimmer, thanks to all the running and swimming she did.

The Carpathian princess arrived to the grove swiftly, slowing her pace to a trot as she began to sniff about to find her viking boy. She found his unique scent quickly, and following it to a clearing she spotted the plum wine-hued boy with his canine companion. The smile on Ember's face couldn't possibly have been any bigger, and she approached Erik with a vigorous wag in her tied-up tail. "Sneaking into my father's lands just to see me now, are you? You know trespassing could land you in a cell." Ember giggled; she was teasing him of course. She'd never allow her sire to throw the boy in their prison. Ember walked right up to Erik and gave his shoulder an affectionate nudge of her forehead, grinning up at him when she drew back. Had he gotten taller since the ball? He must have. "I'm guessing you didn't come all this way just to say hi though, did you?" A raised eyebrow was given to her intruding friend, waiting to see what the reason for his unexpected visit was.

"Ember Carpathius"

The viking bastard had begun to grow early this year, and he showed no signs of stopping. Rugged, rough-hewn... his father's son. Erik had big shoes to fill... someday. For now, he's just a boy coming into his own. Trying his best to.

When she appeared, it was at a run. His eyebrows lifted, curious. Was she showing off, or was she that excited to see him? Wagering it was probably both, Erik couldn't help but let a brassy little smile flicker to life on his lips. Dismissing Kaiju back to find his brother or whatever it was he needed to be doing, he would try to greet Ember on his own. This was his message to deliver, and he was going to do it. And he didn't want any witnesses if he tripped over his words or whatever. Erik speaks three languages, but it seems like he doesn't always speak all of them well.

Her tail was tidily tied up, but it looked like she was trying something new. He's reminded of the way that his aunts prepare their jewelry, braided into their coats. It was all very lovely, but so much fuss. Ember wears the charm, too. Erik steps into her space, a gentle knock of his muzzle against her cheek before stepping back. "Sneaking? I knocked," he grins. His voice has evened out some, though it remains strained.

But her suspicions were correct. He gave a solemn nod. "My dad says," right, take a second, gather his words. "Tell Artorias Celeste from Stargazers was kidnapped." Admitting that they'd had a security breach was hard. Celeste had been kidnapped away from home, but still. Still, it's not the only reason Erik's words are heavy. Something between his aunt and his much-older sister, he'd spent so much time with Cel's kids that they were basically his siblings. His expression drawn and a bit grim, he delivered the message to Ember. His words came scarcely as it was, better to deliver them to someone he's comfortable with, worried they'd desert them entirely looking down the barrel of a king.

"Speech"

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"