Ceres sighed "Hecate it's no use. It's almost dawn. We've searched this entire forest and only found her bracelet. She's … gone."
"Don't give up hope. There is always a solution for those who are lost. Though not all those who wander are lost. I teach my subjects, 'there is always a path'. If you go straight, there are four paths, including back tracing. But if you count all the diagonal ways, there can be as many as 16 paths. One of them will lead to Proserpine, and more than one path can end up at the same destination."
"Yeah, the destination being Proserpine is still lost. I appreciate what you're trying to say, and for your help, but I'm so unfocused that the psycho-babble you just said made no sense."
"Understandable. It's getting bright. I'm tired, and my magic is weak in the daylight. I'll rest for the day, then keep searching during the night. If I were you, I would talk to the satyrs and nymphs. They have great forest magic, and satyrs know tracking spells. Also, they can get all the forest animals on their side, and the birds can spread the message to search for Proserpine. That will start you on a couple paths, though I don't know where they will lead. Try talking to some other gods, they might be able to help. Now I must really get going. Good-bye for now and good luck."
With that Hecate scurried off, while Ceres watched her back fade into the shadows, face full of despair. She walked off and called for the satyrs and nymphs. She told them what happened, asked them to search, and to get the animals to search as well, and ask the birds to carry the message around the world. She watched them scurry off.
She sent messages to all her demigod children to spread the word and keep a lookout. She then turned into light and zipped up to Olympus to speak with Jupiter.
She walked through the golden doors in the throne room. Jupiter was sitting on his throne, trying to figure out how to get Juno to marry him. He looked up, saw Ceres, and grinned.
"Hey Ceres! Long time no see! What brings you up here? I thought you were supposed to be threshing the wheat today."
"Yes, but something awful has happened. Proserpine is gone."
He started slightly, "uh… who now?"
"PROSERPINE. YOUR DAUGHTER."
"Oh… oh, oh yeah. Proserpine. Our daughter… um, haven't seen her lately."
"You are SO lying. You are the freaking king of the gods, and you're telling me you haven't seen her lately? You see as much as Apollo! For all you know -or care- she could be held by a murderer and is already dead!"
"Let's not go that far. I've been busy. I can't be looking at our child 24/7. Besides, how do you know she didn't just go to a friend's house? She's… she is 17 right? Anyways, teens do that all the time. Sneak out and don't tell their parents."
"Not Proserpine. She obeys me. Besides, if she did go to a friend's house, she would have come home this morning. It's almost NOON. Have you considered that?"
"Maybe she forgot, or overslept. Or maybe, she's got a boyfriend she didn't tell you about. Happens all the time."
"I'm sure you know that, as you have been with many mortal girls who had you as a secret boyfriend. First off, that is different. They were mortals, not gods. Second, Proserpine was NOT interested in any sort of guy. She could be in actual danger! I found her bracelet by a flower bush that reeked of power that wasn't hers. Explain that, why don't you?"
"Maybe a satyr or nymph made the bush reek, and maybe, just maybe, she accidentally dropped her bracelet there. Doesn't she have slim wrists?"
"Don't try that game with me! You know for a fact that it was the bracelet you gave her, which you enchanted to never fall off on its own."
"Look, Ceres, I understand. I'll get some people on it. Talk to Diana, she sees everything at night. Or you could wait for sunset to talk to Apollo. He sees everything in the day. Talk to Pan, he knows what goes on in the forest, or Mars, or Venus. I've got an important meeting with the four winds, and I can't be late. Good luck Ceres."
Ceres watched his receding back with narrowed eyes. Jupiter was hiding something. But what? She sighed and walked out, planning to visit all the gods he mentioned before sunset.