Chapter Text
Hunter knew he shouldn’t be in his Uncle’s room when he was working on projects; but this one was different. This door led to the Human realm, Hunter was curious. So yeah. He had to watch.
At least he wasn’t alone.
He side eyes the Palisman that sits on his shoulders.
“Hey, kid!” Caleb says, as if oblivious to the reason for hiding.
“Shoo!” Hunter swats, though Caleb only moves to the other shoulder.
“Would you like to see how it works, Hunter?” A voice echoes from the front of the room.
Both Hunter and Caleb freeze up, Caleb quite literally as he half shifts to staff form and remains still. Hunter grabs this chance to hide him under his sleeve in the white cloak.
“I didn’t mean to hide, Emperor Belos,” Hunter finally says as he emerges from the shadows.
Hunter walks closer to the man, though remains at the bottom of the steps. Caleb is unusually silent.
“We found every piece of the door but without the power of the real key it refuses to open,” Belos says, his eyes glaring at the empty frame.
“Is.. it true that rain doesn't boil in the human realm?
“It is.” Belos turns to face Hunter, “you know I’ve been there before, did I ever tell you that?”
Hunter slowly shakes his head, Caleb by his side seems to ruffle his wings.
Belos continues, “the trees, they’re green. Nights are quiet. I look forward to seeing it again.” He finally begins to walk down the stairs, “were you spying on me just to hear these boring stories?”
‘ Quick, think of something, ’ Hunter thinks and asks, “the operation at the knee… Why did you switch me out with Kikimora?” With this, Belos brings a hand to Hunter's shoulders.
“Everyone has a use, Hunter. Kikimora has her intricate little plans, the Scouts carry out orders, and you... well,” He looks Hunter in the eyes. “The Titan has big plans for you, and it would be such a hassle to find a replacement. So, right now, you can be useful by staying safe in the castle.” The older man leads him to the exit.
The teen stares shocked, “if this is punishment for failing my last mission, I swear I can do better!”
Belos only smiles, “Good night, Hunter.”
The door closes in Hunter's face; the light that once filled the hallway now dimmed. Unsatisfied and frankly confused, Hunter turned around and started walking. Rustling in his side stopped him momentarily;
“Where are you going?” Caleb immediately asks, flying out of the cloak and into the blonde's face.
“No where, Matter of fact. Why are you here? I thought you left!”
“Aw did you miss your twin?”
Hunter ignores him and paces forward.
“Okay wait wait,” a flash caught Hunter's peripheral and soon Caleb’s human form matched the teens footsteps. “So when I left that book, I actually never left. I’ve been in the castle for days.”
This makes Hunter stop dramatically, causing his shoes to make a ‘clank’, “ days ?” he questions as he looks at Caleb.
“I mean where else am I supposed to go?”
“Not here!” Hunter's mouth opens and closes, “I- okay, I can’t deal with this. I have to prove to Belos that…”
Caleb coughs, “prove?”
“Ugh! Just go!”
The Guard runs down the hallway, leaving the other stranded.
—
Caleb left his home days ago, it was time honestly. The faces morphed out of recognition.
Caleb knew they were his family; Great and Grandchildren at that. But they didn’t know him. They never did. He was just a lost Palisman. He eventually got pushed out of the home more and more, and well enough he felt it was time.
It's been what, decades? He hadn't had the courage to leave the secluded forest, it was safe here. But he had nothing left. He knew it was his time to leave the nest…. Heh.
But now he was just flying in the air mindlessly, which if you ask his younger human self- that would’ve been a dream. He spent well over into the night flying over the boiling sea; long miles he stared into the vast water.
Even after spending so many years in this body, he's never gotten used to the feeling of being weighed down to the earth when his tires out. He feels so light but at the same time so heavy; his wings droop in response, causing his body to shift into a gliding position. Caleb barley hovers over the scalding water.
A loud boom distracts his thoughts.
Caleb raises his head forward, and with a push, rises up. Bright colors are in the sky, close to shore.
‘Oh my god land,’ Caleb thinks as he speeds his tiny wings to the sandy terrain.
The sounds are in the air again, louder this time as the bird dawns closer to the island. Sparkles of bright luminescents cloud the Palisman’s vision as he parades closer into the forest and into an old village. He takes a break on an adoring home; the dark wood a clear contrast to his bright feathers. What was interesting was the reason for the noise.
Down below was almost… a ceremony? A wooden stand with thin pillars was present; some witches stood around it. A man stands in the middle; he holds a white staff with an orb at the end… and he’s preaching. Wait.
That voice.
It can’t be.
Caleb can’t see much before the stage was blown up. Wait .
“The Wild Witches!” The man shouts, “they have found me. Run!”
The bird immediately flies above the damage in a panic. A fire was quickly tracking up the wooden ceiling; the townsfolk screaming in terror. But where did he go? A bigger explosion was sent almost minutes after the flee of the preacher.
Caleb flew a bit higher to scale the village in an attempt to search for him- he couldn't have gone far, right? In the corner of his eye he sees a white cloaked man exit an home, though not before looking hesitantly on both sides and crossing the street.
‘ That has to be it ,’ Caleb thinks, targeting the dark house.
The Palisman leaps into the chimney, and in surprise, effortlessly slides down the shute. Maybe a little too fast as he lands directly in black soot- covering his frame in a gust.
In a pace, glances at his surroundings; using the old dust as a camouflage.
Holy shit it was him.
Philip was older… well obviously. But not in the sense of on the death bed.
His hair had grown abundantly longer, now tied to a fashionably sensed ponytail; the coloring of cream with white highlighted streaks flourished down his shoulders. He took off the updated childhood mask and placed it on a nearby table and wow. Was he different.
Caleb audibly chirped in astonishment- which resulted in the younger looking in the general direction. The Palisman quickly retreated into the soot, and after a few long minutes, it seemed Philip ignored the noise. He withdrew quietly and studied the man who was walking around the home aimlessly.
Philip had a deep, jagged scar running along the brim of his nose and while it looked like it healed, it had long dismorphed the shape. He no longer had his beard, in fact, it looked like he was incapable of growing one anymore. His face was so clean of no stubble he looked almost child-like.
Keyword was almost.
Etching up the Wittebanes face, his once light blue eyes were now a dark hue, no longer full of life. They were hatched of anger and fueled by hate. The dark circles under his eyes implied little sleep he had… or stress? Caleb couldn't tell. Alongside his right eye and temple was another small scar, yet this one was… unusual. It was a dark green for starters, and almost wood like.
What was Philip?
What was he doing?
…How is he still alive?
Okay don’t get Caleb wrong, Philip may have done a little stabby here and there, but he was still his little brother. He’s glad he's alive, but he shouldn’t be! It's been almost a hundred years if he's done the math right.
“What do you need, Caleb?” Philip lazily announces, interrupting the bird's internal monologue.
‘ ...What? ’ Caleb almost chokes, ‘ how did he- ’
The person in the white cloak appears next to Philip, their head matching to the other shoulders. They are holding a box, “Sorry to interrupt…” Their voice is hushed by their mask.
Caleb's talons fidget under his weight. Was that his mask that he made? He burnt that thing… how-
The cloaked person continued, “I found an extra explosive underneath the stand that did not ignite. What would be the wisest decision?”
Philip brings a hand to his face and sighs, “you thought bringing it in here was step one?”
“I… Well I thought leaving it out there- and if someone found it, that would raise suspicion.”
He thinks, “alright. I’ll put it in the fireplace before we leave. Check this village top to bottom for anything else.”
“Of course…” with that, ‘Caleb’ leaves.
‘ What the fuck was that. ’ Caleb thinks, ‘ did Philip lose it so much that he named some… kid after me? Oh god did he have a kid? And name it after me- woah wait he started the fire? Wait , I'm in the fireplace.”
A shift from the cardboard box brought the Palisman out of his thoughts.
‘ Here goes nothing ,’ Caleb concludes as he jumps out of the chimney; shaking his feathers in a whirlwind.
This catches Philip's attention once more as he turns around fast . That weird white looking staff in his hand again. Caleb, nonetheless, hops closer to him.
Philip is wide eyed, his knuckles around the staff turn white.
“Philip! Hey!” Caleb shouts, even though all that sounds is tiny chirps.
Coming out of his trance, Philips face morphs to anger, “ You ,” he seethes.
‘ Uh oh ,’
Immediately a red flare from the staff flashes at Caleb, who dodges back in time.
“ Caleb ,” Philip exasperated, his eyes quickly shielding sadness. Though not before lunging at the bird.
Caleb flies off the floor, avoiding the quick hands but not the staff that batted above him. The crash came soon after, the hard wooden ground consuming his small body.
Thank God himself he didn't have bones right now cause they would be obliterated.
Soon enough warmth caressed his wings, enclosing his body like a cage. Philip's hands strangled Caleb's body. He was trapped.
Caleb struggled and shifted in the other's hands, but ultimately it was useless. Philip only squeezed tighter. He caught his prey.
“I’ve been looking for you for years,” Philip says as he looks down at the bird. “You are the only thing that's been alive to show that he’s been alive.” He laughs manically, “to show that he was wrong.”
Caleb felt his breathing shorten, but Philip continued anyway.
“You were there right?” He brings his thumb up to Caleb’s right eye, hovering it over the pupil, “you should've seen his pleading,” Caleb begins to struggle more; Philip's thumb now digs into the eye. “He’s wrong. I know he is.”
It hurts.
Caleb screams but it only comes out as pathetic chirps.
It hurts so bad.
This isn't Philip. This isn't his brother.
Please, it hurts.
“Once your gone I know I can get rid of this hell forsaken place”
This isn't Philip .
“- Alright it seems clear-” The familiar voice walks in again.
Philip's hands loosened, and with that, Caleb fled out the open door.
—
Hunter finally wakes up; an hour earlier than normal too. He couldn't help it. He was what the kids call, hyped up.
He was going to do this mission right. He was going to beat Kikimora on this mission and prove Belos that he is worthy. Hunter forms a small grin.
“...Have a nice dream?”
Hunter screamed as his head swiveled over to his window. On the window seal itself, a man made nest combined from the old white fleece of the Guard Mask and other miscellaneous blankets, sits Caleb. The glass, however, is shut.
The teen stares, flabbergasted. His emotions curve. “How- how did you even get in?”
“I have my ways.”
“...”
“Ugh you’re no fun,” the Palisman flies over to the pillow on the bed and sits comfortably. “Well when you got a little cranky back there, I went back up to your room and opened your door with my human hands.”
Hunter stares down at the bird, “Wha- Wait. Hold on. ”
“Hm?”
“You just walked around? All human like?”
“Uh huh. No one saw me, everyone looked busy or something. Plus I saw this random Scout uniform and I just… took it.”
Hunter looked back to the pile of clothes by the window, and sure enough on the floor, Coven Scout gear..
“And you just…Stayed here? How did I not see you?”
“Oh, I hid underneath the bed.”
“That- That's not a normal thing to say!” Hunter brings his hands to his face, “this is fine. This is fine. You know what? You actually kinda helped me.”
“Huh?”
“So… Thank you for your duties… you can leave now!” The Guard sits upright on his bed, and in an instant, flips his pillow in the air. The bird in question flies to the side.
“What-” Caleb shouts, his voice uneven,
“Go! Shoo!” Hunter ignores as he flaps his arms at the Palisman, navigating him to the window.
“I don’t like this routine we’ve gotten used to, kid.”
“We? I- Nope! Go!”
Thus with a final push on the rump, Caleb hops out of the room. Hunter roughly shuts the glass before the other can get a word out.
He takes a glance at the time, Titan! What was he doing standing around?
…
After telling Uncle he would be on patrol today, which was not technically a lie, and had the whole day booked. He had part one completed successfully.
The rest was… more difficult.
Acquiring the scout garments without suspicion? Easy. Already done.
Hunter hides in a nearby closet and changes his old attire to the grey and black themed uniform, covering it all up with the new white cloak. He covers his face with the recognizable Coven Scout mask, and his ears with the hood.
He walks out the small room and sees a group of Scouts by the exit; Kikimora by the door.
Now was the time. He hears that similar chirp near above.
He shouldn’t look up, really he shouldn’t. He knows who it is. He does it anyway.
Caleb is sitting on the bricks that outline the doors to the opposite side of Hunter. He smiles his bird-like smile, shuffling side to side.
“ How do you do these things?” Hunter exasperates, keeping his voice hushed. He points a steady finger at the red creature. “Stay.”
Noting the others had already left the castle, Hunter swept out the building after them. Easily spotting the abomination creature and Kikimora on its shoulder, he slows his pace. He just needs to blend in, not become one of them. Besides, Eclipse Lake isn't that far away, only a couple hours. He can do this.
Titan, blending is difficult. Truth be told he only had one person talk to him, which was Steve, and he immediately found out who he was. But Steve’s a trusted guy… Right? Yeah.
Nonetheless, after trailing behind the scouting group a bit more and hiding behind the larger forest trees- he observes. From what he was overhearing, they were already at Eclipse Lake; the Coven Scouts tirelessly digging out the caves. Hunter kneels against the wood and leans his head back.
Caleb sits on the uprooted tree, awaiting Hunter's attention.
In return, Hunter screams then hushes, “why do you keep following me?”
“Well you did tell someone, uh me, to ‘stay’ like a dog earlier. Yeah, not a fan of that. Came to return the favor.”
Hunter rolls his eyes, “well sorry I don’t speak Palisman.”
Caleb ignores the comment. “So… you seem pretty preoccupied. Was this the mission you were so worried about? You don’t look so… Involved.”
“Well listen, here’s the plan: I slip in with this disguise,” Hunter mimes a hand to his outfit while Caleb nods along, “I find the Titan Blood before Kiki, I give it to Belos, and boom! I'm useful again!-” The ending cuts off with an explosion above Hunter's head; both Caleb and Hunter duck down quickly.
Hunter army crawls away from the tree while Caleb regains his short balance, “what the- kid are you okay?”
The Guard gets up and monitors around, the Palisman quickly takes the chance to fly onto the others head as a safeguard. “Yup! Yeah!” Slight panic lures into his voice as he starts running to the opposite end of the cave openings. “Another way in, we’ll find another way in.”
The bird takes his chance to look around, “over there,” he says as he flies off the boy's hair to the edge of a tree. Hunter, now behind him, gasps.
“The Owl Lady and her dog…” He takes a second to study, “and is that the youngest Blight?”
The two zero in on their conversation below;
“This place is crawling with tools, what gives?” The ‘dog’ questions out loud.
“Titan Blood is the most powerful source of magic on the Isles… Kinda not surprised Belos wants it too.” The Owl Lady retorts.
“Well, we can’t afford to mess this up,” The Blight interjects, “Luz is counting on me… I mean… Us.”
Hunter zoned out the rest of the conversation, however, he sparks a grin. “Alright, new plan… They can-”
“Nope. Nope. Not doing the whole backstab or whatever come on,” Caleb urgently says, pulling on the blonde fringe.
“Hey- Hey!” Hunter panics as he trips down the snowy hill, Caleb letting go soon after. The Guard lets out a grunt as he hits the ground, stopping the attendees from further crossing the path.
“A Coven Scout!” The Blight says, her form already posing for battle. A purple flame casts around her palm, aiming at the Guard.
“Uh-” more panic ensues, “Yes I am but a humble Scout and I, er- Surrender!” Hunter says, with pleading arms.
“Well. That was easy.” The short one states, his hands on his furred hips.
“Not so fast King, don’t you recognize that annoying voice?” The Owl Lady queued.
“... Why does everyone say that?” Hunter says, dejected. (He swore he heard a bird chuckle in the distance, but he couldn’t be sure.)
The silence was loud in the winter tundra- the three still armed stared quizzingly at Hunter while he simply thought to the ground. Though not for long as the disguised Scout took the chance to book it across the snow.
“Don’t let him get away!” The older shouted, but not making any move to step forward.
Hunter thought he was at least going to go a bit farther, but his estimate soon failed as an abomination wrapped around his waist and arms, tripping him forwards. His mask flew off his face as his back flipped to the ground. Footsteps crunched in the snow as they approached him.
“This,” The Owl lady continued, “is none other than Belos’ right-hand man.”
The Blight gasps, “The Golden Guard?” Her look shifted, “he is… a lot scrawnier than I imagined.”
King, if Hunter remembered correctly, started laughing. The Guard growls and starts staring down at the recipients.
“All right all right,” Owl Lady said, though some chuckles sounded in her voice, “calm down King.”
“Sorry, he's just… so tiny. And he's supposed to be this big ‘ol Golden Guard! Ha!” King snorted.
“Well-!” Hunter started, but the Blight cut him off.
“Guys! Come on! The more time we spend lounging around the more Luz is sick. We got to go.” Pure worry spilt in her voice.
“Well it's not like we’re finding a cure for Mold, and besides. What are we going to do with him?” The older ask, pointing her staff at Hunter.
“We can’t just let him go. He would totally snitch on us,” King says.
“I'm right here.” Hunter comments.
“How about we bring him with us, who knows what he knows,” The Owl Lady conjures, bending down. “You ready to join us for an adventure?”
“I'm not sure if that's a good idea…” The purpled hair says.
“Yes! Kidnapping time!” King yells happily and turns his head to the other. “Come on, Amity. Remember what Luz said about him? He’s not that bad.”
“What-”
“Hm… Okay I guess. Come on, we have to hurry.” Amity says, and with a wave a her finger, the abomination rope lifts up Hunter’s body. The uneven weight leaves Hunter off balance, The Owl Lady stands up hurriedly and puts an arm on his shoulder blades. Though in response he flinches away. She looks hurt but he ignores it.
Amity daggers her staff at Hunter, the white Palisman in front of him. “Ok here's how it's going to go, you stay silent and we lead the way. Got it?”
“That's debatable,” Hunter snides.
The cat Palisman only gets thrusted forward again, this time hitting him in the chest. Hunter grunts in response and turns around begrudgingly.
“Okay,” King drawls, “so do we keep along this path?”
The Owl Lady snatches the map from the pocket of the Blights winter coat with a “yoink!”
“Let's see… Yup! Actually we can take a shortcut right… here!” She says, throwing the map in the air while running at full speed near the mountain side.
“Eda, wait!” Amity shouts.
She yells a loud, ‘hoot!’ while head-diving into slightly different colored snow. The others follow shortly behind. The light fades as they edge deeper, a green, almost blue hue transgresses the environment.
“Ha! Did I do it? Did I go into Harpy mode?” Eda asks, crouched to the ground.
“No, you just screamed ‘hoot’ and ran headfirst into a wall of ice. Pretty funny actually.” King says behind her, his tone lackluster.
Amity and Hunter soon catch up, the feline Palisman hits the back of Hunter again as she pushes him forward.
“You can put down your staff, I won't run.” Hunter says, annoyed.
“Too bad, because I don’t trust you.” She says, matching his annoyance.
Eda and King walk forward to the mining equipment, “huh. This stuff is old.” She kicks up some dirt.
“Ancient witches used to mine the veins for Titans Blood-”
“They're not paying attention.” Amity says, interpreting Hunter's ramble.
Hunter spots King gravitate on top of an old drill, Eda in front of it. ‘ This can't be good .’
“Go on, fire it! Maybe the adrenaline will kick in, and bam! Harpy Eda!” Eda exclaims, waving to her chest.
‘What in the world is a Harpy Eda? ’ Hunter thinks, ‘ whatever that is, surly they won’t start the dri-’
King starts the drill, “Sounds perfectly safe!”
“Wait, don't!” Hunter shouts, the abomination casting tightens around his waist and arms.
A light blue bean casts off the drill, barely scratching Edas arm and hitting the wall behind her. In turn, the beam hits a stalactite and bounces back on the other four walls. Finally finishing its turn on the floor, it lands its aim at the Blight, to which she catches with an abomination sphere; enclosing the beam.
Hunter sighs, “This isn't a normal cave!” His shoulders remain tense. “These walls are made from the veins of the Titan. Any magic you shoot will bounce right back at you!”
Eda snickers, “Huh, you must be real fun at parties.” She looks at the skull-creature, “Hey King, how about you use your new powers to echolocate the lake?”
King laughs an okay and pounces to the door frame. He lets out a screaming ‘weh!” and after a mere moment, looks back and shrugs.
“These two are definitely gonna get us caught.” Hunter deadpans.
“ Us ?” Amity scoffs, “there is no us. Now keep walking.”
Hunter shrugs and moves forward, the younger hunches her shoulders protectively but follows.
Behind them a Palisman turns a corner and chirps, fluttering up.
…
After he’d say, a successful talk with the Blight, they started walking to the cave of Eclipse Lake. He was getting closer and closer to his mission… he just needed to get out of this stupid abomination casting.
He feels a weight on his shoulders- physically this time.
“Kid!” Caleb announces happily.
Hunter wiggles his shoulders in annoyance, “Hey. Find a different perch, bird.”
Caleb respectfully flies off, and drifts out of view. Was Hunter still mad at him? Yes. Was he going to talk about it? No.
The group walks in view of a new room; bright orbs fill the area.
“Is this… Titans Blood? Eda asks, her head gazing at the ceiling.
Amity, with concern on her face, looks down at the map. “But Eclipse Lake is further ahead…”
“Who cares! We did it!” King says.
Hunter's eyes widened, “Stop!” He steps forward, “This is Fools blood, don’t touch it.”
“Oh, so you can keep it all to yourself? Pff- hard pass!” The Owl Lady laughs, raising her staff in the air and slicing it down to the blue orb.
The orb cracks instantaneously, the fracture lining down to the floor and splitting apart the terrain. Both King and Eda plunge down.
Amity cries and prepares her staff, Hunter nervously walks towards her.
“Wait! Take me with you!”
Kikimora's voice could be heard down the mines. Both the teens look down at the silhouette that forms on the wall.
“At least untie me so I can escape!”
Amity's hands clench around the staff, she hesitates.
“Please. I don't want to be replaced.” Hunter begged.
Hunter could see Amity’s break, “ugh, fine!” The abomination around his arms and waist slim and rejoin Amity's small pouch. She looks from side to side. “So, where will you go now?”
Hunter stretches his arm, “now…” and in a flash, bends down and kicks the Blights' ankles. Sending her falling on her back; Caleb who sits behind her tumbles.
“Ack- Really Kid?” Caleb shouts, though Hunter ignores him.
Hunter runs down the tracks to the minecart and bounces in, “-I get to Eclipse Lake before anyone else, bye !~”
Caleb rushes after him as the minecart soon drifts off into the cave. The rust of the rails diminishes the speed, allowing the Palisman to attach his talons to the end of the cart. Hunter's body is already half out the contraption, his anticipation off the roof. He wasn't even aware Caleb followed him.
The cart ends abruptly, causing Hunter to fly out and plummet his face into the dirt. It seemed the tracks ended halfway,
‘Alright, that's fine. I ran far enough,’ Hunter concluded, standing up and marching. Not even bothering to dust off the dirt from his cloak.
Caleb stops him by pulling on his fringe, the pain freezing Hunter.
“Agh!” The teen cries as he swats his face, “what was that about?”
The bird's eye shifted a soft yellow as his body wrapped a white frame. Caleb's human form appeared in front of Hunter again, though his arms were crossed- his face now dawned a more serious expression.
“What was that about? Mind explaining to me what that-” Caleb gestures to where they just exited, “was about?”
He looked to the wall, “I don’t know what you're talking about. It wasn't like we were friends.”
The older man sighed. “No, but you don’t leave someone like that. This world… in this world you don’t leave others on their own.”
Hunter remained silent.
Caleb eventually sighed.
“I’m sorry, Hunter.”
The Guard looked up at the other. Caleb's eyes… eye stared directly at his own.
“...Sorry?” Hunter asked.
“I meant to say this the other day. It wasn't my right to ask you personal questions like that, you had a right to get angry.”
Hunter was taken aback. Throughout his whole life, he's never had someone apologize like this to him.
“Now come on, let's get that Titan Blood,” Caleb smiles.
“Even though I'm doing it for Uncle's approval?” Hunter remarked jokingly. He had to get this awkward tension of… Kindness off his back.
“Listen kid, if this mission is so important to you then it's important to me too.” Caleb put both his hands on Hunter shoulders, he squeezed reassuringly. “Now let's go, we don’t have all day.” He took his hands off and walked past the younger. Hunter smiles and follows.
They walked down the mineshaft in short silence, nevermind the clanking of their boots against the occasional broken iron rails. Caleb's shoes are much more silent than Hunters. Soon enough a bright light comes into view at the end of the door frame.
“There!” Hunter shouts as he begins to sprint.
What was supposed to be a monumental moment instead brought Hunter's dreams to a shatter.
There was nothing . It was empty.
“What's wrong? Why aren't you down there-” Caleb asks as he arrives at Hunter's side, but stops as he glances at the empty lake.
“No… It can't…” Hunter starts to panic, he swivels his head from side to side, up and down.
“Hey, it's okay-”
“No!” Hunter exclaimed as he then rockets his body forward into the empty lake, his body tumbles down the side. “There has to be something!”
Caleb stands shocked at the top while Hunter races to the middle.
“Kid-”
“Please- Turn into a bird or something and fly around. Find something !” Hunter turned around and pleaded. His tone is nothing but panic.
Caleb said nothing, but nodded and complied. The familiar Palisman body came into view and flew in and out of roots that grew around the area. Hunter himself ran and searched in crevices;
“It can’t be gone. It can’t, it can’t, it can’t!” Hunter eventually heaved himself to the middle of the empty lake. Landing on his knees and slightly pulling on his hair. He felt a peck on his ankle.
Hunter looked over to Caleb, who only had concern in his face.
“It seems dried out. If that's even possible,” Caleb commented, hopping closer to Hunter’s knee.
“That’s it…” Hunter brightens.
“What?”
“When you can’t find water you can always dig for it! Maybe the blood just got sucked up but the dirt!” Immediately Hunter balled up a clump of dried mud and threw it behind him; Caleb jumped.
“I- well, yes. With water… Not typically with.. Blood?” I mean with water it comes down from the sky but the blood has just been sitting here… Uh…” Caleb drifts off, realizing Hunter is too consumed with digging in the soil. Footsteps in the distance catch the avians attention- he flies up to a near root to observe. Hunter has no reaction.
Amity and King enter the Eclipse Lake, their gazes match with confusion and hints of shock. Anger blooms off the Blight as her eyes see the Guard.
“Don’t worry, I won’t pick a fight. There’s no Titan Blood.” Hunter says, defeated.
“Then… Why are you digging?” Amity asks, raising her Palisman staff to her chest.
Hunter chuckles, “Ha- it's quite simple really. Belos needs Titan Blood to make a new portal key. Can’t get to the human realm without it!” He stops his digging to look at the two newcomers.
Amity whispers something as she clutches her shirt.
The other continues anyway, “since I failed my last mission, I thought: ‘hey! A chance to make up for it!’ But I can't go back empty-handed!” Hunter laughs manically. “Not again, long story short, this is my grave. Want me to make you one too?”
“This is really bumming me out.” King says.
“That’s just life, rat. Everyone has a use, and if you don’t,” Hunter blows a raspberry, “bye, bye! Ha, your friend gets it.”
The two diverge the conversation with him and enhanced their own; meanwhile Hunter facepalms to the ground. Caleb flies back to the soil, hopping to the hand of the teen.
Hunter swats at the Palisman, “go away.”
“Come on, no need to act all mopey. We’ll figure this out!” Caleb exclaims, bouncing onto Hunters back.
Hunter grunts, “-get off.”
Caleb is silent, but flies into the air. Soon enough the fabric of Hunter's cloak is being pulled;
“Hey!” Hunter exclaimed as his deadweight flops in Caleb’s beak. He lazily swats his hand once more, “go find a better witch to be with.” The Palisman drops him, to which then Hunter pulls dirt onto his head.
“Really? Come on, you are not making yourself a grave here, kid.” Caleb says landing back on Hunter's back.
The Blight walks over and crouches down to Hunter, who is honestly half paying attention. He only starts too when the weight on his back shifts;
“-Everything was an opportunity to justify existing, but there are people out there who won’t make you feel worthless, you just… have to let yourself meet them.” She finishes.
Hunter feels a shade over his peripheral, glancing over, he notices the girl reaching her hand out. Caleb is sitting on her shoulder expectantly, and whether it was for this reason or not, Hunter notices.
The key.
The fucking portal key.
The Blight had the key.
Hunter gets up slowly, and Amity notices and watches warily.
“What are you…?” She asks but gasps when she looks down at her neck, the key half out of the coat. She tries to readjust it but Hunter lunges at the younger and barely in time, the girl dodges and ducked away.
“Oh come on! Being nice usually works for Luz!” She shouts with exasperation.
Hunter, with a feral expression, attempts to lunge at Amity again. However is stopped when King slides in and cries another ‘weh’, a weird sonic boom-like sound is created, aiming at Hunter.
Caleb flies in and changes into staff form, blocking the attack, and protecting Hunter. After the shock, Hunter soon grabs the Palisman and with a sinister grin, teleports.
Although not very far.
Hunter yelps, “real staffs are weird!”
“My bad, ” Caleb comments.
The blonde lets out a cry as he is bound in another abomination trap, he heaves as he stares at the girl. She stares back with a bored expression.
Hunter felt trapped , his grip on the staff tightened as he attempted to teleport away.
‘Why can’t I go farther? ’ Hunter thinks as he heaves again.
“We aren't thinking the same. We need to think the same location.” Caleb says calmly.
Hunter struggles again, but this time he laxes his body, ‘ what? Ugh, fine! Above the girl.’
Hunter's body finally shines a bright yellow, the abomination disappearing on the floor and Hunter appearing in the sky. Hunter turns his body in the air and aims the Palisman at the two on the ground. Magic beams shoot out of the creature and soon enough bounce all over the walls. The Blight grabs her Palisman and starts flying above, King on board. Her abomination acting as a shield.
She lands on the ground for a moment;
‘ There !’ Hunter thinks as he teleports near the girl, arm reaching out to the key. King appears out of nowhere and tackles the Guard to the ground, shooting them feet's away from the purpled.
‘ Behind her! ’
“Got it,”
And with that, Hunter appeared behind the Blight, slicing Caleb at her. She blocked the attack, and in turn, he teleported in front, and to the side again. But she was quick.
She would have been a great Coven Scout, cause Titan, she had fast reflexes.
He appeared in front of her again, hand outstretched, though a gauntlet formed around her fist. Bashing the other in the face, Hunter staggers back.
“Are you okay?”
‘ I’m fine- ’
He looks behind; an abomination engulfs him and immediately everything around him becomes dark.
“It's hard to see outside we probably can’t telepor-”
Hunter grunts as he thrusts the Palisman on the interior of the abomination, the side simply flexes back in.
“Okay, ow.”
“The ground!” Hunter shouts.
“What?”
“Just make a fist to the ground!”
In doing so, a yellow-like fist plunges the floor and cracks through the abomination, breaking him free. The fist catches the Blight off guard as well and throws her balance; Hunter takes this chance and teleports closer.
“You really wanna help? Then give me that key!” Hunter growls, and using the Palisman to latch the key string from the neck, it detaches in an instant. It flies in the air for a short second but not before Hunter uses the sharp feathers from the bird's form and pins the Blights arm against the wall, her hand wrapped around the key. Her other hand held a sharpened, knife-like abomination to Hunter's throat.
Hunter breathes heavily, “listen, you’re strong, and I’m tired. If this continues you’ll probably escape. But here’s the thing, we know where to find you, and your human.” This causes a reaction to the other, Hunter continues. “So just… hand over the key.”
Amity reacted fast, “fine.” She looks him in the eyes, “just… Stay away from Luz.”
Hunter holds out his hand, awaiting the key. He grabs it eagerly. “Appreciate it.” He walks away and stops, “...I uh- mean that too.”
He shifts his hold on the staff so he sits on top of it, his feet hovering off the ground and flying off to the open ceiling. The two sit in silence for a minute, observing the stars.
Hunter finally left out a sigh of relief, “I did it.”
“...Well, you still might want to check on the key.” Caleb says hesitantly, flying lower to the ground near the forest.
“What do you mean?” Hunter opens his palm, observing the key.
And he panics.
Again.
“How?” He fumbles with his hands, almost losing his balance in the process. “It wasn't broken before was it? Oh my Titan did I break it?” Caleb chuckles. “What's so funny? This is serious!”
“No, it's okay. You didn’t break it. Before she gave it to you she broke it with her hand. I heard it.” Caleb simply replies, now low to the snow.
Hunter gets off the staff and turns around, raising the key to the moonlight. He stares at it for a while, his haze distracted when Caleb lands on his hand.
“See? Still some left. It wasn't a disaster,” He commented happily.
The teen chuckled, “and you stuck with me the whole time, huh?”
“Well someone has too,” Caleb flies to Hunter's shoulder.
“I don’t see why but… Okay.”
“Okay?”
“If I ignore you, you’ll just show up. So, might as well accept this.”
Caleb laughs, “you make it sound like I’m a nuisance!”
“I mean-” Hunter's stomach rumbled, “ugh. Okay, I need to go back to the castle to return the key.”
“And eat.”
“And eat… Do you eat?”
“I could go for a flapjack.”