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Hunter had been at The Owl House for about a week now. He hadn’t left once. Hell, he barely left the couch except to go to the bathroom and whenever Flapjack dragged him to the kitchen for food! He also hadn’t spoken past the first day he arrived, which was beginning to worry Eda.
She couldn’t help wondering if he was naturally this quiet (though she doubted it seeing how concerned Luz also was) or if his silence meant he was regressing. Of course there was also the possibility that he just didn’t want to talk to any of them! She heard him whispering to his palisman every now and then….
Eda somewhat hoped he wasn’t regressing all this time, just because that would mean he’d been alone since he wouldn’t let anyone take care of him. He always shied away when she tried and he just curled up into a ball when Luz or King tried to talk to him or give him anything. While Eda knew regressing would probably help him, she didn’t know him enough to feel comfortable trying to help him into his headspace without him asking, and she didn’t want to force him to let them take care of him.
On the bright side, Luz had eventually told her what they’d seen in the emperor’s mind. Eda definitely hadn’t expected to hear all that. Belos and Philip…. Her poor kid felt so guilty for not knowing and for helping him. No matter how many times she said it wasn’t her fault, Luz couldn’t shake the guilty feeling. Eda didn’t know how she could convince her that it wasn’t her fault.
“Edaaaa!” King whined. “We’re all out of snacks!”
“What?” She asked. “I just bought more two days ago! Where did they all go?”
“My tummy! But I’m hungry again and we have no snacks!”
Eda rolled her eyes fondly. “Luz, will you take King with you to see Amity and feed him so he doesn’t die of starvation before I can go shopping?”
“No problem!” She said. “Come on, King. Do you want to ride in my hood?”
“Yes, please!” King climbed into her hood and made himself comfy.
“See you later, Eda.” Luz grabbed the books and notes she and Amity would be using for their research about The Day of Unity. She looked sadly at Hunter. She wished he’d say something, even if it was just to call her ‘human’ in a nasty tone or call her weird. “Bye, Hunter. Bye, Flapjack.”
Flapjack chirped from Hunter’s shoulder. Hunter ignored her, as usual.
Luz sighed and walked out with King.
Eda frowned down at Hunter. “Well, kid, it looks like I have to go get more snacks. Do you want to come with me?”
Hunter shook his head.
“Okay, that’s fine…. Will you still be here when I get home?” This would be his first time being left here alone. Besides Hooty, obviously, but there wasn’t much Hooty could do if he tried to leave. Not that Eda was really expecting him to leave.
Hunter nodded silently.
“Alright. Can I get you something before I leave? Apple blood, maybe?” Hunter had seemed to really enjoy it every time she gave it to him.
Hunter shrugged. Eda considered this all an improvement. At least he was acknowledging her. She poured the drink into a sippy cup. She wasn’t sure if he wanted one, but if he didn’t he could get up and pour it into a new cup himself.
Hunter accepted the sippy cup.
“I’ll be back soon, kiddo. I have my scroll with me if you need me.”
---
When Eda returned to the Owl House, Luz and King were still gone. Which was fine. She expected them to be gone for a while. Possibly until the library closed and they were kicked out.
Eda wasn’t too surprised when Hooty told her Hunter was crying inside. Aside from his first night there he hadn’t cried once. Of course he needed to let everything he’d been bottling up out.
Eda put the groceries down in front of Hooty and told him to put them away for her while went to the crying teenager on her couch. She sat next to him. “Hey, kid,” she said, using a voice she only used when Luz or Amity were regressed.
Hunter pressed himself against the back of the couch and tried to stop crying without any success.
“It’s okay. Just let it out.” With that, Hunter started crying harder. Eda bit her lip. She’d never been good with kids before, but since meeting Luz, she’s gotten much better, especially at comforting them. This one was different though. He’d been raised by Belos . Had he ever been allowed to be a kid? Had he ever received comfort or a hug ? Well, she could ask if he wanted one. If he said no, she’d think of something else.
“Hunter? Can I give you a hug? Luz always feels better when I—oh!” Hunter dove into her arms and started sobbing. Eda smiled sadly and hugged him tightly. “It’s okay, kid. I’ll be here when you’re ready to talk.”
Hunter hugged Eda and sobbed until he fell asleep. Eda stayed on the couch with him in her arms, petting his hair as he slept.
---
When Hunter woke up in somebody’s arms he began to panic, thinking it was someone from the Emperor’s coven trying to hurt him. He opened his eyes and finally saw the Owl Lady. He relaxed, but still pulled away.
“You okay, kid?” She asked him.
Hunter nodded.
“You wanna tell me what got you so worked up before?”
Hunter shook his head. Flapjack chirped at him, trying to encourage him to talk to her. He insisted that she could help. Hunter sighed and cleared his throat.
“It’s just…everything,” he finally said. He cringed at how hoarse his voice was. “Belos’ lies, me being a…grimwalker, being homeless, being covenless….” Hunter sniffled, but didn’t start crying again. He wrapped his arms around himself.
“Yeah.” Eda knew how it felt being lied to. She and Lily had made up, but it still hurt knowing she’d been the one to curse her all those years ago. She didn’t think bringing that up would help Hunter, though, so instead she said, “but you’re not homeless. You have a home here for as long as you want.”
Hunter’s lips twitched into a sad smile. “Thanks.”
“And hey! If you’re upset about not being in a coven, I’ve got you covered there too!” She went behind the couch to grab a t-shirt.
“Bad girl coven?” Hunter asked, raising one eyebrow.
“Welcome to the coven, kid!” Eda tugged the shirt down over Hunter’s head and helped his arms through the holes.
Hunter held the hem of the shirt in his hands while he looked down at it.
“Looks great, kiddo!” Eda said.
“Thanks…I think?” Hunter felt happy to be in a coven again, even if it was unofficial and…odd. And he was thankful for Eda being so kind to him, even though she didn’t need to be. Belos was never this kind to him. Thinking about it more, Hunter didn’t think Belos was ever kind to him, period, even when he was young. The only nice memory he had with him was playing hide and seek when he was really small, but…was that even a good memory? Hunter now remembered he’d gotten lost while hiding and Belos had gotten mad at him for ‘deliberately ignoring him when he was told to come out of his hiding place.’
Hunter thought maybe he could make actual good memories with the Owl Lady. And maybe even Luz and King and Hooty if he tried. Hunter dove into Eda’s arms again. “Thank you,” he said.
Eda smiled and hugged back. “You’re welcome, kid. Now, how about we go see about making something for dinner? Luz and King should be home soon.”
“Pancakes?” Hunter suggested, smiling. Flapjack flew to his shoulder and chirped. He liked pancakes too.
“Okay. You want some apple blood too?”
“Yes, please.”
“In a sippy cup?”
Hunter nodded, blushing.
“We’ll have to get you your own sippy cups soon. Maybe we’ll go shopping soon so we can get you your own clothes and some toys and stuff…. Not until you’re ready, though! We’ll keep you safe outside of the Owl House, but we don’t have to go until you’re ready.” Eda added the last part when she saw Hunter start to panic about the thought of going outside where the emperor’s coven might find and kill him!
Hunter calmed down and took the sippy cup he was offered. Flapjack nudged his cheek and told him he was proud of him for opening up to the Owl Lady. Hunter smiled and pet Flapjack’s head with his finger.
