Chapter Text
Bonesbourgh, The Boiling Isles
Present Day
This was not how Eda Clawthorne pictured her morning going.
Early in the morning, there had been a knock on her door, as expected. Hunter usually showed up once a week, checking in or looking to pick up an odd job to get more money. Eda, being the supportive woman she was, sent him off on potion deliveries, giving him more money than needed, but then again, a lot had changed in the last few years.
Shortly after Hunter had turned seventeen, he had moved into the Owl House officially. He worked off jobs with Eda, helped King with his studies at Hexside and even helped clean Hooty. At nineteen, he officially took the last name Clawthorne. He had grown up, moved out and gotten his job and his own little townhouse.
He was far from the emperor, and Eda would always keep him safe. Over the years, he had grown stronger, mental and physically. He could take on more than that sixteen-year-old boy ever could. Eda didn’t need to worry about him.
So, Hunter’s visits were never unexpected. In fact, they frequented more and more over the last nine years, to be exact. Ever since Dani had come into his life.
Dani, the little girl who he had taken in years ago, after her mother had been taken into the Emperor’s Coven custody on the accusation of being a Wild Witch. That was a common problem nowadays, with witchlings being left orphans after their parents who practiced Wild Magic were taken away.
In spite of what his uncle told him of Wild Witches, Hunter had raised that girl ever since she was found out on the street as a baby, with Eda’s help, of course.
Dani, the little girl who was now standing at Eda’s side, leaning against the counter of the market stand as Eda paid for her groceries.
Her father had showed up that morning, knocking on the door and practically demanding Eda to watch Dani. He said he had to work early.
Eda couldn’t blame him. The lack of sleep got to him. He had to work to care for Dani. And himself. On top of that, he was an active part of the rebellion, a father, and carried the crippling fear of Belo’s one day finding him and hurting him. Or worse.
And it wasn’t just him he had to worry about anymore.
Eda had taken Dani back into the house while Hunter left, pulling his cloak back up. Even after all these years of successfully hiding in plain sight, he still kept his disguise on.
It was late morning, King was still sleeping, so Eda decided it was a good time to get her errands done and run to the market. She had to do this at least once a week, with King always eating out of the cupboards. She had a few potions to make too, but Dani would be happy to do that. She was currently enrolled in the Potions track of Hexside, having been inspired by Eda.
And, Eda might have taught her just a few Wild Magic spells.
Eda snapped back into reality as the grocer slid her back her change on the counter. She took it gratefully, gave him a nod, grabbed her bag, and turned back to her not-granddaughter (She just downright refused to be called Grandma Eda)
Dani now stood with Owlbert to Eda’s side. She had a special drawing to the palisman, and he liked her, always wanting to ride on her shoulder when not in use. She couldn’t wait til the day she could carve her own, which would be a bird, just like the many Clawthornes before her.
A part of her thought that Dani was like Luz. Her adventurous spirit, her good-doing and eagerness to help out, even her bond with Owlbert. But they weren’t the same, and Eda always pushed that thought away. It hurt to think about for too much at a time.
The first year was the hardest. King cried out for her the most often, and Eda tried to comfort him. But, she had Hunter to care for now.
The house had felt dull without Luz. Eda missed having help around the house or with her jobs, missed Luz’s attempts at making breakfast, her weird jokes, her way of always finding a new way to impress Eda. Titan, that girl was something.
And then she was gone.
Just like that. The night after the Bonesborough Brawl, the night after Luz had come crying to her about her late father, about her missing her mother so much it hurt. The night of Belo’s surprise attack.
Using one finger of the precious Titan Blood, Luz had escaped into her makeshift portal while Eda kept off the scouts. The portal had collapsed after, and Luz and her human family were safe. No one was getting to the human realm, and no one else was to the Boiling Isles.
Before she left, she had turned to Eda and promised she would return. It was only after Luz left did Eda realize Luz had taken the rest of the Titan Blood with her.
She could make a working portal. She could find a way back. She was a smart girl, and the human realm had some advanced technology. She had promised.
It had been fifteen years. It seemed that promise was slowly fading away.
A part of her still held onto that promise, and the other part of her knew better. Maybe it was better Luz stayed safe, and with her friends and family. It was her decision to make a portal, and ultimately her choice if she ever stepped through that portal and came back.
It hurt Eda to see her cry, to be so sad. So, a part of her was glad for her to go home and to be with her mother. Her real mother. She would be safe in the human realm, far from the Emperor.
Eda knew she would go home eventually. So why did it still hurt so bad? Luz had a way of making everyone find a way to love her, and she left a lot of broken hearts when she left.
Lilith had been sad, sending her regards through letters. Her parents had been there to lend their support, too. Luz’s little trio had become a duo, Willow and Gus fell out of contact with Eda, sad about losing their friend, but eventually, the world moved on.
The older Blight siblings seemed a bit sad, too. But the youngest Blight was the one to take it the hardest. It must of been her first real heartbreak, watching her girlfriend leave in the middle of the night without a proper goodbye, just the empty promise of a possible return.
But before Eda could blink, she was back to the perfect student, top of her school, hair dyed back to green and all. That made Eda sad. It seemed Luz had brought all the best in her, but then her parents were there to turn her back as soon as Luz left.
Luz had brought out the best in all of them. But in the end, that wasn’t enough. It wasn’t Eda’s place to be angry, she was long past that.
After all, it was always Luz’s choice.
Eda started walking back towards the outskirts of the market, Dani tailing her. She turned back a few times to make sure to keep Dani in her sight. Titan, Hunter’s anxiety was catching up to her.
“Eda” Dani called out, and Eda stopped. “Do you need more Apple Blood?”
Eda just held up her bag to the pale, blonde girl. “No. I got some right here”.
“What about eggs? Ooh, and milk?”
“...did your dad put you up to this?” Eda narrowed her eyes. “I have all those at home. In the fridge”.
“..yes?” Dani replied, looking down at the floor. “He just wants to make sure you don’t forget anything!”
“Titan, I’m not that old”, Eda said.
“ Yet”.
“What’s that supposed to mean, huh?” Eda said in a fake offended tone, turning to swat at Dani. Dani let out a laugh while Owlbert let out a tiny chirp, hopping off her shoulder.
“Now, come on, I wanna get home to get some breakfast made. I’m not sure about you, but I’m starving ”.
“I could have something to eat” Dani continued on her way, until stopping a minute later. “Eda?”
“What now? Argh, Dani, I didn’t forget anything”.
“I know, I just.. Do you hear that?”
“Hear what, Dani?-“ Suddenly, there was a loud clatter up the street. A few people walking next to them turned to state, and a few yells of merchants lining the streets filled the air.
One yell stood out from the rest. “Stop right there!” They yelled. “The Emperor’s Coven demands you to stop!”
Coven Scouts, Eda registered in her mind. Dani automatically flinched, eyes widened, the stories her father told her of Scouts and Covens and Sigils all coming back at once. Eda instinctively grabbed onto Dani’s shoulder, holding her close. “Dani, stay close to me. Keep your hood up. We’re gonna be fine”.
“The girl! Stop her!”
Dani flinched again. “Dani, they're not after us, it’s gonna be alright-“ Eda tried. She turned when there was another clatter from behind them.
She spun around on her heel, pushing Dani behind her and making sure her hood covered her face. She turned to see a market stand had been overturned, and there, standing behind it, was a little girl.
She must not have been much younger than Dani. Eda looked back behind her, was about to step forwards, when pounding footsteps were coming from all around them. Uniformed Coven Scouts were coming to stand next to the stand. One bumped into Eda, who clutched Dani closer, heart beat in her throat.
He only stopped to murmur a “sorry” before turning back to the little girl. Thank Titan he didn’t recognize her.
The girl let out a whimper, and tried to retreat further back, but the nearest Scout grabbed her by the arm. “ You. Stop running!”
“What did she do?” Dani whispered, arms around Eda’s waist.
“I don’t know,” Eda whispered back. “She must have done something to get their attention like this”.
The Coven Scout pulled her in the arm. “You know you shouldn’t be running from the Coven. And you shouldn’t be stealing from market stands”. The little girl didn’t reply, her hood covering her face. “And no Sigil.. how old are you?”
She didn't reply, her lip just wobbled. “Answer me! How old are you?”
“Hey” another Scout retorted. “Aren’t you being a bit harsh?”
“I’m putting this punk in her place. She can’t run around stealing from us”,
“She’s just a girl”.
“She had no Sigil, no mark of the Emperor’s Coven. Witchlings five and up must have theirs now. It’s a law”.
“Are you accusing her of being a Wild Witch?” Eda swore the girl seemed to perk up at the expression “Wild Witch”.
“I’m accusing her parents. Now, tell me, how old are you?”
“Seven” the girl stated clearly, head still down.
“Ahah, and why don’t you have a Sigil?”
“I- I don’t know” the girl sputtered.
“Do you practice Wild Magic?” The Scout gasped. “Are you a part of some gang?”
“What? I-“
Another Scout came forward. “Stop scaring the poor thing. We’ll just take care of the Sigil right now. If Belos wants all Wild Witches taken care of, I’ll gladly do so”. He was pulling on a black leather glove, and Eda’s heart sank further.
The girl tried wiggling her arm away. “What are you doing? What is that?” She cried out. Dani hid her eyes behind Eda’s back, but Eda only took a step forward.
“Don’t fight it. We’re saving you from those.. dangerous ways, and bringing you into the light, closer to the Titan’s will fit the use of magic. Now, which of the main nine Covens sparks your interest?”
“None!”
“Well, that’s just fine, I’ll choose for you, then”.
The girl widened her eyes and, suddenly, she was twisting the Coven Scout’s arm at a weird angle, a snap emitting from his bone. He let out a groan of pain and doubled over, letting go of her arm. “I don't want to join a Coven! You’re a bunch of goons falling head-over-heels for a stupid emperor!” the girl yelled out, standing taller.
Dani poked her head back out to look at the girl, and Eda felt her interest being drawn to her.
Another Scout started to stomp forward, but was stopped by the one with the branding glove. “I’ll give another chance. Get your Sigil, join a Coven. It’s all we ask. It’s all the Titan asks”.
“The Titan is dead,” the girl spat. “As I’d rather practice Wild Magic than frolic around with bullies like you!”
“What you just have admitted to, the practice of Wild Magic, the harassment of a Coven Scout, Theft, and the resistance of arrest is enough to get you sent in. Get her!” The guard raised his hands. In an instant, five Scouts were summoning their magic, or readying weapons.
The girl widened her eyes once again. “But, I didn’t-”. And in an instant, Eda was moving to shield the girl. A bright ball of burning fire went right past Eda’s back.
The girl flinched back, but Eda was already roughly grabbing her wrist. “Go! Go! Go!”
Dani was already running in front of them. The footsteps of the guards weren’t far behind. What was Eda thinking? They couldn’t outrun them! But Eda couldn’t let them force a Sigil onto a little girl. “Stop right there!”
Desperately, Eda felt around in her pocket, and pulled out the stack of glyphs she kept for emergencies. “Hold your breath” she said as she tapped the paper and then she couldn’t see the little girl or Dani at all.
A few Scouts let out gasps behind them. “It’s just magic! Keeping looking! We’re getting that brat!”
Eda quietly pulled them into a nearby alleyway, sighing in relief and taking a deep breath once the glyph spell wore off. “Whoa..” she breathed. “Are you okay?”
She looked at Dani, who was shaken up, but nodded. The other little girl just stared back at Eda. “Who are you?” She asked hesitantly.
Eda pulled back down her hood, revealing herself to the new girl. “Name’s Eda. I just saved you, by the way. You're welcome. And let me say, you put on quite a show out there”.
A look of realization fell over the girl’s face, and she turned away, clutching her hood over her head.
“Hey. Kid. Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I- I just gotta find my mom-”
“Are you sure? You seem shaken up”
“Of course I'm shaken up! This world is horrifying!” The girl exclaimed. “It’s worse than she made it sound! Barely thirty minutes in and I’m already cornered by mean Scouts-”.
“Who made it sound?” Eda asked, confused. “And what do you mean ‘barely thirty minutes in’?”
Dani shifted besides Eda, gazing at the girl with a new sense of curiosity.
“I- Uh, nothing” she sputtered. “Forget I even said anything”.
“I’ve never seen you before, and suddenly, you’re just here, messing with a bunch of Coven Scouts. They’re dangerous, you know. You shouldn’t-”
“ I know! It wasn’t on purpose! I just need to find my mom!” She turned away. “She must have come through the portal too..”
“ Portal?” Eda repeated. “Where is your mom?”
“I don't know. I was actually hoping she would be with you” the girl mumbled.
“Kid,” Ed stepped back, eyes wide. “Who are you?”
The girl was suddenly reaching up, and pulling down her hood. Underneath was a regular seven-year-old girl. Tan skin, dark brown hair, brown eyes. She was.. familiar in a disturbing way, but Eda couldn’t put a finger on it.
The only thing that stuck out about her was her ears. They weren’t pointed. They were small. Round.
Human ears.
Eda’s mouth nearly fell open, and Dani took another step back, stifling a squeal of surprise.
“My name is Macey”, she looked Eda right in the eyes, and suddenly, she knew why those brown eyes were so familiar. “Macey Noceda. And I need your help”.