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Eda’s wings shook as she’d settled down on the ground with Owlbert tucked tightly into her hand. She hadn’t wanted to leave her harpy form much lately, with all the Trappers that needed to be beat back, and such.
She didn’t want to keep doing this anymore. Eda the Owl Lady could have handled the current circumstances, but that just wasn’t the role she filled anymore.
Tears rolled down her cheeks silently.
She was Eda, mother of two.
And now neither of her kids were with her and she really didn’t know how to cope.
She went to wipe the tears from her eyes and nearly screamed when she was squeezed so tightly while she wasn’t paying attention.
When she looked down, she could hardly believe what she was seeing. She knew that fluffy brown hair and those rounded little ears. She wrapped her arm around the girl clinging to her front, casting Owlbert aside to pat her back reassuringly while her body was wracked with sobs.
The thick fabric of her old jacket felt real under her fingers. This certainly seemed like it was actually happening.
She looked up once more and saw Luz’s band of friends rushing over after her. They looked so relieved.
“Eda...,” Luz croaked, snuggling in closer to Eda’s chest.
She hadn’t even realized the moisture seeping through the front of her dress until now.
The only thing she managed to get out of her mouth was a sob as she pressed her forehead to the crown of Luz’s head.
Luz let her grip relax and looked up at her, gently wiping her tears away with the palm of her hand. “Don’t look so sad, please,” she begged with a shaky voice and a forced smile plastered onto her face. “I’d always imagined this would be a happy reunion.”
The act only made Eda break out into even heavier sobs. “Kid, you can’t just say something like that to me and expect me to not be sad!” She cried, her hand shaking so heavily. “But if you want a happy reunion, I’m going to do everything I can to give you a happy reunion.”
She took a deep breath and managed to calm herself somewhat. Luz looked like such a mess. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, the lashes clumped together with tears, and her hair fell disheveled over her face. She’d still never gotten it cut, even during her time in the Human Realm.
“I missed you,” Luz rasped quietly.
Eda pressed a kiss to her forehead and hugged her close once more. “I think that goes without saying, witchlet,” she whispered, voice measured and calm. “Everybody’s been missing someone lately. Isn’t that right, kids?”
Luz’s group of friends all clamored briefly before loudly agreeing with Eda.
Eda squeezed Luz’s shoulder softly. “We should get you all back to Latissa. It’s safer there,” she said, sitting Luz on Owlbert and preparing to take off. “And we can have a much happier reunion when everyone’s safe.”