Work Text:
VI:
At the age of only six, Eda Clawthorne is ready to rule the world.
A wildfire of boisterous energy, she bounces off the walls like a heated particle – uncontrollable, untameable. She has already mastered her times table (better than most people in the year above!) and she’s the star player of their elementary school’s soccer team (though she doesn’t like to mention that her older sister – Lilith – is the team captain, that is unnecessary information.) What more does a girl need to rule the world?
Eda thinks that she has it all covered.
Even when she scrapes her knees, she pulls a brave ‘big girl’ face as her sister bandages her up. Lilith is a good big sister; she always plays toys with her, and she takes care of all her boo-boos – she can’t ask for anything more. It has always been just the two of them, Eda and Lilith against the world, and she’s pretty much satisfied with that.
There has never been a moment where they’ve been separated.
Ever.
So why.
Why is Eda crying in the middle of the sandbox, all alone, wailing like a whirring siren.
It’s the middle of June, the sunrays relentlessly beating down on the earth, heat assaulting her sunscreen drenched skin. Her mane of red curls is pulled back into a loose ponytail to prevent her from overheating. As one would on a hot day, her mom decided to take them to the playground to take advantage of the nice weather.
Eda complains as her mother dotingly fusses over her, making sure that every inch of her skin is covered in cream. She wriggles under her grip, trying to escape – all she wants to do is run and go on the swings not be doused in some sticky, smelly cream that makes the playground gravel stick to her skin.
Once she is free from her mother’s grasp, she shoots like an arrow, dragging Lilith along with her by the wrist.
“Come on Lily!” she shouts excitedly, unable to contain her girlish squeals, “There’s no one on the swings, lets go before the stinky big kids!”
Lilith laughs, allowing herself to be dragged along. They laugh together, childish glee on full display as they swing high up to the air, feet touching the sky. Full of wonder and unbridled cheer, they both systematically (per Lilith’s request) explore each of the playground games. Eda grips tightly on the cool metal of the merry-go-round, laughing brightly as she runs in circles, making it spin at high speeds. Being the little menace that she is, she devilishly smiles as she quickens up her pace whenever Lilith (the poor soul) worriedly pleads Eda to stop, her mind drowned in dizziness.
Eda apologises profusely when her tiny hands rub Lilith’s back as she hurls into a nearby bush.
Through thick and thin, highs and lows, it will always be them.
Just her and Lilith, against the world.
That is until she is abandoned in a sandbox.
She isn’t one hundred percent certain how it happened, one moment they were side to side to one another, hand clutching hand, the next they were pulled away from each other by a swarm of buzzling kids playing tag.
All the commotion leading to the current situation, in which Edalyn Clawthorne is all alone in the middle of a sandbox.
When Eda realises that she has been separated from her sister, she begins to uncontrollably sob, hot unwanted tears streaming down her face in fat rivulets. Her head frantically swerves around, looking for the familiar head of red within the crowd, or even the soothing smile of her mother, but her efforts are fruitless.
The combination of her tears, sweat, and sunscreen has begun to make the sand grains stick to her skin, making it uncomfortably itchy. She begins to rub at her arms only to sob even harder as the granules scratch her skin, leaving it raw and red.
Lost in her tears, she doesn’t realise when a comforting hand starts to pat her shoulder, soothing her nerves. “There, there.” A small voice says.
Eda flinches slightly and recoils, giving her more space to look at the incomer. They have beautiful brown skin and bright green eyes that remind Eda of the forests her family visits whenever they go camping. And most shocking of all, they have a mop of curls coloured a vibrant green – Eda never knew that kids can be born with green hair - they must be a nymph like from her stories she concludes inwardly.
Timidly, the kid leans towards her, “Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you. I saw you crying, and I just wanted to help.”
The kid smiles at her, or at least they try to, the end result is much more awkward than comforting but Eda finds it endearing nonetheless. She brings up her wrist to her eyes, using the hem of her sleeve to wipe away the remaining tears.
Eda sniffles, the mucus from her nose suspended in her throat. “Who are you?”
They sit up a little straighter, eyes shining brightly, “I’m Raine Whispers.”
Slowly, they raise their hand, offering it to Eda to shake. Eda looks at it for a second before taking their hand into her own, gripping it firmly (just like her dad taught her), giving them a ‘proper’ handshake.
“Eda Clawthorne.” She says enthusiastically, almost instantly forgetting that she had been crying moments prior.
“Nice to meet you, Eda Clawthorne.”
Eda smiles, owlishly cocking her head to the side. “Why do you have green hair?” she unashamedly asks. If her mother was here, she would tell her that it is ‘rude’ to ask such invasive questions, Eda thinks otherwise, believing that curiosity is merely innocent.
Raine laughs, “My mamis let me dye it green after I won my class spelling bee.” There’s a prideful look on their face after they finish talking, and Eda thinks that confidence suits them.
“That’s so cool!” she blurts out and Raine sheepishly smiles, rubbing the back of their neck.
Red blooms on their cheek, “Thanks.” They look around, searching for something, their eyes still once they land on a far-off tree. Raine’s ears twitch slightly as a bright grin appears on their lips. “Do you like birds?”
Eda smiles, her face matching Raine’s, “I love birds! Owls are my favourite! They’re super cool!”
“I like their songs.” They say matter of factly, enthusiasm laced into every word. “Wanna hear my owl sounds?!”
Raine yelps as they feel Eda’s hands excitedly grip their shoulders, slightly shaking them, “Do I?”
Eda’s eyes sparkle, untamed joy coursing through her veins.
“Okay.” Raine breathes in, puffing their chest out when they exhale. “Here I go.”
They cup their hands together, placing their lips on the small crevice between their thumbs. Surely enough, low, and clear hoots echo within their closed hands and Eda’s face shines with amazement.
“Wow!” she exclaims, “it sounds just like them!”
“I know how to sing lots of bird calls, listen!” Raine trills a three-note song mimicking the sound of the morning birds.
“That’s so cool!” Eda looks around the playground before looking back at Raine. “Do you wanna play with me?”
“Okay!”
Eda takes Raine’s hand and leads them into the playground, sand beginning to fall off of them in every step. They play on the seesaw and climb the rope spider webs. Eda tries her best to impress Raine on the monkey bars, showing them how she can complete the entire thing without any adult’s help! By the way they cheer for her, Eda thinks that she’s succeeded in her efforts.
After a while, they decide to chase each other around the playground, a mixture of giggles and out of breath squeals. She’s free with Raine, finding herself having more fun than she’s ever had. So much so that she is blinded by her excitement, not realising when she runs into a heavy body at full speed.
“Oomph!”
Eda rubs her head thoroughly, an apology ready on her tongue. When she looks up a smile returns on her lips.
“Edalyn, where have you been?” a stern voice scolds.
Eda ignores the question and wraps her arms around her mother’s waist. “Mommy!”
Gwendolyn softens and wraps her arms around her daughter, patting her back soothingly. Moments later, Eda pulls back, soaking in the image of her mother. Besides her, clutching tightly onto their mother’s skirt with teary eyes is Lilith, her nose reddened from sobs.
“We-we’ve been looking for y-you every-w-where!” she says, hiccupping through every word.
There’s a small part of Eda that feels guilty for feeling so relieved that Lilith has been crying over her. It confirms the fact that she was not abandoned by the sister she loves very much, that Lilith does in fact still care for her. It demolishes the small seed of doubt that sits in the pit of her belly.
“Don’t worry Lily, I’m all okay,” she reassures, “I was just playing with – “ Eda turns around pointing to where she last saw Raine, but just as they magically appeared, they equally vanished – no traces left of them. Eda blinks twice before looking upwards at her mother with a toothy grin, “I made a new friend.”
Gwendolyn pulls Eda inwards and lifts her up, cradling her tiny body in her warm, strong arms, “Is that so witchlet?”
Eda nods.
“Well maybe you can see them another day, but right now we got to go home, daddy’s making his famous pork chops!”
“With the potatoes?”
“With the potatoes.” Gwendolyn confirms, prying Lilith’s fingers off her skirt and intertwining them with her own.
“Then what are we waiting for?!” she huffs demandingly, “let’s get a move on!”
Gwendolyn chuckles, taking her two beloved daughters back to the comfort of their home.
Eda thinks that she can make a little adjustment to her rules.
It can be Eda, Lilith and Raine against the world.
XV:
The wind roars in her ears as she soars past the trees, her large crimson wings flapping vigorously against the leaves. Eda trills happily, initiating the morning song of the birds, relishing in the beautiful call and responses. When she’s satisfied, she angles her body upwards, breaking through the thick canopy as she flies into the sky. Cold air pulsates through her skin, waking up every cell in her body. She bathes in the waking sunshine, ruffling her feathers against the heat.
Scanning the horizons, Eda cheerfully chirps when her sharp eyes zero in on a familiar sight. With a single spirited hoot before diving into the trees once more. A mischievous glint shines in her eyes as she perches herself on a thick tree branch, being careful not to rustle the leaves and make a sound.
There in the middle of the clearing sits a young human, they’re about her own age – fifteen – maybe a little older, their deep brown skin illuminated by the brief spots of sunlight that sneak through the crevices of the canopy leaves. In their long nimble fingers they hold a small wooden item with strings stretched across three-quarters of its body – Eda is not quite sure what that item is, her only note of information being that it plays the most enchanting melodies.
She stifles a brief giggle as her talons secure themselves onto the tree branch, and in one fell swoop she crosses her arms over her chest, free falling. Her talons grip tighter onto the tree as she descends, her body impishly oscillating when she reaches the bottom.
“Boo! I found you!”
The human jumps up instantly, startled eyes blown open. “Eda! I told you too stop doing that!” they chastise their hand clutching their chest.
Eda chuckles, flapping her wings to land soundlessly by the human, “Sorry Raine, but it was too tempting!”
Raine. Such a marvellous name. Gentle like the light spring showers but also powerful and relentless like the seasonal monsoons – Raine was just everything.
Raine sighs, raking their fingers through their curly teal locs. “Well, you’ve interrupted my practice session, but since you’re here, do you want to listen?”
She can’t really contain the way she lights up at the question, her talons beginning to subconsciously preen her feathers. “Please.” Eda says with bright eyes.
Eda expects them to start playing on their wooden item, but instead they pull out a small tube from their cloth satchel.
She cocks an eyebrow, “How come you’re not using the strange wooden block?”
Raine laughs, a sweet, melodic laugh that reminds Eda of the first chimes of dawn. “The violin?”
Eda wordlessly nods in poor attempt of hiding her embarrassed blush from not knowing the specific terminology.
“This song I’m going to play is a very special song, one that cannot be played on the violin.” They continue. Raine lifts the tube to Eda’s eyeline, close enough that the harpy woman can see the smooth varnish on the wood and the array of holes on its body. “This is a flute, Eda. It took me a while to memorise all the notes and figure out the key so please, please listen to my song.”
They press their lips to the top of the flute, their cheeks slightly puffing as they blow into the instrument.
Eda’s feathers bristle at the sound. From the very first note, Eda can recognise it’s cadence, each note had been imprinted into memory ever since she was young. It’s a foreign feeling the way her heart palpitates in her chest, all the blood in her body roaring in her ears. She’s heard of this feeling before, heard the elders in the flock gush about it, but never did she think that she would ever feel it for herself.
Her blush starts to blossom through her face until her skin matches the crimson of her feathers. “That’s my call.” She breathes out quietly.
Raine stills, looking up at Eda with hopeful eyes. “I tried my best to capture the beauty of your voice, but nothing can compare. I hear it every twilight and I just wanted you to know how it feels to listen to it. It’s magical, isn’t it?”
“That’s my call.” She repeats almost in a daze.
“Yes, I hope I did it justice.”
Eda presses her eyes shut before shaking her head, ridding her of her trance, “No, I mean that’s a courting call!”
Her tongue feels heavy after the words spill out her mouth and the heat in her face is undeniably uncomfortable.
“W-WHAT?!” Raine nervously splutters, fingers going limp, causing the flute to fall onto the ground.
“It’s a courting call from my flock.” She repeats more assured, heart thrumming in her chest.
“Oh.” They say simply. Once the words fully sink in, Raine starts to furiously blush. “W-wait, you’ve been singing that song outside my window for the past couple of months, does that mean - ?!”
She’s been caught.
“N-no!”
“And the dead voles I’ve been finding on my doorstep?”
“They’re customary!” Eda exclaims, throwing her hands in the air.
Raine places a finger under their chin and ponders for a second, “Weird… but endearing.”
After a second they reach down to pick up the flute, repositioning their fingers on the wood.
Eda blinks, “What are you doing?”
There’s a deep blush on their cheeks that oddly highlights the unwavering, determined look in their eyes. “I’m going to court you.”
XVIII:
Eda fiddles with the hem of her dress, the yellow fabric is stiff and ridged against her frame. She can feel the corset ramming into her ribs, her mother insisting on the tight lace as it is currently in fashion.
She is sat in the middle of the manor gardens, her feet mindlessly swinging from her place perched on the water fountain. It’s a rather modest garden in comparison to all the other gardens she has visited this past season, the Blights for example having a rather extravagant garden with exotic flowers and imported fauna such as peacocks and flamingos. Rather over the top, Eda thinks, but she never voices those thoughts.
Eda never really much cared for the formalities of courting and debutant balls, but as a high standing lady in society, it is one of her prime duties to uphold the status quo – one that she opposes greatly.
The Clawthornes are a well-respected family, coming from a long line of nobility that can be traced all the way back to one of the first kings of the country. She personally finds the idea of noble blood to be frivolous, a way for pompous people with too much shit cramped in their heads, to maintain power. But besides her personal regards, there has been only one good thing to come out of all of these customs and that is-
“There you are. I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
Eda springs up, her ears twitching at the sweet cadence of their voice, igniting a sense of familiarity and safety within her skin. She pushes herself off the fountain and approaches the newcomer.
“Well, I am hiding.” She says smiling, a slight lilt in her voice. “Why are you here, Raine?”
Raine laughs, placing their hands in the air in mock surrender, “You caught me. The old farts are talking their nonsense again and I just needed to get away. I’m assuming you’re doing the same thing?”
“Naturally.” Eda says, stretching her arms upwards and regretting it immediately afterwards when the corset snags in such a way that it makes it hard for her to breathe. “Gwen is trying to set me up with another kook.”
“She’s a determined woman.” Raine muses.
Eda sighs, “Yeah well ever since Lily has been rejecting every single one of her courtships, Gwen has decided to put all her focus on me. You know, to carry on the strong Clawthorne line and all that shit.”
Eda looks up at Raine expectantly only to see them give her a sympathetic smile. “I understand.”
“But what’s the point in all this? It’s all just fodder, there is no real importance in status or marriage, it’s just made up rules to make these people think they’re important. I’m not like Odalia Delphi, who’s head by the way is so far up her ass for her own good.”
Raine laughs uncontrollably, and suddenly the tightness Eda has been feeling in her chest dissolves into nothing.
“You left the party way too early. You should’ve seen the dress she was wearing!” they guffaw. “She looks like a prancing peacock that fell in some cake frosting!”
“No!” Eda gasps, already giggling.
“Yes.”
“How embarrassing for her, I would feel bad for her if she wasn’t such an ass!”
“Eda!” they giggle, scandalised.
“What? It’s true!”
“Yes, but you shouldn’t say it aloud, what if somebody heard you?”
“Fuck what everybody else thinks!” she shouts into the open, causing Raine to promptly cover her mouth with the palm of their hand.
“Edalyn Clawthorne, you curse like a sailor.”
“Good. I rather be a sailor than be stuck in a stupid dress like this.” She states almost childishly. “What do you think of all this Raine?”
Their laughing halts to an end and they straighten their back. When they look back at Eda, their eyes are stony, and serious, far from the usual dazzling emerald that Eda is so accustomed to.
“It’s my duty.” They say. “I’d like to think that I would choose love and all that, but in the end, I want to keep the people in my life, the ones I love, safe, and if that means that I have to bite my tongue and perform any duty they ask of me, then I’ll gladly do it.”
“That’s kind of depressing.” Eda says, wide eyed, head owlishly cocking to the side.
“It is.”
“So, who are the people in your life that you love?”
Raine pinks at this. “N-no-nobody.”
A Cheshire smile tugs at her lips, the look in her eye is absolutely wicked. “Ooooh you love someone, tell me, tell me! Who is it?”
“That’s none of your business Edalyn!”
Eda snorts, quirking an eyebrow, “Oh? So, we’re resorting to full names now aren’t we Rainestorm? You got it bad, who is this illustrious person who has stolen your heart?”
“Eda~” They whine.
“What? Can’t I know my friend’s secret paramour?”
Raine shoots her a pleading look.
Eda sighs, “Okay, I’ll stop. For now.”
There’s a tight knot in her chest, she doesn’t quite know the exact reason why. Maybe part of her was hoping they’d say her own name, maybe not – the answer is unclear to her.
“It’s odd think that marriage is not far from us now.” Raine says plainly, not a hint of emotion in their voice.
“Not if I have any say in it.” Eda huffs.
Raine smiles, “You always do in the end.” They look upwards and Eda follows their gaze, both now staring at the countless stars in the atmosphere, thousands of miles away from them but still shining brightly enough for them to share this moment. “Have you used up all your dances for the night?” they ask, staring at the flimsy piece of card tied around Eda’s wrist.
Eda raises her wrist, revealing a completely blank card. “I haven’t used a single one.” She beams.
Raine stretches out a hand towards her. “May I have this dance, Miss Clawthorne?”
Eda crossed her arms, smirking, “There’s no music wiseass.”
“Don’t worry about it.” They offer their hand once more. “May I?”
“You may.”
They intertwine their fingers with one another, bodies pressed close together as they slowly start to sway under the moonlit sky, surrounded by various roses and carefully cultivated hedges. Raine starts to hum a soothing melody as they move in circles, with each note they begin to hold on to each other even tighter, as if either of them lets go, the other would disappear. Eda is lulled by their serenade, feeling a grand comfort in the safety of their long arms. If Raine courted her, Eda thinks that she would say yes. Though that is lie. She knows that she would say yes.
Whether they knew it or not, they were promised to one another since before they were even born.
XXVI:
“Do you ever feel like we’ve met before?”
It’s a year after they’ve defeated Belos, and the isles has begun to slowly replenish itself. From building new museums dedicated to sharing the real history of the isles to relocating newly made refugees from the pits, the efforts in rebuilding have not been fruitless. It’s a long, tedious process but at least it’s progress.
But right now, in the safety of The Owl House, they are secluded from the outside world, for within this room, and this room alone, they are only Raine and Eda, Eda and Raine.
Wrapped in each other’s arms, they bask in the warmth of the other’s skin, stolen kisses under moonlit windows. For all the turmoil of the past thirty years, they have finally found peace.
“What do you mean by that Rainestorm?” Eda asks, resting her chin against their chest, relishing in the way it heaves up and down with every breath – full of life.
“I feel like I know you in more ways than one, as if we’ve lived many past lives together, and many more lives to come.”
Eda laughs, though its not spiteful but rather amused, “Those are some cheesy lines you have in that pretty head of yours. Romantic, sure, but definitely cheesy.”
“Well, I am a bard.” They say light-heartedly, pushing themselves up, readjusting the both of them on Eda’s nest. “But I am being serious, this time its not one of my smooth moves.”
“Psshhhh.” Eda snorts, “Smooth moves.”
Raine rolls their eyes, tucking a stray strand of silver hair behind her ear, “Well they seem to work on you.” Their voice is low with a deep vibrato, sending shivers up Eda’s spine.
She instantly blushes, cheeks a furious red. “Maybe.”
“Definitely.” They say.
“Well, if we do live a thousand lives, then I’m glad I get to spend them all with you.” Eda smiles before pressing a chaste kiss on their lips. “You’re stuck with me Rainestorm, ‘til the end of time.”
M:
Red leaves from the autumn trees fall swiftly from their branches. They drop in fiery clumps, as vibrant and intense as the young woman that sits languidly beneath them. Her long, thin figure leans against the tree bark, her lips pursed slightly as shallow breaths escape them in her slumber. A light fabric loosely drapes around her body, casting her in a heavenly glow. Her mane of red falls in ringlets, gently accenting her sharp features – a contrast that only adds to her beauty. Though aged lines crease her face, there’s a certain youthfulness to her that is impossible to describe.
It’s a peaceful sight, captured only in the present. There’s a tranquil silence that blankets the surrounding area, interrupted only by her breathing.
She doesn’t realise when another figure approaches her, their shadow towering over her.
Deep brown skin glows beneath the sunlight, eyes beginning to wrinkle as a loving smile adorns their lips.
“I found you again, Eda.” They say, their voice holding all the tenderness of the world.
Eda’s eyelashes flutter open, revealing the most striking set of golden eyes. A mischievous grin graces her face, twisting her angular features. “Raine, my love, you always do.”
Raine smiles before seating themselves next to their lover. An intricate wreath of golden leaves sits on top their curls, crowning them in such a way that makes them look ethereal. “You grow weary my dear.” They begin to wrap their arms around Eda, pressing their fingers into pale skin as they begin to massage the skin there.
“These old bones hold a millennia within them.” Eda jokes, though both of them know that there is no lie within her words.
“Only chaos can last that long.” Raine hums absentmindedly.
Eda smiles. “The song that goes on for eternity.”
“Even if you forget its melody, I will always remind you of its tune.” Raine says, and Eda understands. “It’s our song my darling, one only we can hear.”
No one really knows how the immortals live, its an incomprehensible entity that not even the Gods can understand. It’s an energy that courses through their veins like liquid gold, their souls tied to one another in a way that can never be broken, the love that they share transcends any plane of existence, defying all sense of logic and reality. In the end there is only one truth.
Eda intertwines their fingers together, for that is the only truth she can rely on until the end of time. No matter the distances in time and space, they always find one another without fail. For every song Raine Whispers starts, Eda will always be her ending cadence.
“One only we can hear.”
∞:
On the edge of the cliff sits two rocks.
One is slightly bigger than the other but only just. The smaller one is Raine Whispers, though at first glance it would be hard to recognise, while the bigger one is Edalyn Clawthorne, her energy much more reserved in this rock form.
It’s a peaceful day, the clear blue-sky arching over them as the sun brightly shines. The slightly bigger rock wobbles towards to smaller one until they touch surfaces, for even in this form, Raine and Eda will find a way to embrace and pronounce their love.
That is the universal truth in the end.
In every universe, in every life, Edalyn Clawthorne and Raine Whispers will always love one another.