Archive of Our Own

If there was a single thing Hunter missed from his life at the castle, it was the amount of time he spent in nature. Sure, he was in nature because of missions, which were stressful, but he loved the moments of peace he would carve out for himself, following streams, perching on branches and wading through the underbrush. Moments like those allowed him to properly explore the Isles looking for what he read about in books on Wild Magic. 

Those were the only moments he felt somewhat free. As long as he would do what was asked of him, and he got very good at finishing his mission tasks quickly, he could pretty much do what he wanted in those hours. He loved being outside, even under boiling rain, or nailstorms, or in blizzards. 

It wasn’t like he spent no time in nature these days. He and his friends would hang out in the woods around Darius’ villa or the Owl House plenty, and would even have field trips to the Knee or to the Right Arm. Granted, the adults insisted they supervise the latter, considering the possible dangers of the newly risen mountain.   

And that’s kind of where the main issue was. As much as he appreciated his friends and newfound family, and everyone else in his life he was still slightly unsure where they fell on the friend-family spectrum, he sometimes missed those moments when it was just him and the trees. 

As he waved bye to his friends after school, confirming a plan for a hangout tomorrow with Gus, and then started to walk towards Darius’ house home. The afternoon breeze was pleasant, and it felt like a perfect day for a forest walk. Or a flight. He took out his foldable abomination staff (just one of many gifts from Darius) and took off. By the time he was in the air, he really wished he had time to spend a day in the woods. And, well, with only a tiny bit of homework he got in beast keeping class and some Bard theory, and maths, he technically would. 

He was sure Darius wouldn’t mind. He knew Hunter was resourceful and would be fine, so there was no reason to bother him at work by calling him about his plans. He planned to be home before proper dark anyways. Definitely before midnight! By the time he would get home, nobody would probably even notice he was gone!

….

Darius checked the clock for the third time in ten minutes. It was way past 5 PM and both he and Eber got back from work about an hour ago, but, instead of being greeted by Hunter running into them for a hug, they got to an empty house. 

Was Hunter held back at school? He knew Hunter’s schedule by heart and was well aware that he had derby practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Advanced Wild Magic elective on Wednesdays. It was Monday. Besides, even if he had any of those extracurriculars, he would never be at school past 3 PM.  

He called his phone, but Hunter didn’t answer. He tried not to panic. Hunter was sixteen, almost seventeen by that point. Knowing him, he decided to join something like Advance Potion Class on a whim and got held up talking to other students.

However, it’s been an hour since Darius returned home and he was still worried. Did Hunter go to one of his friends and forget to tell him? He told him something about going to see Augustus Porter after school, but he was about ninety per cent certain it was supposed to be happening the next day. Did he mix things up? 

Worry for cub? Eber, who just walked into the room, asked. 

“Yes, aren’t you? It’s not like him to just not come home!” Darius sighed.

Trepidation set in his heart as he remembered an incident during the second month of Hunter living with them. He broke a crystal juice pitcher Darius had, and he ran off partially thanks to Darius’ less-than-ideal reaction. They found him quickly, and the issue was resolved after Darius apologised for overreacting and explained that something like this would never result in Hunter being punished, let alone kicked out. If anything, they felt closer after it. 

Did something like that happen again? He started to mentally review his and Hunter’s conversations in the last two days.

Not like last time, Dari, Eber nuzzled against his calf as if they were reading his mind, Nothing happened. 

“I know, I know,'' Darius plopped on the sofa, uselessly checking the scroll again, “Which is why I’m even more worried! When was he supposed to meet Augustus for that game?”

Not sure. Asleep at breakfast table, me. You not sure?

“Two hours ago, I would’ve bet my cloak that it was tomorrow. Now I’m not that certain.”

You call the other cub. I check yard. Maybe our cub fell asleep under tree. 

“Maybe,'' Darius sighed hoping that one of the two options was true. He went to the cabinet on top of which the crow phone perched when not in use and typed in the number of the Porter household. 

It rang two times before the kid answered, “Hello, Gus the Illusion master on the phone, how may I help you?”

“Why are you answering a phone like you own a business? You’re going to confuse people, kid!”

“I know it’s you! I’m practising for my future business!”

Darius sighed, “Whatever, is Hunter with you?”

“No, he’s coming over tomorrow, I thought you knew. Why?”

“I do know, I was just not sure whether that was today or tomorrow,” Darius said, his worry increasing.

“Wait, is Hunter not home?” Judging from Augustus’ tone, Darius was not the only one worried. 

“No, he’s not. Why else would I be calling you?” Darius groused before he reminded himself to keep his voice and frustration down. It wasn’t Augustus’ fault Hunter was late, “Do you know he’s with one of the rest of you kids?”

“I don’t think so. Willow’s aunt has a birthday so she’ll be going to her place with her dads, and I’m pretty sure Amity said something about covering an extra shift at the library today,  and both of the twins have more school stuff, so I don’t think he’ll be at the Blights’ place either. In fact, I’m pretty sure he went straight home after class.”

The last sentence made Darius’ concern spike. Where could Hunter have gone on the way from school to Villa Deamonne? 

He still had enough in him to recognise that he should probably at least attempt to calm the worried thirteen-year-old. No need to alarm Hunter’s friend even more before he knew whether there was an actual reason for the alarm. He tried to keep his voice as calm as possible, “So he didn’t get held up at school?”

“No, not as far as I know. Unless he, I don’t know, forgot something, went back to get it, and got stuck there, somehow. Only Drama class and Advanced potions 2 are this late today. I can ask Skara and Edric, because they are in those classes. And I can check with Willow and Amity, just in case.”

“Thanks, kid.”

“No problem. Just please call me when you figure out where he is!” Was it concerning that Darius knew that kid well enough by then, and had seen him upset or worried enough times, to perfectly imagine what he looked like on the other side of the phone?

“Will do, kid,” Darius ended the call and sighed. He was worried. Did Hunter just randomly decide to join a drama class? Did he stay to watch a play rehearsal? Did he join Edric Blight for some potions experiments? Or was Darius just clinging to simple, safe explanations? 

He decided to call the school. Titan knew Bump was pulling overtime like no other, so he was probably still there. An idea came into his head. What if Hunter got detention and Augustus was covering for him? The kid sounded honest, and he hoped that all of Hunter’s friends knew he would not get mad over something like that, not really, but it was a possibility. 

Cub not in yard, Eber came back into the living room. Hasn’t been here since morning. Old smell. 

“Can you go search around? ” Darius asked, “Down to the creek, and maybe around the old pain-needle trees? I want to check with the school and, I don’t know, Eda. He may have gotten detention, or have gone to The Owl House for something and forgot to call.”

Not answering? 

Darius pulled out his scroll. He already tried making a few voice calls and sending texts but nothing got through, “I’m assuming his battery got empty. When that kid gets home, I’ll glue a portable charger to his forehead!”

Eber chuckled a bit, Will look for cub in nearby woods, you call others. 

He watched as Eber walked out of the house before he typed in Bump’s number. 

A quick conversation with the very tired, and very overworked principal confirmed that Hunter didn’t get detention and that most students left the school though he did promise to check through the intercom and call Darius if he found anything out. 

“So help me Titan, if he fell asleep in the classroom…” Darius sighed even if that would be the best option at this point. If it was the case, they would need a conversation about why Hunter was so tired to fall asleep at school, but next to all the horrible scenarios taht started to swirl in Darius’ head, Hunter being underslept was tame.

He shook those off, reminding himself that there was probably a rather simple explanation for this. And there were plenty more places Hunter could’ve visited and just forgot to call him.

He found himself, almost instinctively, looking for Eda’s number. If Hunter wasn’t at school, or at one of his friends’ houses, he might’ve visited her. Potions and Wild Magic ended up being one of his favourite subjects and maybe he went to her place for some extra tips.

The phone rang about five times before she answered.

“Yeah?” Eda sounded like she just woke up from a nap.

“Eda, have you seen Hunter?”

“Pfft, did you lose your kid, Deamonne?”

“I’m not in the mood for your stupid jokes!”

“Ok, ok, sorry!” She yawned, and when she spoke again, her tone was much more serious, “he’s not here, and, wait KING HAVE YOU SEEN HUNTER!? NO!? OK! Ok, King hasn’t seen him either.”

“Yeah, I heard,” Darius muttered as he rubbed his ear, “A bit of warning next time you start screaming. I’d like to keep my eardrums!”

“Sorry. Did he not come home after school?”

“Why else would I be asking?”

“Right, dumb, sleepy question. Look, he’s not here, and he’s not at the tower either, I think, but I’ll check. That and the yard.”

“Can you also call Lilith?”

“Sure, though she is busy at the museum today-“

“I don’t care if she’s busy, if Hunter’s with her, I want to know!”

“That’s what I mean, Darius,” Eda sighed, though he didn’t miss her using his name instead of one of a handful of stupid nicknames she had for him. Maybe, just maybe, Eda was taking this seriously, “She’s too busy for Hunter to be there. She probably buried herself into her research so deeply he couldn’t even reach her! But I’ll call her. And I can call my parents, who knows, maybe he went to pops for an impromptu palistorm lesson.”

“Maybe,” Darius sighed. Hunter only started the lessons with Dell Clawthorne recently. He wanted to learn about the palismen, but he needed to heal from what happened to Flapjack first. He still didn’t carve, he said he wasn’t ready for that, but he studied the palistorm trees and palismen lives, and would sometimes spend afternoons with Dell tending to the newly planted sprouts. Darius decided to let him once he was convinced Hunter wasn’t doing so plainly out of guilt but out of interest and that it was genuinely healing for him.

“You call them then, and I’m going to keep calling others, like, I don’t know, Blights!”

“Wow,” Eda said and he couldn't place her tone, “Calling Aldor, you really are worried!”

Something snapped in him. He could take her teasing at first, even her stupid remarks about Lilith’s workaholicism, but this? “You know, maybe talking to someone you find annoying to find your missing kid is something you would avoid, but not me!”

“Darius…”

“Just…call me if you find anything out!” He hung up, not even thanking for the offered help.

He seethingly started to scroll through his contacts, looking for Alador’s number. Out of everyone, he believed Eda would understand why he was as worried as he was. Eda and, once he called her, Camila Noceda.

Because…

Because Hunter died. And he wasn’t the only kid he knew that happened to. He expected more compassion from his friend who saw one of those kids as her honorary daughter.

He paused as the core of the issue hit him like a brick. The worst already happened to Hunter.

It happened while he wasn’t there. He wasn’t there to try and stop it, he wasn’t around to help in the immediate aftermath. He knew the likelihood of something similar happening again was low. But the idea scared him so much that he still struggled with letting Hunter have as much freedom as he deserved. There was still the urge to keep an eye on him at all times, which wouldn’t be healthy for either of them, he knew.

But in moments like these, when he had no idea where Hunter was and what he was doing and if he was hurt, the urge to protect him would only get stronger, almost obsessively so. And Eda had the gall to joke about it!

He realised he didn’t even type Alador’s number in, too stuck spiralling in annoyance, anger and worry to do so, which only made him feel guilty. Would he really let Eda’s stupid jab annoy him so much he wouldn’t keep asking around for his kid?

And, as the moment passed and he finally got to The Hack in his contact list, it hit him that Eda didn’t remark about Alador in a mocking tone. Her tone during that conversation, the one he couldn’t place, was disbelief. Sure, she may have said something stupid, but that was Eda. Not that he cared about sparing her feelings more than he cared about finding Hunter, but she did offer to help.

Cub not in nearby woods. Luck on your end? He heard Eber enter.

“Nope, just being a jerk to people who are trying to help,” he sighed.

Overheard. Be ok, Eda get it, Eber jumped on his shoulder and nuzzled against his cheek, Me, go check whole path to school and back. And where cub likes to read. And future treehouse nook. And the old well.

“Thanks Eber,” Darius scratched his fur, “I just…I know he’s probably doing something perfectly innocent and he’s just being a kid who forgot to call his dad, but I worry. The word that he was a golden guard got out. Out of all of Belos’ secrets that…that…Kikimora just had to let that one slip! If someone takes their anger at Belos out on him? Or if, Titan forbid, some of those idiotic people who still buy Coven BS and see him as a traitor get their grimy hands on him…”

He realised he was shouting, his hair bubbling and even the rest of his form   less stable, more like an abomination than flesh. Eber, however, just pressed their face against his, unbothered by the bubbling hair, and purred. Darius knew him long enough to know this wasn’t a happy purr, but a comforting one. 

If that happen, we find him, we save him. Also, once this over, I sent more bugs to Kikimora. Think again before air out more secrets.

This actually managed to get a small, bitter chuckle from Darius. Who said that petty revenge wasn’t good for the soul?

“What if he got hurt,” his concern spiked up again, “if he fell and injured himself or got attacked by a beast or…or…”

Dari! Eber gave up on purring and grabbed Darius’ face between his paws, turning it towards theirs, I know how feel, but to spiral, not help anyone. Not Hunter. Not me. Not you.

“I know, I know, I just…I should be there, looking for him, not here about to call the Hack!”

I look. Others also look, for now. You check with the rest. Join later, maybe. Or we find him. Maybe he come home. If he come, lovingly shake sense into cub!

“Oh, believe me, I will,” Darius sighed. If the whole thing did turn out to be just Hunter’s inability to send a titandamn text, he still wouldn’t be mad. Just relieved. And annoyed. He didn’t like lecturing Hunter but this would require another lecture about informing him, or Eber or literally anyone about his whereabouts before he goes on disappearing like this.

As Eber left the house, Darius did the next best thing to joining the search himself. He summoned about two dozen small abominations.

“What are you standing here for?” He asked irritably as they all turned their little faces at him, “You know why you’re here! Get going! Look in the woods, around the house, go to Hexside, go to Eda’s, and to that one grove the kids play derby in! I’ll be checking what you’re doing, and if any of you lazes about, you’re getting snuffed out before your time is due!” he threatened, making a few tiny abominations actually gulp. “So? Are you about to leave? Or should I get rid of you lot and summon another group?”

The little abominations scurried out the door and he saw the little idiots in the yard checking under rocks, Hunter’s gardening boots and flowers so small even they couldn't use them as shelters, let alone a sixteen-year-old boy.

“Please don’t be utterly useless,” Darius sighed. He could always use them as proxies, seeing through their eyes once they got far enough from the house. He still felt like he should be out there, looking for Hunter himself instead of sitting at home, making phone calls. But he knew he was in too much of a state to actually focus (though he was not sure that waiting would make him feel any better) and if Hunter did suddenly burst trough the door, he wanted to be there waiting for him.

That way, Hunter wouldn’t come to an empty house and Darius could hug him and shake him just a bit for making him worry so much. Did his mum feel like this when he would disappear with his friends? He thought about calling her but thought better of it. There were other places to check before he made his mother worry, possibly needlessly.

He finally called Alador, who took his time answering. As expected, had no idea where Hunter was. He confirmed that all of his kids were busy and that Hunter wasn’t at the Blight residence, or at the hospital where he was upgrading the machinery.

At least Hunter wasn’t in urgent care, so badly injured that nobody even hid time to call the next of kin, AKA Darius. That was, he supposed, good.

He then called Camila to ask her if Hunter was in the human realm.

“Hello?”

“Hey, is Hunter maybe at your place?”

“Not that I know. I’m still at work, but I believe Luz would tell me if he was coming, did he not come home after school?”

“No, and I already checked with a few people and nobody knows where he is,” Darius sighed, “I’m getting worried.”

“Naturally, I’d be too,” Camila said compassionately, “So, I’m about to close my office, and I’ll call you once I’m home, I’ll see with the girls if they know anything.”

“You don’t need to alarm them if you don’t want to,” Darius said. He already alarmed one kid too many.

“Listen, I know my girls. They will know something is up. Luz kindly reminded me that I’m way worse at hiding what’s going on than I thought,” she said and Darius couldn’t help but chuckle. Hunter recently said something similar to him.

“Ok, thanks.”

“No hay problema. Did you ask in the group chat? Or are you trying to avoid panic? I don’t see anything on my phone, maybe the inter-realm signal is just jammed again…” she guesses while Darius felt stupider than ever in his life.

“I didn’t think of that…Titan I’m stupid…”

“Don’t beat yourself up, no wonder you’re not thinking straight. But it would probably be quicker than a game of telephone.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Thanks. Again.”

“Don’t mention it. I’ll go check around as soon as I lock up the office, and I’ll have the girls help too. Call me if you find him, and good luck!”

“Will do. And thanks,” he hung up.

If any of the little abominations were still around, he’d make one of them slap him, how stupid he felt. But, there was no point in self-pity. That would lead to nothing.

He quickly typed in a message:

Goo_Daddy: So, most of you probably know, but Hunter’s not home yet. I’m worried. He’s allegedly not in detention, Eber checked around the house and he’s not here. If anyone has seen him, or knows something, please tell.

Gus_✨theIllusionMaster✨: He's still not home? Hmm…I'll ask Matt and Steve if they saw him…

Good_Witch_Luz: Mum just told Vee and I! Mum is checking the woods around our house, and Vee and I are looking around the portal shack, but I don't think he's here.

Chilly.Lily: Edalyn informed me. I'm looking around the museum as we speak. Hootsifer is searching the museum gardens.

EM_IRA: hey, dad just asked me if hunter is around, he’s not

EM_IRA: i also checked the hospital records, and he’s in the urgent care or something

EM_IRA: viney and I have practice at the clinic and we can help with the search as soon as we’re done

EM_IRA: viney will take puddles too!

Goo_Daddy: Having a Gryphon on a lookout would be helpful, thank her

WITCHCHICK128: He’s not at the library, I’m at the front desk today, I’d see him. Unless he’s sneaking in, but I don’t know why he’d do that.

Gus_✨theIllusionMaster✨: Stava and Matt are say they didn’t see him.

Gus_✨theIllusionMaster✨: *Steve

Goo_Daddy: Are they at the school construction site? Is Kikimora with them? Please tell me she is with them…

Chilly.Lily: You think she would try to pull something?

Goo_Daddy: Did we work with the same Kikimora?

Chilly.Lily: Yeah, she would try to pull something…I can ask Hootsifer to look for her if she ran from her public service job…again

Gus_✨theIllusionMaster✨: No need! Matt tells me that Kiki is at the building site and he’s keeping an eye on her

Gus_✨theIllusionMaster✨: Here, he sends a picture as proof!

Darius let out a sigh of relief at the image of Mattholomule Tholomule intently staring at a very disgruntled Kikimora and made a mental note to thank the kid, even if he was one of Hunter’s more annoying friends. Kikimora was pathetic, but as much as they liked making her the butt of the joke with great enjoyment, she could do pretty powerful magic. Kikimora could be a serious threat with proper determination and her spite was, in his opinion, proper determination.

Goo_Daddy: At least we know she’s not pulling anything.

Good_Witch_Luz: Vee called Masha too and he’s not at the Gravesfield museum!

WITCHCHICK128: I took the liberty of calling for Hunter over the intercom here and he didn’t come to the front desk so I doubt he’s here. I’ll go check for the restricted section now.

Batt_Ed: Bump did the same over the intercom here at school.

Batt_Ed: I’m still hanging out at the potions lab, Hunter isn’t here if that helps

Darius started pacing around the room, but, despite his unease, he felt warmth around his heart. He knew people cared for Hunter. He knew people cared for him and that he had a great support network, but it still warmed his heart to witness it in the moment.

It also made him feel growingly restless.

“I should wait for him if he comes home but would I be of more use out there?” he wondered out loud, feeling like the shittiest father ever, his mind once again dragging the memory of thar water-pitcher-relate fight. .

While they found him quickly, and got him to get back home, it wasn’t before Hunter already formulated a whole plan on how to go live on his own, utterly convinced Darius would kick him out or, worse, allow him to stay but treat him horribly.

It took days of work, and the trust was rebuilt but Darius knew those triggers were still there.

What if he accidentally did something that made Hunter leave. Did he snap at him the day before? Or the last week? Was he dismissive, or cold, did he sound bored while Hunter was talking to him? Did Hunter do something and, afraid that he would once again react like last time, ran away “preventatively”?

What if he was the reason Hunter left and wasn’t coming back, and now he was also sitting around waiting for just that to happen? What kind of dad was he then?

“Screw it, I’m going out,” he marched over to his coat hanger when he heard the flapping of large wings in front of his house.

Eda!

He rushed out, hoping to see Eda carrying Hunter like a misbehaving kitten.

However, considering that Eda flew over, implying urgency, he also dreaded much worse news.

“Did you find him?” he demanded before he even climbed down the porch. Eda stood in his garden, alone, “Did you find something out?”

“No to both questions,” she frowned, “he’s not around my place. I called my parents, they hadn't seen him. um is planning a search and dad went to check with BQ if she might’ve seen him around one of the new palistorm groves. Raine will check the town on their way from work. But I thought of something.”

“Yeah?”

“The Knee. Last week, when he stayed a bit after the class, he kept asking about ancient witches' customs, where I learned what I know and stuff like that. I mentioned the Knee since, well, it’s one of the few places where you can read anything that has not been filtered by Belos, if you know what you are looking for. Knowing Blondie, I wouldn’t put it past him to fly there on a whim because he just thought to look into something!”

“Me neither,” Darius sighted, dragging his hands over his face in exasperation, “You didn’t just text me this, why?”

“I thought of it after I already transformed, and you try typing with these!” She showed off her claws. “And with one hand for that matter. Also, I was just about to head out there when I remembered that, while I can fly there quickly, if you teleport me, I’ll be even quicker.”

Darius nodded, gratitude in his chest rising. Was this the woman he accused of not caring? “Sure. I can’t teleport all the way there in one go, but a few trips will do. I think I’ll stay up there to search too for a bit, being inside just waiting for some information is killing me! Do you know any tracking spells?”

“None that I can still use,” Eda huffed, “I know a few I could maybe channel through Owlbert without dipping into my cursed magic and risking harm to him. They are all short-ranged though. I can try them out when we’re up there so take something of his with you. I’m betting my other arm Eber knows all the, quote-unquote, pure beastkeeping spells out there. As per the wild magic ones, well, it’s some potent stuff. Too potent for me at the moment,” she groused, “sorry.”

He huffed, glaring at some unspecified point in the distance, “Amazing, Belos somehow managed to make our lives harder even post-mortem! If the sigils didn’t exist, I’d call Eber, you’d tell them the spell and we’d be golden!”

Eda just scoffed in displeasure at the mention of Belos, before she asked, “So, off to the knee?”

“Yeah, just let me put some shoes on.”

“If Eber has any slitherbeast treats lying around, get those too! Just in case.”

“Good idea. And Eda, about earlier-”

She raised her palm up to stop him, “Don’t mention it. I know you didn’t mean it. I should practise not saying the first dumb thing that comes to my mind,” she offered a smile that was part self-deprecating, part understanding, “would save me a whole lot of trouble! You think I’d be any more reasonable, or any nicer if we were looking for King or Luz?”

“You wouldn’t, I know that!” He groused, feeling guilty, “Which is why I know I crossed the line there!”

“Well, I said something really dumb, you said something mean back, it’s in the past now. Lets’ just go see if that kid of yours got overly invested in old ruins research!”

For all of Eda’s fierce nature, she was an understanding witch when it mattered, and Darius was never more grateful for it than in that moment, “I hope he is out there, just having his fun, but once I find him…”

“You’ll give him the biggest bear hug before giving him a mild-mannered lecture on not giving everyone heart attacks?”

“Yeah,” Dariues answered tiredly. Like she wouldn’t do the same thing it it was one of her kids, “Probably,” He quickly got into the house, grabbed the first pair of boots that got under his hand and went to grab soe treats from Eber’s supply.

Fully dressed, and carrying a bag of treats, he got outside, “Now hold on!” He created a pool of abomination under his and Eda’s feet, careful to account for the span of Eda’s wings and they sank in the direction to the Knee.

……..

Eda and Darius arrived on top of the knee.

“Hunter!” He called out immediately.

“Blondie!” Eda roared, loud enough for his ears to hurt.

They went around shouting like that before they found themselves near the ruins.

“Ok, so, those there,” she pointed to a collection of old, broken down, buildings, “are the ruins I talked about at the last class. The main complex at least, the one that connects to a wide, convoluted network of caves.”

“Amazing,” Darius groused. What if Hunter got stuck there? What if he slipped and fell? Or got lost in the maze?

“Hey, hey, if he’s there, he’s probably just enthralled looking at old murals, ok,” Eda offered reassurance, “how about I take the sky and the woods and you take the ruins and the caverns? You can get trough them much more easily.

“Fair point, also, you wanted to do something with these?” He asked, holding up two of Hunter’s pens he brought with him.

“Right, the spell. Hey, buddy,” she reached into her hair, drawing out Owlbert, “time for some spellcasting and then I need you to fly around and search for Hunter a bit. Can you do that?”

The palisman hooted in what Darius assumed was an affirmative way before he turned into a staff.

“Hold those for me, will you?” She pointed to the pens with her niubbin. She took the staff in her hand and made a spell circle. Concentration evident on her face, she cast the spell, and the two pens started to glow yellow. “Ok, those should point to Hunter now if he’s in about half a mile. If not, they’ll stand upright. Not sure how long it will last though. I’m still getting a hang of this.”

“They will help, no matter what. Thanks,” Darius said, handing one enchanted pen to her and keeping one for himself. He let it float. It stood upright. “Now is my turn!”

He summoned another two dozen small abominations, “You know your jobs. Start looking!”

As the small abominations started to disperse, he felt a bit dizzy.

“Whoa there, Darius,” Eda steadied him, placing a hand on his shoulder, “you good?”

“Yes. A bit drained. Ever since the spell…you know.”

“Fucking bastard, Raine's still affected to by his spell!” Eda cussed, “try getting yourself a staff,” she suggested, “if it helps me it will help you too.”

“Maybe. But first let’s go find my son!”

“Right. So, permission to ruffle his hair because he made us all worry if I’m the first to find him?” she asked.

Darius, despite his concerns, couldn’t help but chuckle, “Permission granted.”

“Good. Well, good luck!” she flew up, making the leaves and his clothes flutter.

“You too,” he said, too quiet for her to hear, as he turned to the ruins, “Hunter! Are you around? Hunter!”

He kept calling his son’s name and every nickname he had for him, reassuring him that, if he’s hiding for whatever reason, he wasn’t angry. The pen stayed upwards, even as he entered deeper into the cave system, to deep that there were places he was only able to pass due to his abomination form.

The pen still didn’t move.

“Hunter! Little Prince!” He came to a wall with only one tiny crack in it. Even he would have to put effort to pass that one. Hunter could use his teleportation skilfully, but he doubted he would try to  teleport to a space that he couldn’t see because of a wall.

“Well, he’s not in this cave, is he,” he asked the air before he returned back. Once he was out, he felt dizzy. The mix of exhaustion and anxiety, especially as he noticed that sun was about to set was getting to him.

I need abomination clay, he thought. If he was going to continue this search, he could use more of little abominations, but if he created more, he’s faint. For the umpteenth time, he curse Belos and the draining spell as he leaned against a large rock to steady himself.

Sound of flapping wings snapped him out of his thoughts.

“Darius? You good?”

“How did you…”

“Harpy vision! I was circling not that far from here and saw you come out. You look like you’re about to faint.”

“I’ll be fine. It’s just the post-spell effects, and the worry, and anxiety and the exhaustion…he wasn’t inside.”

“I assumed. I can’t find him around the woods either. Sorry. I really thought I might be onto something,” Eda scowled slightly. Darius knew her well enough to know she was getting worried too-she was tapping her fingers against her stump, her feathers were fluffed up in mild agitation and her eyebrows knitted together. On the one hand it was endearing to know people cared so much, on the other her worry didn’t do much to reduce his.

“Not your fault. It’s just…the last time something like this happened when he went missing, it was my fault and…what if he’s lost, or what if he’s injured and…”

“Hey, hey, Darius,” he heard a quiet whoosh before he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was smaller than expected, and when he lifted his head, he faced Eda, in her regular self, not as a harpy. “I won’t tell you not to worry, but whatever you’re imagining is probably not the case, not the worst scenarios in your head, at least. By the way, according to the group chat and the kids in it, Blondie seemed fine at school today. If he was so upset that he was planning to run, his friends would notice. He probably just went somewhere and forgot to call. Remember how many times we did that only to get home, you to your angry and worried mum and me to the fussing Gwen?”

“Dear Titan I owe my mum an apology….”

“I think that every grown kid with a semi-normal parent owes them that type of apology! Go home, take a breather, I’ll stay up here and look a bit further, ok?”

“Yeah, yeah, thanks,” he said, a bit calmer.

“Also, if he’s ok and just forgot to tell anyone where he is, warn him to expect that hair-ruffling from me when he visits next time,” she said, and for onec the slightly teasing tone was helpful.

“Yeah, I will,” he chuckled, though worry still stirred in his gut.

“And hey, if the worst case scenario turns out to be, well, the case,” Eda said, as if she just read his mind, “Not that you’ll need help to scare the living shit out of whoever harmed him but do know,” her eyes flashed dark, “You will have it!” she said as she turned into a harpy again.

“I appreciate it.”

“Now go, you won’t help anyone if you can’t even think straight.”

…..

Hunter landed in the yard, refreshed from his day in the woods. He crossed the bellybutton forest, flew around the foot of the Knee, not bothering flying up the hill since lack of proper winter equipment would make that trip unpleasant. Finally, left to the Latissa karst and hung out there until he noticed it was getting dark.

Darius would probably be worried about him being out so late. After all, he still had homework to finish. As he flew home, he realized his scroll was turned off as he took it out to ask Darius what they would have for dinner. His battery was empty.  

As he walked towards the door, he noticed a few of Darius’ tiny abominations wandering about the garden, as if they were looking for something. Did Darius lose his keys or something?

One of the little abominations noticed him, pointed at him and, after jumping up and down excitedly a few times, rushed towards the front door at a speed he never saw from one of the little guys.

What was that about?

He stopped by the stairs to clean his boots from mud when the door burts open revealing a quite frazzled-looking Darius.

“Dad what-?”

“Thank the titan you are ok!” He found himself pulled into a firm, almost desperate hug, “What were you thinking!”

“I’m fine…? Did something happen?” He muttered into Darius shoulder, before his dad let go of a hug and placed both of his hands on his shoulders.

As he lifted his gaze he found himself faced with a rather angry Darius.

Oh-oh! Was he in trouble?

……

Darius filled the second skin with abomination clay so he could continue the search for Hunter. It was getting dark, and he was getting increasingly more worried, and was just about to check on the messages when one of his tiny abominations ran it the room so quickly it almost crashed into one of the cabinets.

“Did you find him?” Darius demanded and the tiny abomination nodded.

“Where?”

The little guy just pointed towards the kitchen entrance. Right. What did Darius expect? Abominations didn’t talk.

“Don’t just stand there, lead me to him!” He demanded again and the abomination rushed towards the front door. Darius burst through it and immediately noticed Hunter by the foot of the porch.

Hunter was all right.

He was all right and cleaning his boots like nothing happened. As if Darius didn’t have three near-heart attacks that day from the worry. Relief flooded him and he found himself at the bottom of the porch so quickly even he wasn’t certain whether he rushed down or teleported there.

“Thank the titan you are ok!” He pulled Hunter into a firm hug, making the boy let out a small, surprised, huff. 

“I’m fine…? Did something happen?” Hunter muttered, confused.

Darius acted without thinking, letting go of the hug, placing both hands on Hunter’s shoulders, the mix of worry and relief turning into frustration, “What were you thinking!? Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

“Worried? I was fine, nothing happe-”

“I DIDN’T KNOW THAT! You went somewhere after school without telling anyone where you were, you didn’t come home, you weren’t with your friends, of with Eda!”

“I didn’t…I just went for a flight! I didn’t think-”

“No, no you weren’t thinking! You just left, and I almost died from worry, because you couldn’t call and tell me you would be late!”

“I didn’t think you would worry that much because you would know I was fine-”

“But I didn’t know that! Don’t you get that!?” Darius realized he was actually shaking Hunter a bit,so he let him go, though he couldn’t calm down enough to stop gesticulating wildly, “I didn’t know that! You didn’t tell anyone where you went! Any you weren’t answering your titandamn scroll, or answering texts, or anything! NOBODY KNEW WHERE YOU WERE, HUNTER!”

“I…I…I didn’t,” Hunter muttered, his eyes filling with tears, “I didn’t realize my scroll emptied…I’m…I…”

Hunter was shaking. He looked confused and somewhat frightened and what looked like a few errant tears was threatening to turn into genuine sob. Darius realized what this must’s looked like, him squeezing his shoulders, angry, yelling into his face. His hair must’ve been bubbling too.

“I…I know,” he gently pulled him into a hug, “I know. Didn’t mean to yell. I was just so, so worried.”

“Sorry…” Hunter muttered.

“Yeah, well,” Darius was still trying to collect his thoughts and emotions, “I’m just glad you’re safe,” he said, before he briefly turning to the little abomination, “You did well. Go fetch Eber and tell them to come here and that they can stop the search, Hunter is fine!”

“Eber’s looking for me?” Hunter asked incredulously, as if Darius just said that Eber joined a ballet class.

“Yes, Hunter, of course they are! We didn’t know where you were, we got worried!”

“Oh…I didn’t realize…” Hunter started nervously fidgeting with the ends of his sleeves, a mix of confusion and discomfort on his face.

Darius was still in too much of a state to form more than one coherent sentence without yelling from worry, let alone provide proper comfort. It just started to fully sink in that Hunter was ok, and that all his and Eber’s worry, the alarm he caused, was for naught. He desperately needed a cup of tea, “Let’s just get inside, come on,” he gestured for Hunter, “we can talk then.”

He walked over to the kitchen with Hunter in tow and quickly made each of them a cup of tea and the two sat in the breakfast nook.

“I’m sorry I yelled,” he said as he placed Hunter’s cup in front of him. The boy sat in the breakfast nook, his arms close to his body, his head down. As frustrated as Darius was for his carelessness, he hated to see him like this.

“Were you really that worried?” Hunter asked, lifting his gaze from his lap.

The incredulity in his tone, the shy hope mixed into it, as if he didn’t even dare consider this option. Darius wanted to hug him and hold him and grab him by the shoulders yelling ‘yes, people care, get that into that stubborn head of yours!’ until it got trough. It broke his heart.

He’d rather have Hunter be a typical teenager, one who, like every other, forgets to call his parents because he was too wrapped up into his own thing that this.

“Hunter,” Darius ran his hand down his face as he sat next to his son, “of course I was worried! We all worried!”

“You and Eber?”

“Yes, but not just me and Eber! When I got home and you weren’t here, I got worried, but I thought maybe you visited Augustus, or the Blights, or Eda, and I called them and you weren’t there and then the worst came to my mind! Nobody knew where you were, you weren’t answering your scroll…I thought…I thought something happened to you,” Darius explained.

“But I just went for a short flight, you guys shouldn’t-”

“People care for you!” Darius felt frustration bubble up again, and had to remind himself that this whole thing wasn’t on Hunter. He learned, no, was taught, trough the years that nobody would care for him if he was hurt. It wasn’t something that would be easily unlearned, but it was an important thing to happen.

“I didn’t think…anyone would notice…”

“What? Oh Hunter! How could I not notice that my own son isn’t home by sundown?”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to imply you were careless….”

“No, no, I know, I know, come here,” He pulled Hunter in a side hug and held him, “I know you didn’t mean it like that.” He couldn’t voice it, not now. But it wasn’t that Hunter thought Darius was some bastard who didn’t even care where his kid was. He believed he didn’t even deserve that care in the first place.

“I didn’t mean to worry anyone!”

“I know you didn’t. But, fortunately for you, as much as it may seem to suck at this moment, people do worry!”

“But…they have their things…”

“Yes, they do! But they care more about you than said things! Wouldn’t you interrupt your homework, or stop sewing if Perry called and told us he can’t find Augustus? People feel the same about you. Principal Bump asked around the school. Lilith searched the museum, Amity Blight searched the library, heck, Alador got of his ass to check in the infirmary with Emira if you’re hurt and Eda’s probably still searching the Knee!”

A mix of emotions appeared on Hunter’s face, from incredulity, to guilt, relief, happiness, discomfort, embarrassment, bewilderment, his cheeks and then his ears colouring a slight red, “Oh…”

“Yes! I’m going to show you something, not to make you feel worse, but to make it sink in,” he pulled his scroll out and showed Hunter the group chat.

Message after message of worried people, his friends, Darius’ friends, their chosen family. Discussing where Hunter isn’t and where he might be, ideas thrown in, plans for a bigger search forming, a few of Eda’s clumsily typed in messages, followed by voice messages because she apparently gave up of the text ones, and finally, Eber typing in they just got the information Hunter is safe and home and the flood of relief at that message mixed with light threats towards Hunter because he made everyone worry.

If Hunter wasn’t overwhelmed before, he sure was now. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but his lower lip trembled and he started sobbing, before he buried his face into Darius’ shirt, “I didn’t…I didn’t realize…I didn’t want to make anyone upset.”

“I know. I’m not saying this to make you feel worse. But to make you realize that no matter what you were told before, people do care. I care. I was freaking out today! The idea that something happened to you, that you were hurt and I wasn’t there to help, or that I didn’t know where you were to come help…” he just pulled Hunter even closer and felt him do the same.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

“O know that. And I’ll wory no matter what. But today…”

“I messed up didn’t I.”

“A bit, yeah,” Darius said, hoping that his sterner tone wouldn’t come off in the wrong way.

“I just…I wanted to have a day to myself, in the woods. That’s the only thing I miss from, you know, the before,” Hunter said.

“I understand,” Darius said, carefully choosing his words. Anything that touched on the before was always a tentative topic. “And I don’t fault you for that. You want your freedom, you want your own time, that’s perfectly normal. An I’m not saying you need to inform someone if, say, you stop by the shop to by eye-scream after school. But if you think something would go for longer, for more than an hour or two, if you’ll be home after  come from work especially, I’m going to have to insist you call, or text, or something, ok?”

“But-“

“No, no buts!” Darius, his tone, for once, not allowing discussion, “I know I already said this, I’m not bending on this, ok? If not me, then tell one of your friends, someone, anyone. You know you can talk to me about anything, but, if for some reason at some point you don’t want to, or you need space, tell someone else where you are so they can inform me. I’ll respect that boundary, within reason, but I need too know you’re safe?”

“Yeah, ok.”

“I mean it,” Darius pulled away from a hug, making Hunter look him in the eyes, “This is one of the few things I’ll insist on. Next time you do something unplanned like this, whether alone or with friends, you’ll find a way to let me know, got it?”

Hunter nodded, slightly nervously, “Ok.”

“Good. Otherwise you’ll be grounded,” Darius said, keeping his tone stern, but gentle. Groundings weren’t the trigger they used to be, but he didn’t want to make hunter feel worse.

“Ok…I get it. I think. I really made you worry, didn’t I?” Hunter studied Darius’ face.

“Kid, once his is off,” he gestured to his abom hair, “I wouldn’t be surprised to see gray strands as thick as Lilith’s!” He said, lightening his tone.

“Umpfh…sorry,” Hunter buried his face into his hands.

Darius chuckled a bit, “It’ will be all right,” he gently pulled Hunter into a hug. Truthfully, it wasn’t just for Hunter’s sake, but his own too. After hours of frantic worry, he wanted him as close as possible.

“I didn’t mean to freak you out.”

“I know. Apology accepted,” Darius said, placing a kiss into his hair before ruffling it just a bit, “Just remember to call next time. Oh, and I’m getting you a portable charger.”

“I don’t need one….”

“Yes, yes you do! So even if you forget to call, I can call you! I’d rather avoid this whole mess!”

“What if I forget to recharge my phone?”

“I’ll figure something out then,” Darius said, “Maybe I’ll ask Alador to install an option in your phone to scream at you to charge it once’s it’s on 5%!”

“Ughm dad!”

Sound of small feet rushing into the room made them both snap their heads, Sound like good idea to me! Eber said, slightly grumpy.

“Oh no, now I’m going to get another lecture,” Hunter bemoaned, though he didn’t seem genuinely worried. “I’m sorry I made you worry and go search for me!”

I know, cub. Forgivem. Not pull this again, they climbed up the seat and lightly flicked Hunter’s ear, ok. Worried, not just me and Dari. Everyone.

“Yes, I know, I saw it,” Hunter said sheepishly.

Good. Learn lesson, Eber said, before they pushed themselves closer to Darius and Hunter, purring. Peaople Care cub, learn!

“I’m trying to,” Hunter said. Wasn’t that one of the most heartbreaking things to hear?

“Well, we’re here to make it easier,” Darius said.

“That’s so cheesy!”

“You deserve cheesy!”

“Am I…am I grounded?”

“No, not his time,” Darius said, “Next time if something like this happens, probably,” he said, making hunter groan.

That as good. That was normal. He didn’t shiver in fear, nor did he start to frantically promise he’d never do wmothing like this again. He just reacted like any other teenager would, minus the eye-roll.

“You’ll just have to deal with me and Eber being extra cheesy tonight,” Darius said, “maybe even a bit annoying!”

“Dad!”

“And, besides, you get to face your friends tomorrow and we have that lunch at Eda’s on Thursday and she made me warn you you’ll get your hair properly ruffled for making her, Raine and King worry so I think that is consequence enough!”

“Ugh, why?”

“Why what?”

“Tell her no!”

“If you’re truly uncomfortable I will,” Darius promised, though he knew Eda well enough to know she would stop with the teasing if she noticed genuine discomfort, “But if you’ll just be mildly annoyed, well, that is the consequence of making people who care for you worry,” He places a kiss to his hair again.

“Ugh…Fine…I don’t truly mind it, it’s just…ugh…” Hunter groaned, the tips of his ears turning pink, “How is it so annoying and so nice at the same time?”

Darius could relate to that one. He had his moments when (re)learning to late people care for him was hard too, “Well, it’s how it is. But I promise, you’ll find more positives.”

“Yeah…I, I know,” Hunter said, his voice wet again.

They just sat there for a bit, Hunter pulled to Darius’ lap almost entirely, Eber squished between them purring and Hunter holding on to them with one hand like a plushie, while he wrapped the other one behind Darius’ back.

“Do you want me to sleep next to you tonight?” He asked Darius.

“Well, I would,” Darius answered, knowing he would be the most comfortable if he knew that Hunter is by his side, safe and sound, “but only if you want that to. I’ll be fine Hunter, you’re here now, and I know you’re safe.

“But…I want to. I mean, sure, for you. I made you worry, a lot, and I worry for you too! But I would feel better too.”

“Then of course little prince.”

I sleep there too.

“Oh, I know you are,” Darius sighed in feigned exasperation, ruffling their mane, “But first, we’ll all need a bath!”

“But…”

“No buts. You are covered in leaves and dust! We can cuddle for a bit longer, then showers, yes even you Eber,” he insisted, earning a small growl and a poke to the ribs from them, “then bed!”

“And dinner?” Hunter asked.

Darius usually coked, but that seemed like a gargantuan effort at this point, “Well, we can order in. Or I can defrost some of the pre-prepared snacks I made.”

“How about both? I want your food but also those (nešto) from Two Ribs!”

“Yeh, yeah, we can do both,” Darius sighed, “But for now, you’re trapped here,” he wrapped his arms around Hunter tighter. It was probably a good thing they needed to solve the dinner issue because, without the necessity to get up and do something, they’d probably fall asleep in the breakfast nook, with all the resulting neck and back pain the next day.

But he was willing to stay like that for a while. He truly needed it, after all the worry about Hunter, and it was good for Hunter too. He yelled at him, and while he knew ha had a decent reason to be angry, he needed Hunter to know that this didn't mean he would lose affection. So the three of them stayed like that, for a while. And, seeing Hunter peaceful and having him close made him realize-even if he did develop neck pain from this, it would be worth it.