Chapter Text
A long, long time ago, a little girl traveled to a dangerous land, full of life from the deceased. This is the land they called the Boiling Isles.
The girl fell into the care of the greatest Witch who had ever lived the great and powerful (foxy) Owl Lady. She was a menacing caretaker who took care of her babies with an iron fist and soft down feathers.
"Okay, maybe it's not that dramatic." Luz pushed away from her desk and fidgeted with her necklace. It'd been maybe a half-decade since she made it home. But for just as long before that, she was stuck with Eda.
It wasn't all bad. It was a bit wild, but it was some of the best years she's had.
Eda was her mother and in some respects, she still is, even if she hasn't seen her in a good while. In some respects, Luz has been so scared to choose between homes.
She met incredible people on the Isles, watched Eda find and lose herself in her curse, watched as Eda hurt people, and she got hurt herself so many times.
Screw it she's going back.
10 years old Luz Noceda, a decade ago lost and confused, having wandered into a door at the wrong time, stood in front of a giant creature, feathered and worn from years of being hunted.
It bared its teeth at the stranger who invaded her space through a bright door. As her vision cleared, the beast saw the child properly, her heart warmed, and her head strung together.
"Oh sweet thing.. where'd you come from?" The unused voice croaked, and the baby stared up at her.
"Earth..?" She stuttered. Tiny and bright. The beast motioned her paw and batted the key towards the little dear.
"You can go. It's dangerous here for a little human." Her voice wavered. A black gem nestled in the bed of feathers on the breast of the creature. The little girl leaned down to the key sent to her feet. She clutched it and looked at the creature.
"What.. what are you?" The little girl's voice didn't sound particularly scared. It shrugged, Eda wasn't used to the question. She was used to folks assuming she was no good and chasing her anywhere but there. Even the best thing that happened to her resulted in her having to escape.
"I am Eda the Owl Lady. The scariest witch on the Boiling Isles." She said, once a upon time that announcement would have been grand and loud, but now the only thing that shook was her growls.
A small 'Weh' came faintly from in the nest. The beast turned her head and rumbled softly "It's okay King, I have a visitor." She mumbled, nuzzling the baby.
The kid nodded "You're a witch! I'm Luz, Luz Noceda! Who's that? Is that your Familiar?" She asked at the half-horned head that peaked out.
"King, he's my young," She said an offended hoot came from the mane of Eda "And this is Owlbert, my Palisman." Eda smiled and laid her head on the edge of the stick and wool nest.
"Really though kid, you should get out of here. I'm not gonna stay lucid that much longer." She said and tapped her claw on the button of the key. Her brows furrowed at the portal shut itself instead of unlocking "Come on stupid thing." She tapped again.
Her claw stabbed through the key blue liquid splattering out. "Well that's no good. See if it'll manually unlock." She shooed the kid to try. Luz did. There was a click but the locked case didn't budge. Eda furrowed her brow.
"Can you try?" Luz offered the portal. Eda sighed, worth a shot, she turned the key and one try snapped the key. Eda barely hid the swear that escaped her mouth.
"I'm sorry kiddo, that's not good. If I can't open this you can't go home." The witch said and put it down.
"Ever?" The kid's voice was meek. Eda frowned and shook her head thinking of what to say.
"I wouldn't say ever, it'll just be difficult. I'll... I'll have my friend try to get it in the morning. It may not be safe but I don't have anywhere else you can go." She said hesitantly. She's not gonna let a random kid wander the Isles at night.
The kid found a comfortable spot against Eda's side and fell asleep. Eda didn't sleep the rest of the night. The curse wrapped her mind with its strong wings and rumbled at the other baby in her nest.