The Owl and The Athlete
Chapter 1: The Lying Witch and the Warden
By
Neztro
author's note:
hello everyone, I am kinda outside my comfort zone right here. As I am writing a main character friend of Luz who is a student athelete and a fan of football. I know the basics of sports knowledge and therefore if I mess up a sports reference or term… forgive me. Anyway I don't know how often I'll update this but I'll try for a weekly or at the very least bimonthly update.
Standing at the curb of her house, Luz Nocenda had a sad expression on her face. The tan-skinned girl looked like she had lost a piece of herself.
She had her backpack slung over her shoulder and her eyes were locked to the ground. Standing silence, she felt her stomach turn as she turned head down the right side of the road which is where her bus would be coming from.
"huuh, I guess that there is no way out of this." she mumbled, taking a seat on the curb. She placed her backpack beside her, leaning it on a trashcan. She held her head with her hands, slumping over the the edge of the side walk.
"Hey Nocenda! Catch!" a strong voice called from down the road.
Luz immediately shot up when she saw a brown projectile barreling toward her. The girl began to back pedal and stumbling to get her heads out to grab it.
The Projectile landed in Luz's arms nearly hitting her chest, the sheer force of the projectiles speed mixed with the fragile frame of the girl made her fall on her back holding the item which turned out to be a football.
"Good catch," the voice said as a figure obscured by the sun made his way toward the girl. As the figure drew closer and stopped in front of the Latina girl standing over her face still covered by shadow."
"Let me help you up, Light Bright." the voice said extending a hand to The girl.
Luz takes the hand of her friend and lets him pull her up. "You scared me there for a second, Tristan. I thought you were someone who wanted to bully me."
"Me? A bully? I'm hurt." Tristan said feigning sadness. The boy was dressed in a purple and gold football jersey with the numbers 13 on the front in white. He had short hair which was the same shade of brown of Luz's hair.
Tristan looked like the typical jock. Broad shouldered, atheletic build, handsome clean shaven face but he also had two things that made him stick out. His ears were pointed like a elves and he had a fang on the left side of his mouth.
"what are you even doing here?" Luz said, passing the football to her friend. "aren't you supposed to be at football practice?"
"I told the coach I had the flu. Did you really think I'd miss seeing you off?" Tristan twisted the ball and threw it in the air then flawlessly catching when it came down.
"you really need to stop Lying, Tristan. It's not nice."
Tristan went to one knee and held out his hand. "Lady Light Bright, I hereby solemnly swear to never tell another lie." he said in an exaggerated tone.
Luz took his hand and chuckled. "Alright Sir Shock Jock, I forgive you for your moment of weakness." She replied in an equally pretentious tone.
Tristan lift Luz lift him up and the two started Laughing.
"that brings back to when we were little kids."
"Yeah, I would be the princess and you'd be my gallant Knight."
"those were good times."
The door slamming behind them caught the two teens attentions. They turned their head to Camilia nocenda, Luz's mother dressed in her nurse uniform walking toward them.
"Ooh, my baby's going away. Now remember camp is only for three month. You'll be so busy balancing checkbooks and… learning to appreciate public radio the time will fly-by."
"But I don't like any of that stuff. I like fantasty books with complicated backstories, editing anime clips to music, and reading comic books." Luz replied, not daring to raise her voice to her mother.
"Mija, I understand that this is a big change for you. But this is a chance to make some friends… real ones, not imaginary or reptilian. The only one you have is Tristan."
"Hello miss nocenda." Tristan said waving at her.
"Hello dear, shouldn't you be at practice?"
"the coach is sick today. So I thought I'd come see Luz before she goes to summer camp."
Miss nocenda gave the boy a warm smile. "I appreciate Luz has a friend like you… so you can understand that I'm doing this so she can have some more."
"Of course miss nocenda."
The nurse's watch beeped. "Oop, I'm late for work. Te amo, mija. Text me when you get to camp."
"Bye Mama." Luz replied, when her car left the garage and headed toward the hospital Luz stared daggers at Tristan. "what happened to not telling anymore lies?"
Tristan shurgged, "that may have been a lie… but no more, promise… maybe." Tristan replied smirking.
"you'll never change Tristan Maia."
"as long as you don't change with me I'll be fine."
"are you gonna write to me while I'm gone?"
"Everyday, I will do it before I go to practice and after I get back."
"Me too, I'll make sure to write you a letter everyday."
Tristan kicked a pop can in front of him and moved his hand into his pockets. His face adopted a sour expression. "it sucks that you have to go to lame-o camp. What did you even do?"
"well you remember my book report presentation idea?"
"oh no, Luz, you didn't?"
Luz winced when he said that, she let out a mouse-like squeak. "I did,"
"Light bright, I told you that was a bad idea."
"I know but writing book reports are so boring. I don't know how you manage to keep your grades up with all the practice you do for football."
"I know that if I want to play, I got to have the good grades. That is how… if you want when you get back, I can tutor?"
"I'd like that," Luz smiled at his offer.
"I hate this, I had so many plans for things to do this summer with you."
Luz rubbed her arm and returned her gaze to the ground, "well I guess you'll have to do them with your football buddies."
"Don't call them my buddies… they're teammates not friends."
"what's the difference?"
"Friends don't call each other elf boy behind their backs."
"they still do that!? You won them the championship last season."
Tristan had been the starting quarterback for their high school football team due to his quick reflexes and his innate ability to know when to pass to someone and to who needed to be passed too. Plus he was an incredible resilent he would walk away from injuries that would cripple other kids. He was natural and had been since he started playing in middle school.
"it doesn't matter what I do for them, they will never be my friends. They are selfish Luz. They don't care if I want to be friends, I never get asked to go out for post game smoothies, any girl who asks me on date just wants to be the girlfriend of the captain of the football team, and any victory I get is undercut by the small defiances that my teammates give me. They don't care about me… just that I can lead them to championships." Tristan hung his head down and gave another can a kick this one more violent.
"I Wish I could have friends who aren't mean," Luz said returning to her seat on the curb. She cradled herself and looked on the verge of tears. "But I'm just too weird, even for my mama."
Tristan sat next to his friend and placed his arm around her. "well, you'll always have me… I know it's not much but it's better then nothing, right?"
Luz chuckled which turned into a full belly laugh. "you always know how to make me feel better."
"It's what best friends do." Tristan said smiling with her.
"hoot" a small owl perched on Tristan's shoulder and began pecking on his cheek.
"well hey there little guy, what brings you to our little town." Tristan cooed running his finger under the owl's chin.
The creature turned it's head so that Tristan would have an easier time petting it.
"Aw, he likes you." Luz cooed.
The owl then began moving down his arm with it's talons and pecking on the ruby ring on his left hand.
"You like the ring? Well you have good taste. My mom gave me this ring, it belonged to my grandmother."
The owl then wrapped it's mouth around Tristan's ring finger and slid the gold band off it. The owl then flew away with the ring in it's mouth.
"Hey! You little thief, get back here!" Tristan stood suddenly and ran after the owl.
"Wait for me!" Luz followed her friend to help him get back his ring. She knew it was important to him.
The owl flew into the woods near Luz's house and then entered a strange looking wrecked shack.
"you're not getting away that easily, you rat with wings." Tristan called entering the house with Luz close on his tail.
The two came out on the other side and found that inside the house was a tent. Not just a tent but one filled with crates and boxes with strange objects strewn around.
Luz picked up a doll and saw that it had needles in it's eyes "and I thought I had weird stuff."
"ah, you're back. Now let's see what you got?"
"I knew it! That owl was trained to pick shiny objects for a thief. Just like that old guy on the internet who trained those crows." Tristan ran out to see a woman.
She had a sickly complexion with a long flowing mane of gray hair that went from her head all the way down to the back of her ankles. She had pointed ears and a fang.
"She's just like me? What is going on?" Tristan looked out to see a bazaar type place in front of him. The woman hadn't noticed him yet and she too fixated on a ring.
"A magic suppression device? Where did you find this? These haven't been used since emperor belos took over. Anyway, this ring would sell to right bidder for a healthy sum." she turned it over and smiled.
"actually that's mine, thank you!" Tristan rushed the woman, he shoulder checked her, causing her to lose her grip on the ring which flew in air.
The ring landed in Luz's hand and she saw the woman coming too.
"Let's go Luz." Tristan grabbed his friend's hand and they ran to the door. But as they got close it immediately collapsed on itself and became a suitcase shaped block with a yellow eye on it.
"what happened!?"
"I did!" The woman said from the tent opening, she glared at the two teens.
"Run!" Tristan and Luz dashed outside the tent to see they were on top of a cliff and in the horizon was a city full of weird creatures strutting about in the open.
"Oh no, did we die? Are we in the bad place?" Luz asked taking a few steps back.
A small fairy flinted toward her, tiny wings fluttering in the breeze.
"Oh hello little fairy, are you gonna tell me this all was a dream?" Luz asked with a nervous smile on her face.
"Give me your skin!" It exclaimed opening it's mouth to reveal rows of different teeth which all looked like they would hurt if they bit into you.
Luz yelped and slapped the winged creature down.
"Oh my god, where are we?"
"In trouble that's where you are?" the woman replied grabbing Luz by the collar picking her up.
Tristan looked ready to attack but as he ran to tackle her she sidestepped and tripped him. The boy fell to ground with a thud, kicking up dirt as he skid across the dry ground.
The woman took a couple steps toward him and glared at him as he groaned. "No respect for your elders, what are they teaching witchlings now a days?" the woman picked up the semiconscious teen and took him to the front of her stand along with his friend.
The witch placed both of them on a seperate stool and turned her back to them.
"Please don't eat our skin, if you have to… then make it quick." Luz held out her hand trembling.
"eat you? Why would I eat… potential customers!?" the woman then showed a sign hanging over her tent that read "Eda's curiosities from the human realm."
"Can I interest you in this human dessert? Or maybe this severed foot." Eda said showing a bar of deodorant and a croc. "Or maybe this black box which reflects only sadness." she said showing a portable tv with a vcr player attached.
"That isn't all it can do." Luz grabbed the tv and reached into a box filled with batteries that was labeled "human candy" Luz took the batteries and placed them into the place where they needed to go. The tv then turned on to reveal a tv set.
A bunch of customers walked up to the booth and started a bidding war for the box.
Eda took the dollars and begun counting them as she smiled. "Not to bad for a human."
"That is a funny thing for a fellow human to say."
"Oh child, I'm not like you at all."
Luz noticed Eda's ear and saw her fang then she thought of Tristan.
"you're just like Tristan! Does that mean he's like you?"
"one would guess, he looks like a witch… even though he seems more reliant on brute strength then actual magic… probably belongs in the construction track at school."
"Construction track?"
"oh yeah, you don't have magic in the human realm. Eda the owl lady at your service and your names are?"
"Luz nocenda and this is Tristan maia." Luz said, perking up upon hearing about magic.
"Ugh, what happened? Did I hit my head during practice again?" Tristan looked Eda in the eyes and she smiled.
"well look who's up… I expect an apology for you ramming your body into me. That is a very rude thing to do to a lady."
"Okay, I'm sorry I attacked a thief for stealing my ring." Tristan said, his tone oozing with sarcasm.
"A thief!" Eda was taken aback but then paused and entered a contemplative stance. "yeah that's fair. But I still want an apology."
"give me back my ring and I'll consider it."
"oooh, you're lucky I'm not the type to attack a child or I swear I would tear you a new hide, witchling!" Eda's face was bright red and her nostrils flared.
"witchling? What kinda insult is that?"
"It's not an insult! You young people want to be grown up when you don't realize the responsibilities."
"then why did you call me a witchling if it wasn't an insult."
"Because it's what you call a witch child who is above the age of twelve."
"Witch? Me!? Witches don't exist and if they did then I wouldn't be one because I'm a boy."
"what does being a boy have to do with being a witch? And what do you mean witches don't exist? Of course we exist! We are having a conversation right now."
"listen lady! I don't know what crackpot theory you think iss real… but I'm not a witch, I'm a human with a genetic deformity. It runs in the family."
"and who fed you that load of bullcrap."
"My mother! And I think she'd be a little more trustworthy then an old woman who doesn't even know what crocs and deordant is?"
"why you!"
Fist slamming on the table catches the attention of the squabbling pair as they see a man in a white and gray tunic with a iron mask in a cone shape glaring at them.
"Eda the owl lady, you're coming with us. For operating a stand without a license, refusing to join a coven, and resisting arrest."
"Ha! Wait what'd he say about covens?" Tristan asked, looking at the strange guard.
"Hey! Let me go!" Luz exclaimed as the guard picked her up.
"you two are coming along as well… for fraternizing with a criminal."
"That's what you think!" Tristan shot up from the stool and shoulder tackled the guard knocking him on his back and sending Luz flying.
She fell into tristans arms and he ran away from the guards.
"stop criminal!" the guard yelled but he was knocked out by the owl lady's staff
Eda sat on her staff and flew toward the two teens.
She picked both of them up and flew off into the sky,
"Dang it, she got away!" the guard yelled looking at his defeated men.
The three flew high into the air soaring over the vast landscape.
Tristan noticed huge bones jutting from the ground and a huge horned creature's skull staring back at them.
"you can open your eyes now human?" Eda said sweetly.
Luz slowly opened her eyes to look at the same sights.
"so, here is what happened. I was at practice, I got sacked a little too rough by a linebacker being a jerk probably tutel I always hated tutel. Now I'm hallucinating in one of Luz's azura fanfic worlds because I had to read each of them and leave a review on each chapter to make her happy.
"I thought you liked doing that?" Luz asked, her voice dropping.
"Not now hallucination Luz, this isn't real. This can't be real." Tristan was losing it how could any of this be real.
"Kid, I hate to interrupt your mental breakdown but this is very real, and I have to wonder do you know where you are?" Eda asked as she soared down to a clearing in the woods.
"Hell, am I in hell?"
"Nope, you're in the boiling isles. Everything you humans think are imaginary can be found here… you usually find out about it by having them slip into your world."
"Look a griffon." Luz pointed to a lion bodied, eagle taloned and headed creature fly overhead and spat spider breath over it's shoulder.
"I knew it!" Luz exclaimed.
"Yep, griffons, vampires, giraffes–"
"wait giraffes are from the boiling isles?" Tristan piped in, his voice cracking. Have we been living with demons in the open all this time. What else from this crazy place lives in our world.
"yeah, but we banished those guys… bunch of freaks." Eda replied, her face twisting in disgust.
She walked toward a bush in the clearing unaware that her hand was still hanging on her staff.
"Aaaah!" both Luz and Tristan screamed.
"what? Oh sorry that happens when you get older?"
"wait will that happen when I get older?" Tristan asked rubbing his wrist protectively and shaking his head. Crazy place. He thought following the witch and his friend.
"aren't you worried about the guards finding you here?" Luz asked as they crossed the bush to see a house sitting in the middle of a cleared out wood.
"Don't worry my house has a state of the art defense system." Eda had her staff carried over her shoulder. They came to the door to see an owl shaped door knocker on the front.
"Hoot. password please." It said, in an annoying voice.
Eda jammed two of her fingers into the owl's eyes causing him to scream. "we don't have time for this hooty. Let us in."
"Ouch, you never want to have any fun, hoot." the creature expanded it's mouth to leave an opening.
"Uh, are you sure this is safe?" Tristan asked as he started shaking.
"safer then being out here." Eda replied, walking in without showing an ounce of fear.
Luz and Tristan followed her into the house to find a typical living room with a futon, open kitchen, and a huge wanted poster of Eda hanging over head.
All it took was the one trillion bounty number for triastan to realize the gravity of the situation. "this is just an illusion, this is just a dream. It's just a dream, it's just a dream, please for the love of god let this be a dream." Tristan mummered taking a couple steps back.
"Welcome to the Owl House. My safe haven from the cops… and ex boyfriends."
"you live here all by yourself." Luz asked, mesmerized by the sights of the witces home.
"well I do have one roommate."
A loud stomping sound thundered from an archway in the house. The vwery house shook with each step.
Tristan was breathing heavy as he shook in fear of what this monstrosity would look like.
"who dares intrude upon I?" the creature asked in a deep voice that inspired dread and doom in all who heard it… namely Tristan. That was until the creature came out of the archway to reveal it was a three foot high dog creature with a strange skull mask. "the king of demons."
"Ah, what?" Tristan asked, kinda disappointed by the build up. I was afraid of this thing.
"ay que lindo!?" Luz charged the creature and scooped it up in her arms. "Eda, he's so cute. Whose a little guy? Is it you? Is it you?" She pulled the creature into hug moaning cutely while she held him.
"No! I don't know who your little guy is. Eda who is this monster?" The creature asked trying to pull away from Luz.
Eda moves her hand's around Luz's waist and lifts her up. "king this is Luz the Human and her friend Tristan the witchling."
"Not a witchling!"
"he's in denial… been living in the human realm all this time, poor thing." Eda said chortling at her own joke. "they are here to help us with our problem."
"Oh, hooray." the creature replied never taking his bestial eyes off the two.
"Problem? I don't like the sound of that." Luz said taking a step next to Tristan.
"let me tell you what happened. King here," she said indicating the creature. "used to be a mighty king of demons but then his mystical crown of power was stolen by the villainous Warden Wrath and thus became this."
"you mean this cute bundle of joy?' Luz asked picking king up and holding him close.
"so what you're saying is if we wanna go home, you want our help in getting this crown back." Tristan stated glaring at Eda.
"Bingo! You're pretty smart for a human realm witchling." Eda shot finger guns at Tristan and clicked her tongue.
"Great, well this is all a dream so I guess this doesn't matter so I'm game."
"if Tristan is cool with it then so am I!" Luz exclaimed pumping her fist in the air. "now where are we going?"
"somewhere fun." Eda replied.
––––––––––––––––
a lightning bolt coming down from the skin illuminated the blackstone prison in front of them in white radiant light.
The Owl Lady with her two accomplices flew him under cover of night. They landed at the wall of the comformitorium which Eda said was kinda like reality check camp Luz was going to be sent to except if it was run by a dictator.
"Okay, I'll create a distraction while you kids and king go sneak into the prison and meet me at the evidence room." Eda explained twirling her finger in the air as a light came at her finger tips.
"wow, you're really popular here." Luz said pointing at all the wanted posters around the prison walls.
"Yeah, we are very well known for being uncatchable by the wardens chumps."
"try catching me when I'm covered in grease." King added riding in Luz's back pack.
"good luck kids," Eda called as her spell was complete and they were sent up by the ground acting as a platform for them to fly high into the prison.
Once they were over the wall the trio made their way inside the prison using the vents which were meant for bigger creatures.
They came down and seemed to be inside a cell block as hundreds of mostly empty cells.
"Hey cat girl." A voice called noticing that Luz was wearing her cat hoodie. "how'd you get out of your cell."
"oh I'm not a cat or a criminal." Luz replied.
"Not yet your not." King added in a cheerful tone.
"neither were we, we just don't fit in with the wardens laws of what a normal witch should be." the girl was a vampire and she used air qoutes when she talked about the laws.
"I like to write fanfics about food falling In love." she said.
"there are worse things to write fanfics about." Tristan admited because he had to read some of the worse stories he ever had the displeasure of seeing because of Luz's obession with this medium.
"I like to eat my own eye balls." the guy in the next Cell added eating his own eyeball which then came back Into place.
"we are all a simuwation! Down with the writer in his iwory towa." this small woman whose body was a sphere with a big nose on her face with spindly legs and arm.
Both Tristan and Luz took a couple steps away from her.
"those aren't crimes, you're in here because your weirdo's. Just like me." Luz runs up to the lever. "and I'm gonna set you free." Luz grabs the lever and tries to pull it down.
"Ugh, I need a nap and a gatorade, all this excitement has got my blood sugar low." Tristan leaned on the wall for but a few moments before he heard a scream.
He awoke to look at a hulking man with a strange plague mask on his face dressed like a guard. "I see you criminal scum." He raises his hand and turns it into a scythe then swings down on Luz.
"Tristan!" She yelled as she crouched in a pleading stance.
Tristan awoke hearing Luz's cry for help. "Luz!"
"what Tristan?" Luz was still hanging from the cell lever like she was trying to do a pull up.
"Get down from there before you hurt yourself, light bright." Tristan said, bored and taking a few steps to catch Luz in case she falls.
"No, I need to save these innocent weirdo's"
Tristan heard the stomping sounds of something big coming from a door right next to the lever. He felt like something bad was gonna happen and he didn't know how he knew.
He looked around and saw that none of the prisoners, king, or Luz were reacting to this.
Tristan was always one to go with his gut reaction and this time would be no different. He ran to Luz and picked her up then scooped king and hide inside a cell with a bunch of barrels containing wanted posters for Eda inside. Tristan crouched down and hide himself with the two smaller people behind the barrels.
"Tristan? What are you doing?"
"Shush, I hear something."
"That's ridicolous I don't hear anything."
The door snaps open causing Luz and king to jolt holding on close to Tristan.
The figure of the man that Tristan saw cut Luz down took measured, controlled steps.
"I can hear you runts. What is the meaning of this disturbance of the peace?" The man looked down and saw one of the wanted posters. "ah, Eda the owl lady… her capture will be imminent. Of that I can be certain." He picked up the poster and crushed it.
"we aren't awfwaid of you… we will bweak the system." The big nosed creature said.
The warden opened her cell taking a few menacing steps toward her.
"Hooway I'm free." she exclaimed but her joy was cut off by the man grabbing her whole body and taking her away.
"let this be a lesson. You can either comform to be proper members of society or be locked in here forever… your choice." he threatened slamming the door behind him.
"who was that guy?" Luz asked, her body shaking from his mere voice.
"Warden wrath," King said looking left and right to make sure the coast is clear. "he must have gotten some illusion coven witches to give him concealment enchantments. I didn't even hear him coming."
"Tristan, how did you know that he was on his way?" Lz asked looking at her friend who had the mile long stare. "Tristan? Tristan!?"
The boy snapped back to reality. "w-what? What's going on?"
"you saved us from that warden guy… how did you know he was coming?"
Tristan looks at the spot where he saw the warden attack Luz. Was that real? "I don't know… i-i just knew."
"we can figure that stuff out later. I want my crown." King said, stomping his and running out of the cell.
Luz followed him but stopped at the cell to see her friend still in a ball trying to figure out what had happened.
"you okay, shock jock?" Luz held out her hand.
Tristan looked up at his friend and with tears in his eyes he took her hand. He chuckled at Luz who could always be optimistic even in the worse situations. It was one of her best qualities according to Tristan.
"I'm fine, light bright. Just thinking about something."
"do you think what Eda said was the truth and that you really are a witch?" Luz asked as they found king who was stuck in a garbage can. She helped him out and held him close.
"I-i don't know… but I can garuntee this isn't a dream."
"I wonder if you are unlocking your magic abilities?"
"if that's the case then I hope they don't interfere with my football practice… don't need to give those guys another reason to mock me."
The two humans looked back at the kids in their cells.
"want me to give that lever a try?" Tristan asked.
"don't bother just go… enjoy your freedom for us." The vampire girl said going inside her cell to curl up and cry.
"Hey kids, we're in luck. The warden is busy torturing some poor creature." Eda said flying up to meet the humans on their elevated cell level. "what's eating you two?"
Both Tristan and Luz did not meet the witches eye.
"Let's just get your dog his toy back." Tristan said, already walking toward the staff.
"It's not a toy, it's a crown! And I'm not a dog!" King exclaimed, hopping up on Eda's shoudler and curling around her neck.
"c'mon Luz, it's time to go." Tristan said reaching out to Luz to help her on the broom.
The teeen took her friends hand and let him lift her onto the stick.
Soaring through the bleak prison in silence. Both Tristan and Luz were alone in their own head.
The boy was wondering if he was going insane. He had a vision of something that he thought was real and he prevented it… what does that mean.
Luz was thinking about people being suppressed even in this world for being different. She wondered If there was a way for her to have friends and be accepted at least in the same way her friend was.
They came upon a giant door with faces carved on it. King pointed his paw to the place and squealed.
"there, I can feel my crown calling to me." he said rubbing his hands together.
"he's so cute when he's hungry for power." Eda snickered and looked to see the two children on her broom were upset.
The owl lady stopped her broom there and then used her magic to open the door. With a loud creak the room revealed was illuminated by a pillar of light in the center of the room and a bridge leading into the pillar.
"alright kid, your up… only a human can cross that barrier." Eda annouced looking at Luz.
Luz nodded her head and walked into the pillar with no difficultly.
Tristan attempted to follow her. He prayed that he could pass, he prayed that Eda was wrong.
Slam.
Luca smashed into the pillar and meet the greatest resistance he had ever had in his life.
"I tried to tell ya kid. Like it or not… you're a witch." Eda said, her voice sympathethic as she looked at the shocked Teen with pity. "did you seriously not know."
Tristan trudged toward the witch and just moved past her. He was staring into the distance of the prison shrouded by darkness and hidden from the light. Tristan went outside of the lights range so no one would see him.
It was then and only then that Tristan allowed himself to show weakness. One wouldn't guess it from the persona he displayed. But Tristan felt his emotions at a very high level. The doctors told him he has a high emotional intelligence but also feels strong emotions. He could never feel something half way he had to go all in… and right now he felt despair.
Alone, seperated, and not wanted. Why, why wouldn't they tell me what I was… why hide this. Tristan didn't like to cry. He learned on day one of being on the football team that tears had no place on the field. He saw one of the starting wide receivers get bullied off the team when he wept about a bird dying when it got hit by a ball that he was supposed to catch. He knew that tears were a show of weakness and if he wanted to be accepted and not be bothered by bullies anymore he couldn't show it.
But now, he was a mess… he bent down and held his mouth shut as the tears began to flow. He couldn't control himself anymore.
"Luz, you're back." King called, holding out his hand for the item in her hands.
Tristan turned his head to see Luz carrying a burger queen crown… it would've been funny if not for what Tristan had learned.
"there is no power that crown is there?" Luz asked Eda as king grabbed his crown her and began ordering a stuffed bunny around.
"Luz, look at us. Me and king don't have much in this world beside each other. So if that dumb crown is important to him then it is important to me." Eda explained, her voice had a calming effect on Tristan. "us weirdo's need to stick together."
us weirdo's need to stick together. Something about those words made Tristan feel not so alone, not so seperated, not so unwanted.
"Now, let's go before warden lughead gets wise and finds us." Eda said unware that the warden covered in shadows was appearing her and his hand turning into a scythe.
"Too late." he said in his voice that was once again intimadating and bonechilling. He swings his arm down once again turned into a scythe and cut Eda's head off.
Tristan jolts and breathes heavily. "w-what?"
"Luz, you're back." King called, holding out his hands for the item in her hands.
Tristan saw that this was the same scene he had seen before. Am I seeing the future… am I changing the future.
Tristan looked at Eda who once again explained why they lied to Luz and Tristan about the crown but this time when Tristan saw the warden he surged forward. In a split second he appeared sixty feet from his position to where Eda was. He tackled her and took her to ground.
The scythe grazed Eda's gray mane but only a few hairs were cut instead of her whole head.
I've never been that fast in my life. Tristan always had good reflexes and great hand eye coordination that is what made him an excellent quarterback. Is my talent gained from the fact that I am a witch.
The warden jerked his scythe hand from the cracked ground then turned his head to where Tristan and Eda lie on the ground. "so owl lady, you've managed to gain the aid of a rogue oracle witch… how else would he be able to see through my illusions?" the man raised his scythe hand over head and stood menacingly over the two witches. "No matter, the outcome will be the same.
With a swift swing the warden's scythe landed on a yellow barrier created by Eda and smashed with a loud clunk as the warden recoiled.
Eda used a spell to slam a firebolt into the wardens shoulder then used another spell circle to summon a gail of ice to entrap his legs.
"we need to run, can you walk kid?" Eda asked helping Tristan to his feet.
Tristan still shocked with the display in front of him could only nod his head as his instincts took over. He dashed to Luz who stood with her legs shaking to grab her hand and race toward the exit.
The owl lady did the same with king. Scooping the little demon in her arms causing him to drop his crown and bunny.
The demon watched as he left his stuff with sad eyes.
The warden managed to break the ice with his hand and shot his hands out as tentacles. The first group shot at Luz and Tristan slamming them against the wall binding them.
The second grabbed Eda and king. The tentacles split in half, one half placed king on the wall near the kids and the other held Eda as she was placed face to face with the warden.
"Now Owl lady, you are now caught and never getting out of this prison." the warden gloated, his voice still had that intimidating timbre.
"Come off it warden lughead, I haven't broken any of your rules… in front of you." Eda admitted trying to struggle from the warden's grasp.
"Eda the Owl Lady, I knew if I took your pets toy then you'd stop at nothing to get I back." the warden then reached out with more of his tentacles to Smash king's crown. "Now that I have you right where I want you… I would like to ask you on a date."
"What!?" Eda exclaimed.
"you were the one we could never catch, the one who'd got away. I always found that… alluring." he said the last bit with an elongated tone and made the skin of everyone except the guards crawl.
"I hate everything you're saying right now." Luz added trying to get out of the warden's grasp but feeling her body constrict under his frasp.
"You stay out of this!" he yelled pushing more weight onto the Human.
Luz felt her lungs constrict as her breathing became labored.
Tristan glared at man and grinded his teeth… just need a chance to get out of here.
"so what do you say owl lady, it's not like you can leave or anything like that. Think of it, we'd be a power couple like the isles have never seen. The greatest witch on the boiling isles on the arm of the mighty and feared Warden Wrath." he was boasting now.
"Alright here's my answer. Come here."
The warden leaned in.
"Closer."
He did as he was told until he was within an inch of the owl lady's face.
"Perfect," Eda blew a raspberry at his face
This made him drop everyone as he took steps back rubbing his face. "do you have any idea how many germs are in your mouth?"
"Get over it, you try and capture me to force yourself onto a woman who wants nothing to do with you." Eda bragged running to the kids and king.
She slammed her staff into tristans arms, "I want you to take Luz and get out of here. Take this key and get back to the human realm." Eda pulled a key out of her hair and handed it to Tristan.
"But what about you?" Luz asked, worry clear on her tone.
"we'll be fine… this isn't our first rodeo with the law."
"Yeah, you should've seen her last boyfriend." King said making a nest in Eda's hair.
"not my boyfriend… just go!" Eda ordered running into the fray with Warden Wrath.
Luz watched them fight each other with worry in her heart.
"c'mon Luz," Tristan pulled Luz on the staff and ordered the staff to fly.
The two humans soared through the prison as Luz held on to Tristan with her eyes closed.
"Tristan, we have to save Eda… we can't leave them behind."
"we're not going too… I'm just getting us a little help." Tristan replied flying to lever and slamming it down hard.
The gates to the cells crashed open to reveal the defeated prisoners.
"C'mon guys, we need your help." Luz called, trying to get them to leave their cells.
"what's the point the warden will just catch us again." the vampire girl said not even looking up at them.
"we belong here." the eye eater added.
"depwession is a cage you can't eswape fwom." the big nosed creature said.
Tristan flown up to each of them. "I understand."
this statement caught each of the prisoners attention.
"It's easy to give up when you feel alone, to turn into whatever makes life easier. But you can't do that to yourself… it's not who you are, it's what others want you to be. I am done being something that I'm not… I'm a witch and I'm proud of it! And you should be proud too! What makes you different makes you strong, your imperfections are what makes you perfect… now who wants to show that jerk of a warden what happens when he tries to bully the uniqueness out of us…"
The prisoners cheered and left their cells running toward the evidence locker and screaming all of their quirks.
"wow, where'd you learn to inspire people like that?" Luz asked stupified.
"Mainly from coach's pep talks… but I wouldn't have had the confidence if it wasn't for you and Eda showing me who I really am." Tristan replied.
Luz warmly smiled at Tristans words.
"Now let's that old woman before she gets herself hurt."
"ooh, are you going to do a witch spell that can beat him?"
"Nope, you are!"
"What! But I can't do magic."
"but you can make a super firecracker and I'm sure you still have the one for your presentation on ya."
Luz smirked as she realized what he was getting at. "I sure do, my valued companion." she said in a dramatic tone.
"then let us defeat the evil Warden Wrath, lady luzura."
the two let out a guttural battle cry flying to lead the prisoners against the evil Warden Wrath who had both Eda and king on their last leg.
The two humans lead their reinforcements in a full assualt.
"I like to eat my own eye balls!"
"I think the wowld is a twiangle."
"and I practice the ancient art of fanfiction."
They fought off the guards keeping them busy while Tristan uses owlbert to slam his body into the warden's hind leg knocking him off balance as the warden fell face first into the ground.
"how dare you strike me criminal!" he growled trying to pick himself up.
Eda summoned grasping roots to hold him down.
"do not underestimate us Warden Wrath." Luz said in her dramatic voice. "for we are Luz the human,"
"And Tristan the witch." The boy added lighting the firework and angling it at Warden Wrath.
"warriors of peace, now eat this sucker." they both said in unison as the firecraker shout at the warden and his him square in chest causing him to explode and fly away in a flash of sparks.
The three prisoners cheered as the guards retreated after their leader's defeat.
Tristan and Luz grabbed Eda who was holding king then flied up to escape the prison.
The four laughed all the way back to the owl house.
"That was wild kids," Eda said, grabbing her side. "I like the way both of you think."
Both Tristan and Luz smiled at the compliment.
They returned to the owl house and disembarked from the staff. Luz and Tristan entered the house followed by Eda and king.
Eda reached into her hair and pressed the key button summoning the door.
"alright kids, a deals a deal. Don't forget about these." Eda handed Tristan his ring back and Luz her book.
"Before I go, here have this." Luz reached into her bag and pulled an action figure of azura with her crown. Luz gave the crown to king. "I know it's not the same, but a king should not be without his crown."
King placed the tiny crown on his head. "this shall suffice."
Both Eda and king held each other close looking at the two kids with a smile.
Luz looked at her book and then back at Eda and king.
Tristan also was having similair thoughts to Luz.
"I think I want to stay." Luz proclaimed.
"what, that's crazy, why?" Eda asked shaking her head.
"I want to learn magic," Luz exclaimed.
"Human's can't do magic,"
"Maybe that's because none have tried."
Eda smiled at that comment. "what about you Tristan, you staying or going?"
"I think I'm gonna stay too."
"really!?" Luz asked, her eyes brightening.
"Sure, why not, I want to know more about my witch hertitage."
"what about your football team?"
"Well seeing as how I've been winning games by using magic… I think I have to quit… besides they don't need me." Tristan scoffed.
"well it's seattled. But before you learn any spells you have to work for me. Deal?" Eda extended her hand.
Both Luz and Tristan took it.
Eda lead the two kids up to the closest area where they'd be staying.
"It isn't much, but it will do." she said walking off.
Luz's phone buzzed and she looked at it.
"Oh my mom's texting me? What should I say?"
"I don't know, luckily my parents left on an extended business trip for the next month, right before I was supposed to go to practice."
king appeared in front of their door and cleared his throat. "your sleep cocoon looks comfy."
Luz patted and area near the foot of her sleeping bag and let king sleep there.
"I think I'm gonna like it here… that's what I'll text back. Goodnight Tristan."
"Goodnight Luz."
The first day of both the human Luz and the earth witch ended with the two under the care of Eda the owl lady unaware that they were going to be pivotal in the future events of the boiling isles and that they will either save the isles and their home or destroy them both.