A Surprising New Friend
"I will never get used to the blood-red trees," Camila sighed with a faint smile.
It had been two years since Luz had reappeared on her doorstep, soaked in the rain and toting friends from the Boiling Isles. Since Camila had accepted into her heart not just one adopted child, but four more. Since she and Luz had labored through a powerful heart-to-heart about how they had inadvertently hurt the other and both resolved to be better.
It had taken weeks to create a new portal to the Isles — it was only thanks to Luz's hermanito King being able to access the Realm In-Between to speak with them and his donation of Titan's Blood — and even more struggle to defeat the seemingly all-powerful Collector. A journey Camila had refused to miss with her daughter. She smiled briefly at the thought that her chancla had been the deciding factor that stunned the Collector long enough for Luz, King, and Eda to trap them back in the In-Between.
Since then, Luz had been living mostly in the demon realm, though she visited her mother and adoptive sister often. Camila, in turn, had been learning all she could about her daughter's new home. She had met the Parks, Mr. Porter, and Alador Blight, had explored Hexside school with Principal Bump, and spoken several times in Gus's Human Appreciation Society.
In addition to her new little ones — Amity, Willow, Gus, and Hunter — Camila had bonded with some of Luz's other friends, such as King, the Blight twins, Raine Whispers, and the BATs. She had struck up a surprising friendship with Lilith, the woman's level-headed and scholarly personality appealing to her. She had bonded with Viney Melamphos, speaking at length with her about veterinary practices in the human realm. Even Eda had snuck her way into Camila's heart as a kind of crazy sister figure.
Camila had had a wonderful lunch with Gwendolyn and was walking back, her chancla and a collection of Luz's glyphs in her purse for any surprises, when she heard a peculiar noise. It was like a squeaking shriek, and very familiar. Camila gasped as it clicked in her mind that rabbits made such a noise when frightened.
Without thinking, she ran toward the noise and stumbled into a clearing to find a creature of myth whimpering. It resembled an ash-grey rabbit, but had two small antlers protruding from its scalp. Or, one and a half, as the right had been broken off and … splintered?
The jackalope, as hard as it still was for Camila to come to terms with it, looked up at her and in a pulse of magic transformed into a wood carving. Camila stared for a moment before realizing that this was a palisman she had found. Images of Luz playing with her palisman Nevada, the snow-white dove that had hatched after she came home, flashed through her mind and she was donning emergency rubber gloves in a flash to pick up the statuette and cradle it close to her. "It's okay, little one," she crooned. "You'll be okay."
Camila thought about where to take this poor magical creature. Gwendolyn had spoken at length of her husband Dell being a palisman carver before an accident, but they lived quite a distance away — far too great for walking. Eda might be able to help, and seemed like the best bet before another idea came to mind, a figure Luz and Gwen had both referenced who took in and protected abandoned palismen. The Bat Queen.
Luz mentioned that the Bat Queen lived deep in the woods, but close to the Owl House. She was the best bet.
Camila looked around to get her bearings and decide where to go. She settled on a direction in which the trees seemed to grow older and started walking, keeping the palisman close to her heart. 'Oh Dio, please let me be walking in the right direction.' Camila had been raised Catholic, and though she no longer practiced she could never bring herself to pray to the Titan like many people of the Isles did. But she knew that if God was real, then he would hear her no matter the realm she found herself in.
After several long minutes of walking, Camila noticed large spider webs draped over the trees. Part of her was terrified by the idea that a massive, monstrous spider demon might be lurking about, but a small part of her recalled Luz's story of the Bat Queen and her power to magically spin webs.
"Hello?" Camila called, her voice echoing off the trees. "Mrs. Bat Queen?"
Camila's next few steps crushed on something and she looked down to find tiny bones littering the ground, which had transitioned from stiff grass to packed earth. She had little time to consider this observation before a shadow passed over her and something big landed in the shadows. With bipedal steps, it approached and stepped into the light to reveal something Camila would have screamed in horror at three years ago. Now she was simply surprised.
The figure before her resembled a massive woman's head, pale complexion and sharp features framed by long, lanky, midnight hair bringing to mind the nobility of Easter Europe. Camila couldn't help but think of Bela Lugosi's Count Dracula, one of her and her dear departed Luis's favorites. The head had large bat wings where the ears would usually be and short but powerful and taloned legs in place of a neck. Burning red eyes and fangs jutting out over her full lower lip completed the image of a classical vampire.
"You smell of the human," the Bat Queen said with a thick accent that only furthered the cinematic vampire parallels. "The mother, perhaps?" Camila nodded. "Why have you come here?"
Camila revealed the hurt palisman. "I found him a ways from the Owl House. Please, Reina Murciélago, help him."
The Bat Queen hummed and narrowed her eyes, the red giving way to white-gold that was reflected in the plaisman's inert eyes, before nodding — with her build, it was more like tilting forward on her legs — and turned for Camila to follow. Camila held the palisman close again and shuffled along to keep behind the Bat Queen until they arrived in a huge hollowed tree with craters dotting the floorspace and mounds of treasure like a dragon's hoard.
"You found her," the Bat Queen said, turning to face Camila. "So you must care for her." She picked up a pumice stone and tossed it to Camila's feet. "Find wear and smooth over," she commanded.
Camila picked up the pumice stone and looked over the jackalope. His — actually the Bat Queen had called the palisman "she," so Camila's guess was wrong — carving was smooth except for the splinters of her broken antler. So Camila carefully positioned the stone and began rubbing in a circular motion around the stub to clear away the splinters. She had no idea how long she'd been at it when it was smooth to the touch, but she was pleased with her work.
"Now for polishing," the Bat Queen said. She walked to the edge of her horde and gestured to an earthen jar. Camila looked at her and approached to unseal the jar, finding a kind of ointment that smelled of rich spices inside. She scooped some out and began to rub the polish into the palisman's wood grain.
After some time, when she was about half done, the Bat Queen settled into a kneeling position. "Tell me, human. Why bring her here?"
"She needed help," Camila said simply and honestly. "I am a veterinarian back home, a healer of animals."
"So out of duty, then?" the Bat Queen asked.
"Partly," Camila replied, continuing to work the polish in. "But even more so, I don't like to see living things suffer. Luz has been very clear that these palismen are intelligent, and if one is hurt, I will help them like any animal that crosses my path. It is who I am, my very nature, to ease suffering and promote life."
The palisman shifted and returned to wakefulness, squeaking and nuzzling into Camila's hand. She chuckled and scratched under the jackalope's chin. "There you are, little one. I was wondering if I would see all of you again."
Camila continued her work and in time had fully polished the palisman. The ointment seemed to fill in the cracks and help her heal, and when Camila put her back on the ground, the palisman spun in a clearly happy circle with cheerful squeaks.
"I'm happy to help," Camila said with a smile. "Thank you for helping me to help her, Reina Murciélago."
"What does this mean?" the Bat Queen asked.
"In my own language, it means 'queen of bats,' of course," Camila giggled.
The Bat Queen snorted and looked down. "The little one is named Velvet," she said. "And she has something to ask of you."
"Of course," Camila said, looking down at the palisman, Velvet. "What is it?"
Velvet squeaked again and bounded up Camila's leg, torso, and shoulder before glowing with faint orange light and growing into a staff capped by her inert form. Camila caught the length of wood on reflex with a gasp, staring in awe.
"She has chosen you," the Bat Queen said. "You know what this means, yes?"
"The children have told me about adopted palismen," Camila said, her tone quiet with shock. "But … why me?"
"Palismen bond through emotion," the Bat Queen said. "Velvet has resonated with your purpose and pledged her support. To refuse would be devastating to her."
Camila chuckled ruefully. "Well, we wouldn't want that." Camila gripped the warm wood tighter. "Very well, I will take her."
"Then you may ride her back to the Owl House," the Bat Queen said. "A first flight is important to the palisman bond. Guide her and she will not fail you."
Camila nodded and positioned herself in the side-saddle stance that Luz and Eda had shown her. Velvet's eyes glowed and the staff rose into the air. "Adiós, Reina Murciélago."
"Goodbye, Human Healer," the Bat Queen said.
And with that, Velvet took off and sped Camila through the woods under the canopy and to the Owl House. Within minutes, the fantastical abode was in sight and Velvet lowered to the ground before gently tipping Camila off the staff and returning to her true shape. Camila cooed at the adorable jackalope and scratched her head between the whole antler and the stump.
"Mama?" Luz asked, standing in the doorway of the Owl House.
"Mija," Camila said. She had a sudden spike of panic as she recalled Luz's story of failing to bond with a palisman at her adoption day at Hexside. Would her daughter be bitter that Camila had succeeded when she, a fledgling witch, had not?
"Aw, she's so cute!" Luz squealed, rushing forward to pet Velvet in Camila's hands. "What's her name?"
"The Bat Queen called her Velvet," Camila said. She smiled ruefully at her own foolishness in thinking Luz would be jealous. Not her light, her wonderful little girl.
"Oh, that's such a pretty name," Luz cooed. More cooing came from the Owl House and out fluttered Luz's palisman, the snowy white dove Nevada. Nevada landed on Luz's shoulder and studied Velvet before trilling in approval.
"So, how'd this happen?" Luz asked, eyes wide and glittering at the chance for a magical story. Especially one from her mother.
"Well …" Camila began.
"That's quite a tale."
Dell Clawthorne leaned back in a recliner from the human realm and smiled warmly, his hands resting on the head of his cane and his palisman Cristos perched on his shoulder.
"Yes, I suppose it is," Camila replied, scratching Velvet beneath her chin.
It had been a week of work since Velvet had chosen Camila, and she had spent most of that time posing as a figurine for Camila's desk as she worked at the vet clinic. During her crash course on palismen, Luz had said that Camila should be able to understand Velvet's squeaks as if it were speech … but such a thing had not yet happened.
So here she was asking a professional for advice.
"Why can I not understand her?" Camila asked.
"Palismen bond through emotion," Dell explained. "The Bat Queen mentioned she told you that." His smile widened. "But it's not just a one-time thing. That bond is deepened with a greater emotional connection." He stroked his beard with one hand, eyes crinkled in thought. "I wonder …" He looked up to meet Camila's eyes. "Have you used your staff at all?"
"I … used her to fly to the Owl House after she bonded with me," Camila said. She thought back and wracked her brains for another example … and came up empty.
"Perhaps you need some bonding time," Dell mused. "No bond between a witch and a palisman is quite the same. What worked for Luz and Nevada, for example, will not necessarily work for you and Velvet." He settled both hands on his cane again and stood up with a grunt. "And as strange as it might seem," he added, eyes glinting, "the most powerful bonding experience of all … is facing one's fears together."
Camila's eyes widened and she placed her palm over Velvet.
"So, Camila, what are you afraid of?"
"Mija, I can't do this," Camila whimpered.
She stood on the precipice of a cliff overlooking a massive long valley of the Titan's arm. Behind her were medium-sized stands in a small arena, one she'd been told was used for official staff races such as the annual Gland Prix. Luz and many of her friends, as well as the Clawthorne family, were gathered around with their own palisman staffs. Even Dell was stretching for a fast flight.
"Mama, I've done this a million times," Luz said with a smile. "I mean, I was on Owlbert for most of them," Eda laughed and scratched her owl palisman's head, "but I know Nevada can do even better!" The dove cooed and nuzzled Luz's neck in appreciation.
"But I haven't flown much at all," Camila said, almost trembling with nerves. Camila was a woman of simple tastes. She liked animals, reading, and jogging in the mornings. Her favorite foods tended to come off as bland, at least as far as traditional Dominican foods went. It was her dear, departed Luis who had pushed her to try adventures, something he had clearly passed on to their little girl.
"In my experience," Amity said as she approached with Ghost in tow, "it's when you push past your fears that you see what you can really accomplish."
"Mom, can you honestly tell me you were cool as a cucumber during your first surgery on an animal?"
No. She'd been terrified. Or at least, part of her had been. That part had been frightened of making even the slightest mistake and harming the poor dog further. But she'd been trained and knew what to do, so she'd buried her fears and done what needed to be done.
"Velvet," she whispered, "you won't let me fall?"
Velvet squeaked from atop the staff and flopped her ears up and down.
"Everyone, mount your staffs!" Raine shouted, almost sung, as the announcer for the informal race. Everyone lined up and did as instructed. "Now, for the sake of Camila, no magic is allowed. Or harpy forms, Eda and Lilith!" the sisters groaned teasingly before visibly focusing. "You'll be racing through the hoop at the end of the wrist and back. Good luck racers!" they summoned their viola and bow. "On your mark, get set …!" They fiddled a sharp note, and everyone shot into the race.
Camila almost balked at the sudden acceleration, but focused and settled her stomach, leaning into the flight like she had seen so many of her new friends do. She passed up Dell, though she had a feeling that he was going easy on her, and approached Gwendolyn. ""Oh, you can do better than that," Gwen taunted. "Where's the fire I see in Luz?"
Velvet squeaked in challenge and accelerated, pulling neck-and-neck with Hawksley. The sudden speed made Camila wince and screw her eyes shut, curling in on herself … and they started to slow. Camila opened her eyes and looked forward to see Gwen and Hawksley pulling sharply ahead. And Velvet … she felt a distinct sense of sadness.
That was when Camila realized that her fear was holding them back. She thought back to Luis, to a specific memory from their second anniversary when he'd somehow convinced her to try ziplining. She'd tried to back out, and he'd said, How will you know what you can do if you don't try just once?
"Velvet," Camila said firmly, "ganemos esto!"
Velvet squeaked and sped up again, and this time Camila tightened her grip on the staff and kept her eyes open. They shot past Gwen and began to catch up to the others. Well, sort of. They passed her by as she approached the ring, all of them flashing her thumbs-up, smiles, and other signs of encouragement. As they neared the ring, a crazy idea came to mind.
"Velvet, apunta al centro," she advised. Velvet squeaked in affirmation. As they passed through, Camila shifted her weight backward to send Velvet flying upward and over, then spun in a tight roll to right herself and slingshot over the ring and back toward the beginning.
"I can't believe that worked," she groaned, her stomach protesting. Velvet squeaked in encouragement and sped up even further.
Soon, somehow, they began to close in on the pack, which made no sense. Willow, Hunter, and Gus were the captain, star player, and speed demon of the Isles' champion flyer derby team. The Clawthorne sisters all had decades of experience. Luz had earned fifth place in a real race and even Amity knew how to fly better than Camila. There was no way she and Velvet should be doing this well.
Which meant they were indeed giving her a fighting chance.
"Hora de una sorpresa," she said with a smile, and Velvet rocketed even faster. Camila felt adrenaline pulsing through her veins, just as she had all those years ago as Luis cheered her on at the zipline. "Come on, Velvet! You can go faster!"
With a squeak of effort, Velvet added just a little speed and they closed in on the pack … Though not fast enough.
They all passed the finish line in a blur and Camila pulled up as Luz had shown her to slow their flight and circle back toward the stands. They dropped slowly and landed among the group as Raine announced the places.
Gus had gotten first, with Hunter and Willow actually tying for second, followed by Eda, Lilith, Luz, Amity, Camila, and Gwen and Dell coming in together, hand-in-hand.
"Mom, Velvet, you were awesome!" Luz cheered, grabbing Camila in a bear hug. She strained to spin her mother in a circle as she often did with Amity, but she barely got her mama off the ground. Camila laughed and hugged Luz back, squeezing just as tight and succeeding in spinning her daughter.
"Fue increíble!" she cheered. "Velvet fue increíble!"
'We,' Velvet squeaked, and Camila gasped in surprise as the staff shrunk into her jackalope palisman to perch on her shoulder. 'We were incredible,' she repeated in a light, reedy voice.
"Si, little one," Camila sighed, tears falling down her cheeks as she nuzzled her magical companion for everyone to watch. Amny shedding a few tears of their own. "Si."
The idea of Camila getting a palisman hit me like a truck. And since I haven't seen this concept written before, I thought I'd give it a try!
*I continue to hold on to the idea of Luz's palisman hatching into a dove, an adorable symbol of peace - she has the same in my Huntlow Superhero AU "Heroes Among Thorns," though her name in that story is Paloma. Her name in this setting, Nevada, is Spanish for "snowy" - like her coloration.
*Velvet's name comes from the term for the soft, growing bone of a deer's antlers, as well as the soft fabric.
*I've never had the chance to write about Luz's father, but I really enjoyed it! The name Luis is used previously and inspired by Kammie Celeek's amazing Human!AU "New Kids in Town." You're amazing, girl!
*Camila's untranslated Spanish during the race each mean: "Let's win this!" - "Aim for the center" - "Time for a surprise" - and "It was amazing, Velvet was amazing!"
*As always, I hope you liked it! Leave a review if you like! And may your own works be as fun to read as to write!