Prologue
With a heavy sigh, Luzura, "Luz '' Noceda-Clawthorne looked at the door in front of her. Though she knew didn't need to, she raised her hand and made a fist. She hesitated, and with another sigh, lowered her arm and looked at the neighborhood where she grew up.
It has been nearly a month since Belos's Day of Unit was stopped, and now here she was ready to face the music and finally confront her greatest fear. She knew it was silly, this was her mother, so she should have nothing to fear.
So why were her knees so close to giving out on her, then?
Suddenly, she felt a hand rest on her right shoulder and looked into the caring and reassuring eyes of her witch mother.
"Just take your time, witchlet," the former wild witch said softly and warmly. "You're not alone here."
A small smile bloomed on the human's face and she looked around her. Her witch family was all there for her. She could feel Roca, Owda, and Rath, all shrunk to small size and using stones to give them dog appearances, rubbing against her leg and offering her soothing noises.
Behind her, she felt the soft smiles of her witch grandparents on her back giving her warmth and further soothing her nerves. To the right of her witch mother was her aunt, offering her a smile and encouraging her niece with her eyes.
Finally, on her left was the most important person in her life at the moment. Luz felt a hand slip into hers and the soul stones the two shared began to glow with soft warmth.
"It's like Aunt Eda said, Batata," Amity Blight-Clawthorne said lovingly, "You're not alone, and we will always support you."
Luz didn't want to stop the large, loving smile that blossomed on her face. The last of her nerves vanished as she looked at each member of her witch family. With a happy sigh, she gently freed her hand from Amity and brought it up again.
She didn't hesitate this time and knocked on the door three times. It wasn't long before she could hear footsteps approaching and Luz could feel some of her fears returning. The door opened a few seconds later, and the woman who answered gasped at the girl before her.
"Hi, mom," Luz said weakly, to the surprise of some of her family members, "I'm back."
In an instant, mother and daughter were embracing in a tight and loving hug as tears filled both of their eyes. The Clawthorne family watched with warm smiles and some with tears forming in their own eyes.
Amity, who could feel Luz's happiness thanks to their soul stones, couldn't be happier for her. Still, part of her was worried; this was the biological mother of the woman she loved. She wanted to make a good impression, especially after they dropped a certain piece of information on Camila.
It was nearly a minute before mother and daughter broke apart, and Camila wiped her face clean. She looked around, and while wary of these strangers, she wouldn't deny the warmth these people had.
Plus, her daughter trusts them, so it's only fair for Camila to give them a chance.
"Where are my manners," the vet said politely. "Venir, venir. VEE! Get some tea ready! We have guests."
The group of witches and one human were led into the house and Lilith figured this was the best time to address things.
"Miss. Noceda," The ex-coven head said politely. "I know you have many questions and I will assure you that we will answer them to the best of our power."
Camila looked at the group and blinked when she saw Eda take a photo album out of her hair. However, the name on the album caught her so off guard that she nearly fainted on the spot.
"Luzura Noceda-Clawthorne/Clawthorne-Noceda," the vet whispered breathlessly.
Eda blinked, having heard Luz's human mother, and looked down. Her face twisted in mild annoyance when she noticed the blunter.
"Ahh, fart, I forgot to change this thing," the former wild witch muttered lightheartedly and was given a light bop on the head by her mother.
"Watch your mouth, dear," the elder Clawthorne scolded lightly. "You are a guest in another's house, after all."
This got a good laugh out of the Owl Familia, and despite feeling awkward, Camila joined in on the merriment.
(M Corner)
If you're confused by the soul stones, and the bond-beasts, don't worry; those will be answered in time by this story's sister story 'The Daily Lives of the Owl Familia"...eventually.
Oh, and get your heart monitors ready, in a few short chapters we will get a "knocked-down" Vee. Look forward to it.