After breakfast, Dell, Gwen, and Luz went outside and summoned their staffs. Luz was naturally amazed at the magical stick.

"What are those?" Luz asked in awe.

"These are Palismen, Luz. Life long companions carved from magic wood. They can help increase your magical power or give you magic power if you lack it." Dell explained as an expert.

"So, I could have magic then?" Luz asked.

"If you are able to connect with one or make one." Dell said, "Perhaps I can teach you one day."

Luz smiled at this, making Dell see his youngest daughter giving him the same smile when she was young.

'It's almost like looking into a mirror.' Dell thought as Luz go to on Gwen's staff.

"Hold on tight." Gwen said to her.

They took off, while in the sky, Luz looked out to the world, looking in amazement. Everyone was so different, like out of the fairy tales she was read as a baby. It felt nice. Like maybe this was a place she was meant to be. Why couldn't she and her mother be born into this world instead of Earth?

'Maybe it would be different, maybe we wouldn't be hunted.'

Luz felt herself relax as she held onto Gwen, enjoying the ride for as long as she could. Enjoying this…. feeling of freedom. Soon enough, they landed outside a large house in the woods.

"This is her house? It's….cool." Luz said with a small smile.

"Yes, Edalyn does have a unique sense of style, especially when picking homes." Dell said with a nod.

"Just be careful of-"

"HELLO!"

Luz screamed and fell backwards.

"Hooty." Gwen said.

Luz looked up to see some sort of owl face in a worm body, stretching from the door to look down at Luz.

"So, who's your new friend, Gwen and Dell?" Hooty asked.

"This is Luz, she needs help from Edalyn." Gwen said, "Is she home?"

"Oh yeah, sure! Let me go get her!" Hooty said before opening his door and stretching his head inside. "Eda! You've got guests!"

There was a lot of muffled noises, the sound of someone falling down the stairs, and a few words that would result in a few Chancla hits if Luz said them. After all that, a tall woman with thick grey hair opened the door.

"This is private property, so unless you have money, drugs, or liquor, piss off." Eda said, not even opening her eyes yet.

"Oh Edalyn, must you be so crass this early in the morning?" Dell asked, making Eda open her eyes in shock, before looking to Luz. "Not to mention we have a child with us."

"Well, you showed up before I had my morning alcohol." Eda said, "And where did the kid come from? I thought people your age stopped having nighttime fun."

"Edalyn!" Gwen said as Luz blushed. "Please reframe, we're here on serious business. Look closely at Luz and tell me what you see."

"I see brown skin, purplish black hair, hazel eyes, rounds ea-" Eda stopped as she looked closer, shocked once again. "Rounds ears? Mom, where and how did you get a human?"

"She came out of the woods, dazed and confused."

'And Drugged. Stupid dart.' Luz thought.

"I know you have a portal, I was thinking that maybe you could help with getting her home."

Eda looked like she was going to be sick.

"I... I can't." Eda said, "Just... come inside and I'll explain more."

This news made Luz feel bad again, wondering just what happened with the portal.

'Please let my instincts be wrong.' Luz thought as she walked inside the house with Dell and Gwen.

Luz's sad mood changed... the second she saw King walking into the room.

She couldn't help but gasp loudly at the sight of him, some sort of small cat or dog creature with three fingers, a red collar, and a skull for or on his head!

"Eh? Dell and Gwen? Plus a human?" King said in surprise.

"¡Dios mío! ¡Es tan mono!" Luz said as she rushed to King, hugging him without hesitation!

Luz has never seen something so adorable, and she's seen her baby pictures when she first shifted into a cub.

"Who is this little guy?!" Luz asked as she snuggled their faces together.

"My thoughts exactly?! Who are you?!" King asked as she tried to push away but Luz was too strong,

"Well, that's King, my sorta adopted/kidnapped son." Eda said, "Don't ask why I say kidnapped, though."

"I don't think I will." Luz said as King finally escaped her arms!

"So, why are you unable to help?" Gwen asked, wanting to get back on track.

"Trust me, I want to but... the portal is... gone." Eda said, "About two months ago, I had no choice but to destroy it."

"Destroy it?" Dell asked, "First of all, that is one of your main sources of income, how have you been living? Secondly, what happened?"

"Well... two months ago, I was cornered and my curse was acting up. The Coven wanted me to surrender, even Belos was there. It was clear what they would do to me if I did surrender." Eda said.

Gwen nodded.

"Petrification."

"Yeah, I don't care what Lily says, I'm not joining, whether it's forced or willing, because they won't have me." Eda said, "Anyway, I knew Emperor Fuckwit wanted my portal for some reason and I couldn't use my magic with my curse so I did the only thing I could think of... I threw the portal to the ground and slammed Owlbert against it. It cracked the portal enough for me to back way, and the explosion that followed led to me being able to escape."

"B-But that means…I can't get home." Luz said, feeling tears building up in her eyes. "I-I can't check on mom and-and-"

Gwen pulled Luz into a hug.

"No, don't think like that." She said, "You came through a leak between worlds, we just need to find one of them."

"Don't lose hope, little one. We'll get you home if it's the last thing we do." Dell said as he put a hand on Luz's shoulder.

Elsewhere, two masked figures walked through the halls of the Emperor's castle.

"The repairs are going smoothly." The smaller figure said, "But there have been reports of some kind of creature roaming the woods."

"Pay no mind to a wild animal, Golden Guard, all that matters is the Day of Unity." The taller figure said, "Is that clear?"

"Yes... Emperor Belos." Golden Guard said.

Emperor Belos walked a head a little before stopping.

"What makes this animal different than the rest of the animals here?"

"They... they said it was some kind of large black cat." Golden Guard said, "But... some people said they also saw a human in the woods near the old Clawthorne house."

Belos let out a breath and turned to his nephew.

"I want you to keep an eye on this... supposed Human." Belos said, "I fear there may be something connected with it and this mysterious animal."

Golden Guard bowed.

"Right away, my Emperor." Golden Guard said.

Belos went back to walking, before going into a dark room and closing the door behind him.

Follow, Favorite, and Review for more.