Inside the Palisman Refuge…
Luz was having a hard time trying to figure out her goal, and what she would do after becoming a witch…
From what the others said, it's not enough to want to be a witch, what is required to bond with your palisman is what your goal will be. Luz was granted a night to mingle among the palismen (her father would have wept with nostalgia and pride of how much his daughter is like him.) Hopefully, she will be able to find out what her goal is or what the bond requirement for the palisman she would wield is. Hunter volunteered to stay with her cousin for the night in case there was trouble as Flapjack was by his side.
"Maybe I could… bring magic? No, maybe not that." Luz muttered to herself as the palismen kept the two children company.
Hunter looked at his cousin and sighed a bit.
"It's not going to be that easy, Hermana Lavanda. Bonding with a freshly carved palismen is easy, especially when they were carved by your own hand. The personality and soul of the witch are reflected by the Palisman, which is why the Flock shared some of Uncle's strongest traits. But bonding with a palisman that belonged to someone once is extremely difficult, especially if that palisman suffered greatly, abuse, abandonment or even the death of their witch." Hunter explained as he petted his beloved Flapjack, "It can leave deep scars and without revealing your true heart's desire, your palisman can't step forward."
"This is hard. How did you bond with Flapjack so well?" Luz wondered to her cousin.
Hunter thought back on meeting Flapjack…
Six Years Ago, near the Palisman Forest…
Ten-year-old Hunter was following his beloved brother Atticus, the Golden Guard with his Palisman staff/arm, a seashell crustacean/mollusk called Skuttles.
"Alright, Hunt, let's see if we can catch some fish." Atticus smiled gently as the sweet little boy followed his great brother.
They found the perfect spot as they sat down together.
"Shame Uncle couldn't come with us. Confounded back pain, the poor man threw out his spine like that… ouch." Atticus chuckled a little bit.
"Will he be, okay?" Hunter wondered.
"He's tough, just needs bedrest for a bit. Now, let's see if we can get some Purple Mull Wildly Fish…"
"PURR…. SQUEAK, SQUEAK!" The arm chittered.
"Yes, and some Rhino Horned Tuna."
"Hey, Atticus, what's it like to have a Palisman? I see Uncle has so many and so do the others in the scouts do too." Hunter wondered.
"A Palisman is a friend for life, your partner through this world, for me, a palisman is your righthand man. They will always be with you no matter what and love their witches-. Hold up." Atticus tried to explain as he suddenly sees something in the distance, "Speaking of Palisman… Looks like ones in trouble. Skuttles…"
Skuttles were already in staff form.
Hunter followed his brother, despite being told to stay put. They traveled down to see a Cardinal Palisman with one eye being attacked by a Cockatrice!
It was about to peck when Hunter threw a rock at the creature as it growled.
"Hey, leave him alone!"
"Hunter, no!"
It was about to attack when Atticus used a fire spell to burn it, causing it to flee.
"That'll teach him…"
Hunter left his brother's side to help the palisman with an injured wing.
"It's okay, I'll help," Hunter promised as he cuddled it.
"We better head to the Bat Queen's lair and we're going to have a chat about how idiotic you acted."
At the Lair of Bat Queen…
She was surprised to see the Golden Guard and his little brother.
"We found a stray, seemed to be caught in a fight with a Cockatrice," Atticus informed and instructed Hunter to give him back.
But the Cardinal refused to go and kept returning to Hunter.
"Hmm… It seems Flapjack has other ideas of a home."
"Flapjack? Is that his name?" Hunter wondered as if it was purring at him.
"So, Hunter's his Witch now? Huh. I didn't think it would happen so soon." Atticus muttered under his breath.
"Take care of him, Little One. For this one has suffered much, and this is the first time he would take another owner."
Hunter wasn't paying attention as he was laughing and hugging his new friend, his palisman.
"…And Flap and I have been together since. Uncle believes that it was my 'endearing yet highly foolish act of heroism what Flap was looking for in a witch. But I think it's because we came from a tree, him from Palistrum wood, and me from the fruit of a Grimwalker tree." Hunter concluded as he petted his beloved palisman.
Luz smiled at the pair and then at the other palismen who were purring at her. She was slowly doubting herself, but Hunter would not have it.
"Hermana Lavanda, you'll get there. It's like Uncle says, it takes time." Hunter advised as he brought out food for her and himself, "When it happens, it happens. You can't force things to happen. It has to happen naturally. Once you know your true heart's want, your palisman will come."
"Thank Hunter." Luz smiled as she took her sandwich.
"Always here to help, Cous."
Close to the Grudgby field…
Someone cloaked in a shroud was close as they were careful not to be spotted.
They detected several Coven Scouts and carefully, very carefully shot tranquilizer darts to take them down! Once they were down, the next step was to prepare the refuge for the palisman. The stranger placed chains and a lock to keep them in. Next was to take it to the ship, where the Blood Crusade will have more than enough to feast upon.
Luckily, one of the coven scouts was able to call for help.
"M-mayday! Mayday! Someone-urk! Someone taking Palisman and the royal family!" He warned through the crow before the paralysis took hold.
"Roger that! Heading your way and in pursuit of the target!"