Hello Hello! I'm back! Took me a while too, but to make up for it, I bring you a pretty big chapter! The first after the finale... Man I'm gonna miss this show so much. I legit cried during the credits. And again, I will forever be pissed it came so soon! But I'm still satisfied with its ending. And I'm glad I got to see it. As stupid and probably cliche as it sounds, this show inspired me and helped me change and grow and... I ain't forgetting it any time soon. I will stick around this fandom for a long time to come and I'm seeing this story I'm writing to the end. I mean it. But in order to do that, we have to get to this chapter first, don't we? Oh, almost forgot, just to be sure: Warning: There is slight mention of vommiting in this chapter (nothing graphic, really brief, but better safe than sorry).

Chapter 20: King and Hunter's uneventful morning.

"Something happened?" Hunter called out, leaning over the couch to see outside, where the Owl Lady's pet was standing. He seemed to be holding somethi-

...

What the-?

"Hey, what are you looking at?" The little demon suddenly asked, getting his attention back.

"I... thought I heard something." He answered nervously, just now noticing that he had come back inside.

They both looked outside for a moment, Hunter already reaching for his cruch, before-

"Fear not, dear children!" That bird-worm showed up. "For I, your loyal guardian, am here to protect you from whatever dangers may- Oh my gosh, a worm!" And then it was gone...

"That's Hooty for you." The demon sighed, closing the door. "He does mean well, but he can take some getting used to."

"I can tell... So, what's that you got?"

"Oh yeah. Check this out. It fell off from Eda's hair." He came to sit next to him on the couch and showed him an old photo.

Hunter's eyes widened in surprise."Is that... the Owl Lady?"

"Yep. Man, those are a lot of eyeballs in her mouth! Luz really learned from the best." He laughed, while Hunter simply smiled a bit, still looking at it with interest.

"And those kids with her... They look like two of the coven heads. They knew each other?"

"Apparently they did. But this one on the side, next to Lilith, must be wishing he didn't."

"...That's Darius for you. He's head of the abomination coven and sees everyone around him as such."

"Sheesh, sounds like he was a piece of work." The demon said, expression unchanged, unreadable.

"You have no idea. He always acted like he was above everyone. And he always gave me this look... Like I was a piece of abomination goop that got stuck on his super expensive pair of designer boots." Hunter sounded a little more annoyed than he would have liked, but only realized it when he noticed how Flapjack and the demon were looking at him.

Confused.

Concerned.

Curious, or maybe all of the above...

"And what about the one with the glasses that's next to Eda, cheering her on?" King said quickly, before the silence could feel too long. Besides, he was kinda curious about that one.

"That's Raine. They became head witch of the bard coven a while ago." He explained, petting his palisman, his previous bitterness gone. "I didn't get to see a lot of them, but they seemed nice."

"You know, I've actually seen them in lots of other photos. I think they and Eda were something more than friends. Wait, I'll get the album!" King finished with a smirk and ran off upstairs.

While Hunter was left dumbfounded in the couch. But only for a second, after which, he looked at the photo again with a wondering look.

"Hunter? Are you okay?" Flapjack asked, jumping on his lap.

"Yeah, just..." He realised what he was refering to, but right now it wasn't what was on his mind (not that it was actually bugging him...) "Do you remember the Owl Lady in breakfast?"

The little bird looked at the side for a moment, thinking. "...Not much now that you mentioned it. I don't think she was there for most of it."

"That's right. I saw her leaving earlier and she wasn't back when we were done. And when she shows up again, just before she and the others leave, she drops this? And if the demon is right and she was... involved with a coven head..."

"Wait, you think she's still in contact with them?"

"I don't know. It just... feels weird. Why would she be holding onto it?"

"She probably just felt nostalgic. I mean, look at that photo. It's not that much different than how you guys were in breakfast. You're overthinking this."

Hunter looked at the photo again, thinking about what Flapjack said.

Regardless of who they were now, those kids seemed to be pretty close with each other. Even Darius and Lilith, who looked all annoyed, still stuck around (probably questioning the Owl Lady's life choices and their own taste). And indeed, there were similarities with... him and the others...

Maybe he could ask the human if she could bring a pair of memory tweezzers from Hexside.

Have something to look back on... after... getting better and-

...!

What was-?

"Okay! I got it!" The voice of the Owl Lady's pet was heard, heading downstairs. And soon he appeared from the hallway, carrying an old scrapbook. "Sorry I took so long, but it wasn't stashed in its usual spot. Took me a while to find it."

That must've been that sound...

"Is something wrong?" He asked, realising his tension.

"Uh, nothing... I guess I was just lost in my thoughts. You surprised me." Hunter answered, trying to get himself to relax. "What exactly is in that album?"

The little demon gave a mischevous giggle, as he came and sat next to him, before placing the scrapbook between them. "This here, my friend, is an absolute goldmine of fun, secrets and hot gos!"

"Don't you mean hot gas?" Hunter asked with a confused expression.

"No, gos! From 'gossip'. This is basically Eda's diary. Or her old diary, I guess, still haven't found the current one. But the point is, as Luz would call it, this is Eda's backstory." The demon explained and opened it, not noticing the boy slightly tensing up.

Was this right?

What if the Owl Lady found out?

What if... he found out about her history with Raine? Maybe if they were still in contact? No, that wouldn't be here, it wasn't recent. And-

Were those potion recipes?

...Well, as long as neither of them said anything about it, it couldn't hurt.

"There they are!" King said, stopping at a couple of pages full of photos and notes about Eda and Raine. "Boy, those are a riot!"

"Is that a fuzzapillar?" The boy asked in surprise, pointing at one of them.

"Yeah, it is! I can't imagine what happened when they woke up! Oh, look at this one! What are they wearing? They look like me after house-cleaning."

"They look like... rat onesies."

"Must be for that 'Rats' show. Eda told me about it once. Said it was the first and last time she did a school play, but never elaborated. She didn't even keep any notes about it." King flipped a few pages as he was speaking, until he reached the one on which was supposed to be the photo Eda dropped. "You know, I've been thinking about something: Eda doesn't really keep around stuff of her exes. She either throws it back in their faces or into the boiling sea. And yet she has a whole album of photos with her and that Raine person? And one of them, not only did she keep it around, but in her hair too?" He stopped for a moment, glancing over at Hunter... who was glancing over at the kitchen. "Hey. Are you listening? And I thought I was a foodie."

"Didn't you hear that?" He was still looking towards the kitchen as he was speaking. His eyes focused, but worried.

"Hear what?"

"Something from the kitchen."

"It was probably just a fork that fell in the sink, relax." King said in an attempt to ease him, but it didn't really seem to work. "But, I can go check, if it'll make you feel better."

"I, uh..."

"Besides, I wanted to grab a snack anyway."

"...Didn't you just eat?" The change in subject must've felt a bit... odd to him (to say the least), but it was still accepted, so King was willing to call it a success.

"One thing you must know about me: Snacks can never be too much. Especially if they're sweet."

"I think I learned that yesterday."

They exchanged a smile, before the little demon turned to head to the kitchen. But just as he disappeared in the hallway, Hunter's smile got smaller, more uncertain.

He couldn't lie, part of him was relieved and probably even grateful for this, but it still wasn't sitting right with him. Instead of going to investigate himself, he actually let that tiny little... dog(?) do it for him. True, he did still have a hurt leg and needed a cruch to go around, not to mention that Flapjack also needed time to heal (extra time after his stunt yesterday, and at least three times a day a change of bandages and smearing with palistrom sap), but what if there was something there? What if it was something dangerous and-!

...!

Another sound?

"Flapjack?" He ventured, looking around worriedly, and reached for the cardinal next to him.

"I'm here. I think I heard it too this time." Flapjack said, as Hunter picked him up and placed him on his shoulder, his hand remaining around him protectively a little longer, before reaching for his cruch.

King hid the photo in his collar as he headed for the kitchen, more than anything else for Hunter's sake.

After everything that happened, it made sense for him to be a little bit paranoid. But King knew that there wasn't much of a reason to worry. Hooty was outside after all, and if there was one thing he was good at, it was keeping the house safe.

And... like he thought, it all seemed to be okay. Save for the stacks of plates in the sink. Between yesterday's dinner and today's breakfast, it shouldn't be that surprising. There was a lot of people in the house now.

If only there could be one more...

...!

...Where did that come from?

No matter, he had a mission! Check the kitchen! Clear! Great!

And... get a snack!

The pancakes were all gone, but there could be some apple pie left, if Eda hadn't eaten it all.

Which cabinet now...?

No...

No...

Oh, Luz's cupcakes, still intact. He'd have to remember to ask how it went when they'd come back.

...!

All right... this time he heard something. And it wasn't from the sink.

"Uh... Hooty?" He ventured, but didn't get a response. Just another sound. "Hooty, if that's you, knock it off! This isn't fun- Aaa!"

Something was wrong in the living room. He could hear stuff breaking!

He grabbed a frying pan from the sink (the only one he could lift without trouble) and ran over, unaware of something that carefully slithered behind him, from under the stove.

And upon arriving...

"What's going on here?" He found Hunter on the floor, trying to hold down... something that looked like a large snake or a really, really big worm, as it kept squirming and screeching and trying to bite him, to break free.

And it actually managed to do so, taking advantage of the second Hunter turned to look at him and biting hard at his hand, making him pull away. Immediately after, it rushed over to King's direction and before he could react-!

...!

...He half-opened his eyes, to see the creature a few inches away from him, with Hunter keeping it pinned down again.

"Call the Owl Lady! Now!" He yelled, desperately pulling the beast away from him.

King stood still for a moment, his eyes not leaving the restless beast, before he forced himself to run right past them, to get to where the crow was perched. Thankfully he remembered the number.

"Wha-what's that thing?" He asked nervously, as he dialed it.

"A dirt-snake. A type of worm-beast."

"That's a dirt-snake?! That can't be right! They-"

"Yes?"

"EDA!" He called out, the moment he heard Eda's voice.

"King? King, what's wrong?" She took a second before she spoke again, sounding worried. Perhaps yelling in her ear wasn't the best idea...

"You need to come back! Something got into the house!"

"What got into the house? What was Hooty doing?! Are you okay?" The worry in her voice increased at this, the sounds of the scuffle behind him, not helping the situation.

"I don't know! Hunter said it was some sort of... worm-beast- Aah!" He didn't have the time to finish as the beast lunged at him.

It only barely missed him at the last second as he jumped off the couch, dropping the crow, which then flew off. But the beast came at him again, only this time it got hit with a cruch before it could get too close.

And didn't made another move towards him. Not with Hunter between them, pointing at it with his cruch. His gaze stuck on it, tense and rigid, and his other arm extended protectively in front of King.

After taking a moment to shake off the pain, the beast remained there, snarling at them, moving around the upper part of it body, as if it was trying to determine what way would fit its escape. Or where would be an opening for another attack.

"Hunter!" Flapjack was slowly coming forward from his hiding spot beneath the couch, his voice barely above a whisper. And the urgency in his eyes betraying how he was just a second away from flying over to his witch, so he could be used (!).

Hunter shook his head, staring at him.

And realised a bit too late the fatal mistake he made.

He broke eye-contact with the dirt-snake!

And it lunged forward again. He brought the cruch before him to shield himself, feeling the demon holding onto him, both of them bracing themselves...

But this time, the creature didn't mind them. Instead it rushed upstairs.

And they both finally breathed.

"Are you okay?" The Owl Lady's pet asked worriedly.

"Yeah. I'm fine." He sighed, standing up. "You?"

"Yeah, me too. Are you sure this was a dirt-snake? They don't get that big. And how did it-"

...!

He didn't have the time to finish his question, as another sound cut him off. This time it came from upstairs. And it lasted longer than the other times.

"We don't have time for this right now! I'm going after it! You stay here.." Hunter said and made to head upstairs, only for the Owl Lady's pet to get in his way with a determined expression.

"And what are you gonna do? You can barely walk! I'm coming with you!"

"Me too!" Now Flapjack piped up as well, coming out from his hiding spot under the couch.

"No, you're not! Neither of you! You could get hurt!" He made to walk past them, but they just got before him again.

"Oh, like you're the picture of health!"

"I can handle myself!"

"Hi guys!" The door suddenly swung open, the owl-tube cutting their argument short. "You won't believe just how many delicious little worms I found around here today-"

"Hooty, now it's not the time! There's a beast loose in the house!" The demon cut it off, while Hunter remained silent, staring at it as his eyes widened in realization.

"A beast in my house?! Stay back, children! I'll handle this!" It said, Somehow in a... different voice, and made to head inside, but-

"Wait!" Hunter got in front of it. "I think I know why it's here. And I have a plan to get it out." I just hope it will work.

The dirt-snake was screetching loudly. So loudly that it was heard from every corner of the house.

And King wasn't sure where it could be coming from. If Hunter was right, then she would most likely be in Eda's room, since it was the biggest one and it already had a nest.

He slowly walked over the doors, as quietly as he could, and peeked inside the keyhole.

Indeed she was there, looking around and screetching. She must've been worried.

Time to calm her down.

He swung the doors open and immediately after ran back where he came from-

"She's coming! She's coming!" Yelling as she came behind him.

But thankfully, Hooty was quick to apper, Hunter riding on him and catching King in his arms as he jumped to him.

And before the dirt-snake could get too close, Hooty rose up, towering over her, just as the boys slid off.

She was cowered in front of the demon, slowly backing away as he looked down on her. And then procceeded to...

Throw up a giant owl pellet that almost immediately dissolved, revealing about a hundred tiny little wormlets.

"Sorry about that, ma'am. But next time, keep an eye on your kids." He said, sounding apologetic but also pretty stern.

The beast nodded at him, as her babies slithered up to her and then opened her mouth for them to get inside. After that, she slowly turned to head downstairs and leave, looking over at King and Hunter sheepishly waving her goodbye as she was going. Her gaze lingering a bit longer on the latter.

And the moment she got outside, she disappeared beneath the ground. Just as-

"Guys?! I'm here! Is everything... okay?" Eda arrived.

And was met with two unharmed (thank Titan...) but clearly drained boys, a proud Hooty and a quite messy living room.

"Okay... so let me get this straight." Eda said, as she carefully made to remove the bandages from Hunter's leg. "A dirt-snake mom gave birth outside the house. Hooty ate her babies. She got inside trying to find them. And then he barfed them, she took them and left?"

"Yeah, that's pretty much it." King answered, munching on his apple pie. And handing over a piece at Hunter's palisman. "I still don't get why she was that big though. Normally dirt-snakes don't grow that big."

"She was a mother." Hunter piped up, wincing a bit as Eda cleaned his wound. "When female dirt-snakes have babies, their size increases, providing a safe place for their eggs until they hatch and allowing them to keep them safe for the first few weeks after their birth."

"And how do you know that? I've read countless books about demons and I don't remember seeing this anywhere."

"Not many people know this, since the dirt-snakes tend to go very deep under the ground for extra safety. It's fairly recently that the first studies have been made by the beast-keeping coven."

"Really?!" King squealed excitedly and Hunter smiled.

It wasn't until his response that he realised how much he said. And how he had listened...

The connection between wild and oracle magic. The pocket-spaces. And now the dirt-snakes.

Every single time... they were listening.

"Hey, kids. I don't want to interrupt, but if that's the case, why wasn't this one underground?" Ed-... The Owl Lady suddenly asked.

But he didn't really have an answer...

The dirt-snake slithered through dirt and mud, feeling every step from above the ground. There was a lot of movement around these days...

Until she finally reached her pasture, where her master awaited her. Checking his scroll while idly kicking about his legs. But as soon as he saw her, he came up to her and she nodded at him.

He squealed in response and took a photo with his scroll, updating his penstagram.

One happy future mother!

#EVERYTHINGISPERFECT

Darius brought out his crow, his penstagram on the other hand.

"You saw the update?" He asked, after clearing his throat. "He's there."

And for now that is all! Hope it was worth the wait! Next chapter might take a while too (unfortunately...) but I'll do my best to have it up soon! Please leave a review and stay safe. Byeeeee! :)