The Owl Familia: The Family That Will Grow Forever:
The Big Brother of The KNC
Camila smiled as she took a picture of the scene before her. The entire "knocked-down" Coven was napping in the living room, and the scene was too cute not to take a picture. The human mother giggled under her breath when her adopted daughter get just a little closer and took a whiff of her "nephew's" scent.
Hunter stirred, but all he did was adjust himself slightly so he was more comfortable and went back to sleep. Next to him Willow stirred a bit but didn't move.
"He's such a charmer," Camila mused as she took another picture and made sure that Hunter and both girls at his side were in the frame.
Feeling like she had enough pictures for now, Camila put the camera down and carefully made her way through the mess of current children. She took one, last look at the group before entering the kitchen.
The smell of cooking meat and spices meant her, and Camila took a deep whiff of the smell. She smiled as she joined her witch sisters at the counter.
"How're the ankle-biters?" Eda asked good-naturedly.
"Sleeping like the children they currently are," Camila replied with a warm smile.
The human vet grabbed a wooden spoon and began to scoop some demon-realm salad into a container.
Since it was the last day of the three-day weekend, the mothers had decided to take the kids for an afternoon out on the town. The trio of mothers had also decided to have a picnic near the outskirts of Bonesborough and they were currently finishing things up while the kids napped.
Lilith suddenly made a low growling sound, and that got the other mothers' attention. The Historian snapped her head in her sister's direction, a controlled fury burning in her eyes.
"Edalyn!" Lilith said in a harsh whisper, "You didn't check the spice before adding it to the meat. This batch is now covered in jinnamon!"
"Oops," Eda replied with a rather nonchalant shrug, "my bad."
The bard witch then returned to her task. She took a spice jar and gave it a check before sparkling it to the current batch of meat she was cooking.
Camila cocked an eyebrow at this and looked at Lilith. The human could see the older witch was struggling to keep her temper in check at her sister's casual approach to things.
"Eda!" Lilith nearly screeched. "You know your niece is jinnamon intolerant! And we don't know if anyone else within our children's friend group had this ailment, either!"
"It will be fine," Eda replied with a dismissive hand wave, "We just gave the meat to the beasts. No harm, no foul as the humans say."
"What if we get the meat mixed up and Amity eats one?" Lilith asked, basically screaming now.
"I may have an idea," Camila quickly interjected before the noise woke the kids.
The Clawthorne sisters watched as the human mother walked over to a cabinet and got a large container. She made a quick trip to the counter and got a pad of sticky notes and a pen. With skills that impressed the other mothers in the room, Camila wrote something on a note and slapped it onto the container as she walked back to them.
"There," Camila said with a smile. "Now we can put the meat with the jinnamon on it in this container. And Eda, you might want to put that meat you're cooking in this container as well. You may have switched out the spices, but the pan is probably covered in Jimmamon and that could cause a reaction with Amity."
Wordless, Eda nodded and looked at the container that now reads "jimmamon-favored meat" on the top. Camila smiled satisfactorily and went back to her end of lunch. Still a little in awe at Camila's skills, the sisters went back to work.
With the three working together, lunch was made and packed. It was just in time too, as the trio of mothers could hear the kids stirring. The two witches and one human were closing the last bags when a sudden scream reached their ears followed by the sound of something being ripped from its hinges.
Everything was immediately forgotten and the three mothers hurried into the living room. The sight they saw was a little unnerving; Luz, Willow, Gus, and Skara were all looking at Hunter with concern. The "knocked-down" Grimwalker was looking at his hands like they were dangerous weapons and a flicker of magic was coming off of the boy.
Vee and Amity were looking at the front door…or where the front door should have been. Currently, the entire door was missing, but if one listened carefully, one could hear growing fainter.
"What happened?" Eda asked, after finding her voice.
But no one in the room was able to give the witch an answer. Either they were looking at Hunter or the spot where the door should have been.
Darius came down the stairs a few seconds later. The male witch had a look of mild annoyance on his face as he looked around the room.
"Titan, why can't someone do some private time without the entire Isles-HUNTER!" Darius screeched when he saw the state his boy was in.
He quickly but carefully made his way to his son and gently sat down behind Hunter. He gingerly took his boy into a soft hug and began to rub his back.
The simple action was enough to knock Hunter out of his shock and his breathing became shallow.
"I-I d-don't know what h-happened," Hunter struggled to get out.
Hunter's breathing suddenly quickened, and he began to shake. Darius figured the poor boy was close to a panic attack and hugged him a little tighter.
"It's okay, my boy," Darius spoke softly, rubbing Hunter's back gently, "I'm here, daddy's here."
Darius could feel his son relax in his arms and this brought a smile to the man's face. They stayed like this for nearly two minutes before Darius decided to see if he could get any answers.
"Could someone tell me what happened?" he asked and then frowned when he noticed a few adults were missing. "What happened to the elder Clawthorne and the human woman?"
"Lily and Cammy are getting Hooty," Eda replied dryly. "We think that guy is the only one who can tell us what happened."
The ex-wild witch sighed as she took a seat across from Darius. Immediately, Luz, Amity, and Vee were by the bard witch's side; Luz and Vee placed their heads on their witch's mother/aunt's lap and Amity cuddled up to Luz.
It wasn't long before Hunter had company himself; Willow got beside the boy and gingerly took his hand. Gus and Skara were close by their team captain's side, showing that they supported Hunter completely.
It brought a smile to Darius's face when he saw just how much love his boy had. He looked down at Hunter and saw he was nearly completely relaxed, and looked close to falling asleep.
That didn't happen as Lilith and Camila returned with Hooty, who was babbling incoherently. Everyone couldn't help but stare a little when they noticed the imprint of a certain witch's face right below Hooty.
"Whoa, did Steve stop Hooty with his face?" Eda joked dryly.
(SC)
"It's all right," Steve said, punch-drunkenly, doing up a thumbs-up while holding up an ice pack to his face. "Steve got an ice pack, so we are all good!"
(SC)
"Something like that," Camila replied just as dryly.
It took a few minutes to get Hooty back in place, and then a slap (from Lilith of all people) to bring him back to his senses so they could ask the question every adult wanted to ask.
"Bird Tube," Darius said sharply, "What caused this?"
"Welllll," Hooty replied chirpily, "It all started with what the humans call the big bang, and then-"
Darius sighed exasperatedly and pinched the bridge of his nose. He tried to calm himself but the house demon's voice was getting on his nerves. He was close to losing it and tearing the demon out of the house and throwing him into the boiling seas.
Thankfully, Lilith saw where things were heading and intervened before things reached that point.
"Hootsifer," Lilith said kindly. "Could you please skip to the part where you sent flying from the house?"
"For you LuLu, I will walk through the boiling seas," Hooty replied chirpily, oblivious to the stares he was getting. "Well, I knew it was time, so I was going to be a good boy and start waking everyone up."
Everyone noticed when Skara shuddered, and couldn't help but feel like they knew where things were heading.
"The white-haired girl started to scream and I saw a pretty light and soon I found myself with a new face," Hooty finished and looked at Lilith happily. "Did I do good, LuLu?"
With a tired sigh, Lilith offered her friend a smile and patted his head when Hooty stretched to her. She looked at Hunter and frowned.
It didn't take much thought to figure out what happened. Skara was startled when Hooty probably got too close and that caused her to scream. The scream no doubt did something to Hunter and the light Hooty mentioned came from the young grimwalker.
The question on everyone's minds was what the light was and what it meant.
"Is this normal?" Camila asked in concern, her eyes not leaving the boy.
Lilith sighed and looked at her sister-in-all-but-blood. "I honestly can't say. Grimwalker's knowledge was one of the four things that Philip declared was unfit for anyone's eyes but his own."
Camila scowled at the mention of the man she once thought so highly of. A part of her still found it hard to swallow that Philip Wittlebane was just a pretty man who let his jealousy get so out of hand that he viewed every single living creature on an island as nothing more than wild beasts that needed to be put down.
And now, she was witnessing the results of one of these lies in front of her. Hunter was shaken by whatever just happened, and no one could give him an answer to soothe him.
"Hu-Hu, otay?" Luz asked with concern.
With a light sigh, Eda gently took her human daughter and basilisk niece into a hug. She smiled at her human daughter and kissed her forehead.
"We don't know, witchlet," The bard witch said truthfully. "But you know we will do anything we can to help Goldie."
Luz frowned as she looked at Hunter. He was nearly completely recovered and was starting to talk with his friends. With a smile, the human witch pulled herself free and jumped to her feet. She walked up to the boy and hugged him without a second thought.
Hunter let out a cute noise as his face started to burn. Soon every single member of the "knocked-down" coven was on him and giving him much-needed love. This brought a smile to every adult's face but it didn't last long.
"Maybe we should cancel the picnic and see if that healer friend of yours can see my boy?" Darius suggested.
A round of 'aw' went out and Hunter looked at his friends and family. It was clear that everyone was saddened by this idea, but no one was going to object to it either. Hunter's eyes become set, and he jumped to his feet and looked at father.
"I'm fine!" the boy nearly screamed. "We can go!"
Everyone in the room, even Hooty, looked at the boy with uncertainty. However, Hunter was set, and wouldn't let something he did ruin his friends and family day.
"Hunter," Darius said slowly, "We don't know what's wrong with you. If anything happens while we're out, things could get rough."
"I'm FINE!" Hunter screamed, his voice sounding close to his natural age.
Magic began to surge around Hunter, but thankfully, the boy realized what was happening and calmed down before things got out of hand. Once the magic stopped, Hunter gave himself a quick lookover and then looked at his father with a smile.
Darius sighed as he realized there was no changing the boy's mind at this point. In a way that was another trait that he had in common with Arrow…or maybe that was something both inherited from Caleb.
"Okay," Darius said with a reluctant sigh, and then looked at his boy sternly, "But, if anything feels wrong, don't wait. Tell me or one of the other adults. Am I clear?"
"Yes, daddy!" Hunter replied, giving a coven salute to tell the witch he understood.
Darius couldn't help but smile despite the unease he was still feeling. He frowned as something came to mind.
"Is lunch ready, by way? he asked the trio of mothers.
The trio of mothers nodded, and Darius watched three women hurry into the kitchen to finish packing lunch
The rest of the KDC had gathered around Hunter again and were trying to comfort him in their own ways. This brought a smile back to Darius' face and he felt more of his unease leave him.
(A hour later)
Laughter filled the air as the current children played; Luz and Vee were playing a game called Leap Frog as Amity watched from the side with a smile on her face. Not too far off, Willow, Gus, Skara, and Hunter were watching a Livestream of a Flyer Derby match.
From the Slayground's bench, the adult watched their kids with the laser focus only a parent could have. Darius and Lilith's eyes were basically glued to the "knocked-down" Grimwalker.
The walk to the Slaygrounds had been an easy one. There have been a few close calls, namely when someone accidentally knocked Luz to the ground. Hunter nearly attacked the demon, but thankfully, the demon apologized the second they realized what they did.
Look like the day would end without a problem was what Darius was thinking.
"Well, if this isn't a sicken scene?"
Eda and Lilith groan as they instantly knew who that voice belonged to. The Sisters Clawthorne looked to the Slaygrounds entrance and saw Chloe Babblerstone storming up to the KDC members. The parents noticed the murderous glare the actress was giving Luz and saw that as their cue to join their children.
"Can we help you, Miss Blabberstone?" Darius asked, trying and failing to keep his tone polite.
Chloe snapped her head in Darius's direction and her eyes widen slightly when she realize whom she was talking to. She put a hand on her hip and jab a finger in Luz's direction.
"Why yes," She said snobby, "I would like to know why that lowly creature is still on the Isles?"
The trio of mothers growled under their breaths as their readied themselves for a fight; Eda called her mandolin, and Lilith took out her spare glyph cards. Camila took out her weapon of choice from her pulse and even a fire spell card for extra measure.
Darius got between the trio of mothers and the actress and tried his best to defuse things before it got too heated.
"Miss," Darius said coldly, "Luzura Noceda-Clawhtorne is a legal citizen of the boiling Isles and was one of the heroes that saved countless lives."
The Sisters Clawthorne and the entire KDC nodded at this, but Chloe just stuffed and wave off the statement.
"Please, anyone could beat an impostor," Chloe replied dismissively.
Camila stared at the gorgon with mild disbelief. Lilith and Eda had told her about this; a small group of witches was going about preaching that the one who tried to kill them was merely an impostor and that the true Emperor Belos would soon return.
The human mother didn't even need to put much thought into it; there were just too many holes in that story to actually believe. Philip as Belos was credited as the most powerful witch on the Isles. So, to think that someone could imprison him and then impersonate him just doesn't make sense.
Chloe's shrill voice broke Camila out of her thoughts and what she heard filled her with anger.
"Is that a basilisk? What's such a vile creature doing back on the Isles?"
Why that was the final straw from the Owl Familia; Chloe's outburst had scared Vee to the point where her tail had come out and she was shaking like a leaf. Thankfully, Luz was hugging her sister for dear life and Amity was in front of the two. The "Knocked-down" witch looked ready for a fight; her spell finger was twitching.
Amity wasn't the only one ready for a fight; Eda and Lilith would have gone harpy if their beasts had been merged with them. Instead, Eda's grip on her mandolin was so tight it was a wonder the neck didn't break off.
Lilith and Camila weren't doing much better. Lilith's hold on her cards was so tight that it was surprising that glyphs were activated. Camila was nearly foaming at the mouth; it was taking everything she had not to slam the fire glyph to her slipper and dish out some flaming Le Chancla!
Even Darius looked ready to tear into the ignorant actress. Before anything could do anything, Hunter got in front of the demon. His entire body was alive with magic and his eyes showed anger never seen with the boy before.
"Leave my sisters ALONE!" Hunter screamed as he slammed his hands to the ground.
Everyone was shocked when thick vines shot from the ground and wrapped around the actress's arms. Chloe shrieked as she was lifted a good four inches off the ground.
"WHAT'S GOING ON?!"
That was a question everyone liked to know, especially Hunter; the poor boy was looking at his hands like they would come alive at any moment and eat him. His face contorted as he began to shake.
"It's okay, baby," Camila said softly, walking up to the boy and taking him into a hug. "You did good. You save your sisters."
The human mother began to rub the boy's back and whispered Spanish words into Hunter's ears. The gesture worked and Hunter melted into his auntie's embrace. While this was happening, Darius leaned in close to Lilith.
"You're a historian, right?" He asked her.
Lilith nodded and replied, "Yes, and I will be willing to help you research Grimwalkers."
Darius smiled at this and looked back at his boy. He was happy that Hunter had such a great family looking after him.
"NO BULLY V-V!"
"NO MESS WITH UZ-UZ!"
Startled, the adults looked up in time to see Luz and Amity giving the "Knocked-down" Coven's trademark shin buster to the actress's right shin.
"OOUUUGGHH!" Chloe screamed. "YOU NO GOOD BRATS! WHEN I GET FREE I'M GOING SUCH A SPANKING YOU WOULDN'T SIT DOWN EVER AGAIN!"
Well, Willow and Gus wouldn't let anyone talk to their friends like that and they stormed up to the actress.
"No picked on Uz-Uz!"
"No be meanie to Am-Am!"
The two then gave their own shin buster to the actress's other shin. Chloe howled again and began to kick her legs to get the current children away from her. Not wanting to be left out, Skara, and a cautious Vee came to the actress.
"Meanie pants," was the "knocked-down" bard's reply as she lightly kicked the side of the actress's leg.
"Sin maton," Vee said meekly and gave a light tail whip to the actress's other leg.
Eda cackled as she heard Chloe howl in pain once more. "Oh, that sound is music to my ears. Almost her pestering us worth it."
Camila frowned as she looked at Lilith. "I take it this happens often?"
Lilith just sighed and nodded. "Yes. We seem to run into her or her husband on a regular basis."
Camila just frown as she looked at the actress. She wouldn't be getting any sort of sympathy from the human mother, not with how she insulted both of her daughters. She planned to talk to the actress about her health, though; the snakes that made up her hair looked close to death.
(M Corner)
And with this, we close the Hunter/Darius plot of this story. Keep in mind the impostor angle, which will play a role in a later story. Also, I'm using the theory that Hunter inherited Flapjack's magic after-
Steve (Breaking through the fourth wall): Steve has found you once again!
Me (Groaning): C'mon! That gag doesn't even work with this story!