The Owl Familia: the Family That Will Grow Forever:
What Has Really Changed?
"Boscha, dear," Sabria Trisight said slowly. "It's just not that simple."
"Of course it is!" Bocha stated firmly. "Just show that you're the strongest and everyone will back off!"
Sabria exchanged looks with her wife, Trica, and both sighed.
"Dear, this isn't Grudgby. Doing something like that would cause more harm than good," Trica said firmly. "If we try anything that could cast us in a negative light we run the risk of making matters worse."
Boscha missed the concerned look that Sabria was giving her daughter. The two older witches had yet to tell their daughter about the death threats they have been getting. Or, that one of the threats has been directed at Boscha.
"Whatever!" Bosha screamed, throwing her hands into the air. "Sometimes, I wish both of you losers would just go away!"
(SC)
"I-I didn't mean that?" Bosch mumbled guiltily. "I really don't want you to go away."
Camila frowned as she looked at the witch. Boscha had spoken louder than she thought and the human had heard most of it. She quickly decided not to press the matter and focused her attention elsewhere.
The Owl Familia was currently en route to the Bonesborough's healing home, where Boscha's mother was being treated.
Camila looked around and couldn't help but be impressed.
Eda and Lilith were in harpy mode and using some shield spells/glyphs to keep the rain off of them. Around the stone sleeper was a thick cover of abomination goo, further protecting the group. Finally, any boiling rain that got through the first two layers of defense was stopped by the shield that Luz had put up.
Camila might have smiled at all of this…if she didn't turn her attention back to the witch at her side.
Boscha was barely keeping herself together; the three-eyed witch looked ready to cry at any moment. She was playing absent-mindedly with a loose thread on the lavender sweater Amity lent her. Camila frowned and wanted to comfort the distressed witch.
"We're here," Lilith's voice told them through the cover.
With a small command from his bonded witch, Roca stopped. Amity dropped the abomination cover and the group saw the Bonesborough healing house. Boscha wasted no time; she created her own shield and jumped down from the sleeper. She hurried into the house and nearly knocked over a healer.
The Owl Familia took their time in entering the house; Luz, Camila, and Amity all got off Roca, and the Human witch put the sleeper's re-sizing collar on him. The stone-like creature quickly shrunk to the size of a house cat and Luz picked up her beast.
"You did good, boy," Luz cooed warmly and scratched behind the sleeper's ear.
Eda and Lilith flow into the healing house's shield and change back to their witch forms as they land. Wordlessly, the Familia walked into the house and Luz took Roca to the pet area near the building's front door.
The group quickly saw Boscha hassling the healer at the desk. No doubt she was trying to get her mother's room number.
"Where's my mom, you second-rate witch?" the three-eyes witch demanded angrily.
The witch didn't like the tone Boscha was using and opened her mouth to say something. Lilith frowned at this and moved to intervene.
"Boscha!" A woman with three eyes and pink hair tied in a ponytail suddenly came into view.
"Mama!" Boscha screamed and ran into her mother's arms. "How's mom?"
Trica sighed tiredly and patted her daughter on the head. "It's not as bad as I first thought, but it's not good either."
The older three-eyed witch blinked and looked at the company her daughter had with her.
"Lilith and…Edayln Clawthorne," Trica said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Lilith offered her old classmate a small smile and stepped toward the potion coven member.
"My daughter and niece found Boscha just before the boiling rain started," Lilith explained calmly, deciding to keep the fact that Boscha was in a fight to herself for the time being. "Amity didn't want to risk getting caught in the rain while trying to get Boscha home, so they brought your daughter to our house."
"And we didn't want Boscha to go out in the rain by herself," Camila added gently. "So we came with her."
Trica smiled at the human gratefully for their kindness. She looked at her daughter and that smile disappeared. Boscha was trying so hard to be strong and try not to cry.
"Would you like to visit your mom?" Trica asked gently.
Boscha's head snapped and she looked at her mama with wild eyes. That was all the answer Trica needed, and a smile returned to her face.
"May we also join you?" Lilith asked hopefully. "I would like to see how my old classmate is doing?"
Trica looked at the group of humans and witches and debated with herself. It didn't last long and the older three-eyed witch looked at the Owl Familia with a small smile.
"I think she would like that," she said softly and then turned serious. "But, be warned. While it's not as bad as it looks, it still isn't a pretty sight."
(SC)
Trica wasn't kidding; Sabria was in pretty back shape. The red-haired witch had a cast that went up her entire leg. Large chunks of her hair had been torn out and there were bandages wrapped around her skull.
The thing that caught the ex-coven head's attention was the magic transfer bracelet on her old classmate's right wrist. That wasn't a good sign.
"Mom!" Boscha screamed and ran to her mother's side.
The red-hair gave her daughter a sleepy smile and reached out to grab her hand.
"How's my little star doing?" Sabria asked sleepily.
Normally, Boscha would have hated being called that, but not at the moment. All the three-eyed witch could do was smile sadly.
"I'm fine," Boscha replied weakly. "But how are you doing, mom?"
"I feel like I could take you in a match," Sabria joked sleepily.
Boscha couldn't help herself; she let out a weak laugh at her mom's lame joke and was about to respond. The witch gasped when she saw her mom's eyes closed and her head rolled to the right.
"Mom! MOM!" Screamed Boscha and frantically shook her mother.
"Boscha," Trica said calmly, grabbing and pulling her daughter away from her wife. "She's fine. She was given a sleeping potion just before you came. That's why I wanted you to see her, so she could have good dreams while she sleeps."
Boscha calmed herself by breathing deeply and smiled with relief as she looked at her mother. Her brow wrinkled as she studied her mom's state of being. She snapped around and gave her other mother a fierce glare.
"How long has she been like this and why didn't I know about it sooner?" The Grudgeby player demanded angrily.
Trica sighed slightly and looked her daughter right in the eyes. "She was attacked at the brewery nearly six hours ago," she explained calmly.
Everyone gasped and turned their attention to the witch on the bed. They didn't think it was something like an outright attack. But, it made sense once someone really looked at the injuries Sabria had.
Boscha's anger soared to new heights as she snapped her head around and glared flaming hot daggers at her other mother.
"AGAIN, WHY I AM ONLY LEARNING THIS NOW!" Boscha screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Boscha, please keep your voice down," Trica said, suddenly sounding tired. "And I tried. You wouldn't answer either your crow or scroll. I didn't even know if sending a message to all of your friends would do anything."
That wasn't the answer Boscha was looking for, and she got even angrier. She began panting as she looked ready to tear into her mother. Thankful, Lilith decided to intervene before things got worse.
"Amity. Why don't you take Luz and Boscha to the cafeteria and get something to eat," the ex-coven head suggested calmly. "You did miss dinner and I bet Boscha hasn't eaten in a while."
Luz opened her mouth to say something, but Amity cut her off.
"Sure thing, mom," Amity said calmly. "But, can you lend me some snails? I left my change purse at home."
Lilith nodded and pulled out her purse from her skirt pocket. She counted a handful of snails and then handed it to her daughter. At the same time, Camila and Eda took out their purses and gave Luz and Boscha some money.
The human and her bully wanted to protest; it was written all over their faces. Amity, however, ushered them out before they could get a word in. The Sisters Clawthorne listened until they couldn't hear their daughters' footsteps anymore.
Lilith looked at her sisters and Camila nodded. The mothers of the Owl Familia turned their attention to the older three-eyed witch.
"Now that the children are out of the room," Lilith began seriously, "I would like to know just how much you weren't telling your daughter."
Trica looked at the ex-coven head right in the eyes and then sighed. She turned her attention to her wife and a small smile graced her lip.
"It's like I told Boscha," Trica replied, looking at the sisters seriously. "My wife isn't in any serious danger. However…"
The three-eyed witch paused and mentally prepared herself for the information she was about to give out. The other mothers waited for Trica to continue patiently.
Trica sighed and looked at her wife one more time.
"Sabria's leg had been broken in several different places," the potion witch explained slowly. "The way the healers explained it to me, she's looking at several surgeries, and a lengthy recovery."
"And may I ask about the bracelet?" Lilith inquired seriously.
"Oh," Trica's eyes fell into her right wrist and she gingerly touched it. "Whoever attacked her, stabbed her several times. She lost a lot of blood before she was found. Thankfully, she and I have the same blood type, so I have been donating blood."
With a hollow smile, she brought up her wrist and showed the trio her bracelet.
"Dios," was all Camila could think about saying.
The smile dropped from the potion marker's face and she lowered her arm as the room fell into silence. No one made eye contact as they each thought things over.
"Nothing had changed," Eda suddenly growled loudly.
"Edalyn…" Lilith said warningly.
"Don't, Lily!" Eda snapped, snapping her head in her sister's direction. "Things were supposed to be better now that Captain Antler is out of the picture, but nothing's changed!"
"Eda," Lilith said, her voice rising. "Keep your voice down."
"WHY!?" Eda screeched. "Even a tool like that girl could tell this wasn't some accident gone wrong! Someone attacked Sabria and only let her live to tell everyone on the Isles that this isn't OVER!"
Lilith growled and was ready to say something to her as Camila walked up to Eda. The ex-wild witch looked prepared to say something else, but the human cut her off with a slap to the face. Shocked, Eda held her cheek and looked at Camila.
"Keep your voice down, Edalyn," Camilia said seriously. "Not only are you disturbing that poor woman's sleep, but we don't know if there's anyone else nearby."
Still a little shocked, Eda nodded. Camila sighed and then looked at the sleeping witch with sympathy.
"But, you're right," she said softly, "This wasn't an accident, and if that poor girl figured it out, I can't imagine what she would be going through."
"And things aren't going to get any better," Trica whispered to herself.
Lilith looked at her old classmate, having heard her thanks to having her hearing sharpened.
"I know this isn't the time, but I would like to inquire what will happen to your family now?" Lilith asked, choosing her words carefully.
Trica looked at her old classmate and sighed. She moved to her wife's side. She sat down and gently took Sabria's hand. The mothers of the Owl Familia waited for the three-eyed witch to speak.
"Because of how weakened a lot of witches' magic has become," Trica said, speaking gently, "We will need to see a specialist at the farthest point on The Knee. Given how much time it will take, I'm planning on moving there to make things easier for Sabria."
No one saw when a strange look crossed Camila's face, and she looked at the witch in the bed.
"But…it's like Eda said, not much had changed since Belos dethroning," Trica said slowly. "And my little star has never been the best when it comes to change. I fear with everything happening, Boscha won't be able to handle things, and I just don't know what to do to help my girl."
Trica began to cry as the room fell into silence once more. The stillness didn't last long as Camila softly walked up to the weeping witch and placed a hand on Trica's shoulder. The three-eyed witch looked into the warm smile of the older human.
"If you like, I think I may have an idea."
(SC)
The air was thick with tension, but not the tension Amity was expecting. The young witch looked between her future wife and ex-friend. Both Luz and Boscha were lost in their heads and just poking at their food.
Amity understood that Luz was lost in the memory of the last time she saw her dad. Boscha, however, was a different story; Amity just didn't know what that girl was thinking. Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, Luz sighed and put her fork down.
She looked at her bully with a serious expression.
"Boscha, if you need someone to talk to, I'm here," Luz said as she put on a sad smile.
Amity watched her ex-friend as she took a bit from her salad. Boscha didn't seem to hear Luz, and she kept poking at her dinner. Amity looked at her fiancee and noted how the sadness in her smile had grown just a little.
"I know what you're going through," Luz said, trying to sound a little upbeat. "So, I can help-"
"Like you know what I'm going through, human," Boscha said angrily, sending a weak glare at Luz.
Luz wasn't going to be deterred by some weak glare, and her smile turned a little sympathetic.
"Boscha, I know we don't get along all that good," Luz began slowly, "But I know what you're going through-"
"DON'T!" Boscha suddenly screamed.
The three-eyed witch jumped to her feet and slammed her hand onto the table. Thankfully, there weren't many people in the room so they were making any sort of scene. Still, that didn't stop Amity from giving her ex-friend a warning glare.
"Don't pity me, Noceda!" Boscha said angrily. "You don't know what I'm going through. I yelled at my mothers this morning and wish they would go away. SO YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY KNOW HOW I AM FEELING NOW!"
Luz's face suddenly darkened and she stood up. Boscha readied herself for whatever the human would throw at her. She was surprised when Luz simply walked out of the cafeteria.
Boscha was confused by this sudden turn of events. She would have thought the human would put up more of a fight. In fact, she was counting on that, so she could get some much-needed venting.
"Boscha, you really are an idiot," Amity suddenly said.
The sport-star snapped a glare in her ex-friend's direction. Amity wasn't effect by the look and just returned the glare. Boscha sighed lightly and sat back down.
"What would you know, Blight?" she mumbled dejectedly.
"Because," Amity spoke slowly, "Luz is one of the few people in this room who knows exactly what you're going through, and wasn't just being her usual nice self."
Boscha turned her attention to Amity and was about to say something. Amity cut her off before she could get a word in.
"Boscha, Luz watched as her father wasted away on a bed just like the one your mother is on," the abomination witch spoke slowly. "And do you know what Luz's dad did in his final moment? He smiled. Boscha, a dying man smiled so his daughter wouldn't worry."
Boscha could feel a pit forming in her stomach as Amity's words took hold. The lilac-haired witch narrowed her brow ever-so-slightly as she looked Boscha right in the eyes.
"Boscha, your mom's going to live. For Luz, she would have to live with that memory for the rest of her life. So don't even think that my fiancee wouldn't understand what you're going through."
Boscha broke eye contact and looked at her food again. Her head was a mess made all the worse by what she learned. Thankfully, the titan decided to spare her from her lingering thoughts.
"Boscha, can we talk?"
The young witches looked to the right and saw Trica and the mothers of the Owl Familia. Luz was also with them, and Amity could tell her fiancee has been crying.
Without a second thought, she stood up and went over to her family. Trica walked up to her daughter with Camila by her side.
"Boscha, I'm afraid wasn't telling you everything from earlier," Trica said slowly
Boscha growled slightly as some of her anger returned. Of course, her mom didn't tell her everything, like normal. She opened her mouth to say something about this, but Trica quickly cut her off.
"Before you fly off the handle," the older three-eyed witch said softly. "Know that your mom isn't in danger."
Trica paused to let her daughter absorb her words. Boscha was still angry, but knowing that her mama wasn't in any danger put her at ease somewhat.
Trica saw her daughter relax slightly, and continued.
"However, due to what happened during the Day of Unity, the healers here suggested I take your mama to a specialist at the knee. Since the trip would take so much out of Sabria, I think it would be best to move there for her treatments."
Boscha could feel more of her anger slipping and getting replaced with dread. Despite everything that has been happening, she had a feeling she knew what her mother was going to tell her.
"I figured, given how late in the school year it is, it would be problematic getting you transferred to another school," Trica said softly and nodded at Camila.
Camila returned the nod and looked at Boscha with nothing but warmth.
"My sisters and I talked over with your mom and we had agreed to host you until the end of the school year," the human mother explained warmly.
Boscha was shocked; she hadn't expected that. She looked at the Owl Familia and gauged their reaction. Everyone in that weird family looked indifferent; even Luz didn't react to this news.
Boscha felt a hand grab hers and looked up. She deeply into the warm and understanding eyes of her mother.
"Whatever you decide, my little star, know I will support you with all of my power," Trica swore warmly.
(M Corner)
If someone had figured out the central theme of this story and probably my series as a whole, then you know where I taking Boscha next.
But now for some real talk; I can't help but give a hat tip to the amazing writing behind the Owl House. Re-watching the series with the knowledge of who Belos truly is is a real eye-opener.
With Philip being a witch hunter with plans to wipe everyone on the Boiling Isles out, it makes sense why so much went under his scouts' radars. There was a season one story where we learned that a publisher was basically kidnapping and holding his talent hostage. However, the ending implies that he will continue with his work and suffer nothing from his actions.