Their legs burn with the effort of it, but they didn't care. They had to keep running. One because they can still hear the follow chuckle drawing ever closer to them and two. Two they just had to know.

Of all the faces they'd already seen trapped forever in that last terrifying moment before the petrification had been completed. Hers was still a face they hadn't seen. Not yet anyway.

Their parents despite the fact both their dear mothers had been passed on for several years now.

Gwendolyn & Dell

Darius

Lilith

Eberwolf

Eda's curious pet by the name of King

Even the human they'd hear Eda had taken in to train in the way of wild magics.

Their three innocent battlings all huddled together when they'd met their end.

Raine hadn't decided as they ran from that particular statue just which face had been the hardest to look into. Clever Katya's who reminded them so much of Eda it almost hurt every time they'd look at the talented young witch, sweet and kindhearted Amber's or clever Derwin's as he like Amber huddled against Katya's protective hold their eyes closed tightly against the spreading creep of petrifying gray as they were turned to slowly yet to quickly to stone.

"Oh, Raine."

The tried bard holds their breath as they press into the shadows of a nearby tree at the curious call.

True it was only a shadow, not the actual man himself perusing them but it was no less terrifying to think about allowing that darkened silhouette to fall over them once more.

Then they heard it.

It was far away. An echo. A whisper on the windless wind tickled their ears.

That melody….

They knew that melody.

A mandolin. No, a violin. Wait or was it both?

Eda had played at least a recording of that familiar melody for them in the ally after kidnapping them from the Coven Day parade.

"Come on Rainstorm. Don't you quit on me now." Her wild one's voice begged from somewhere closer than even the melody was playing.

Rather than risk detection by calling out with a pointless "Eda? Eda, where are you?" Raine simply catches their breath and takes off in a hard sprint in the opposite direction of the darkening red and black shadow that had been doggedly perusing them since they'd blacked out after being 'saved' during the day of unity.

That is until they found themselves running not even deeper into the forest possibly containing the elusive Owl House as they'd thought but now, they were stumbling through what had once been a thriving green hilltop.

Now, however, the greenery was anything but.

And at the blackened hill's peak.

"No."

Raine feels their knees buckling under them as they stared unblinking at the stated outline that greeted them.

Not even the first time watching the actual event playing live on their crystal ball had hurt more than this…

"Titan please, no." the bard sobbed praying harder than ever before that their eyes were playing some horrible trick on them as that so sweet melody played on.

"Fight it, Raine, you have to fight." Her wild one encouraged her voice now as broken as Raine themselves felt in the very moment as the broken bard's shoulders shook in quiet sobs as they bowed their head no longer wanting to look at the tormenting obelisk now covering them in its heartbreaking shadow.

"There you are you clever songbird."

Raine's head remained bowed as her pursuer finally caught up with them.

"I know it hurts Rainy." Eda's low murmur purrs against their ears as Raine cries openly now. "but you have to fight."

Raine's hands ball into fists at their sides as more tears fall from their eyes. The sweet melody Eda had tried to play for them played once more through their mind giving them the strength to climb however unsteadily back to their feet.

"Do you really think you can defeat me when not even your lost love could come close?"

At that Raine's fisted hand shot out punching hard at the face now hovering at the very edge of their tear blurred vision.