Broody

Raine groaned as they approached the Owl House. It had been a rough day trying to rebuild the Isles and prep to be the new bard teacher at Hexside and all they wanted to do was curl up in their nest with their viola and their wife. They pushed past Hooty, not bothering to listen to whatever he was saying, and looked around the empty living room. The house was quiet.

"Eda? Luz?" Raine called, "King? Hunter? Amber?"

When there was no reply they went back to the door.

"Hooty? Where is everyone?"

"Upstairs," The house demon almost seemed to cower in his door, "But I wouldn't go up there if I were you. Eda's extra BEASTLY today."

Raine hissed through their teeth. They tiptoed up the stairs and carefully knocked on their bedroom door.

"Eda? Kids?" They slowly pushed it open, "Everything ok in here?"

"Don't come any closer!" Luz hissed.

Raine stopped. Sure enough, Eda was in her owl beast form. However, she wasn't rampaging. She was huddled in their nest with King, Luz, Hunter, and Amber tucked around her.

"She's…brooding?" Raine blinked.

"Yes." Hunter nodded.

"And she doesn't like anyone to get close," King insisted, "Not even Hooty or Aunt Lilith."

"AND apparently the elixir doesn't really work when she broods," Amber huffed.

Raine nodded slowly, "Right…when was the last time any of you went to the bathroom or had something to eat?"

"It's…been a while." Luz admitted.

"None of us have left the nest since she woke up." Hunter explained, "She pretty much woke up, transformed, and herded us all into the nest."

"Ah." Raine said, "So you've been in there since I left this morning. Alright. I'll be right back."

"But Raine!"

They were already gone. All four kids sighed in defeat. Hunter and Amber pulled their scrolls back out; Luz pulled out the sketches she was working on for the Azura art competition; and King simply snuggled closer to Eda who began to coo quietly. The door inched open again.

"Anyone want sandwiches?" Raine held up a tray with one hand.

"We'd love to, Zaza," Amber put her scroll away, "But Mama Eda literally drags us back into the nest if we try to leave."

"We pretty much have to wait here until she gets up to hunt," King clarified, not lifting his head.

Raine just smiled and stepped into the room, a thick burlap sack tucked under their other arm.

"Raine! Stay back! She–"

The owl beast trilled. The kids stared up at her. Raine set the tray on the edge of the nest and reached up to cup Eda's face.

"Sorry I took so long, Dearest," They cooed, "Had I known, I would have been home much sooner."

She cooed back, nuzzling their hair.

"She let in?" Luz gasped.

"She let you TOUCH her," King sat up.

"Of course she did," Raine smiled down at them, "I'm her mate."

Eda trilled again and snuffled at Raine's bag.

"Yes, I brought food for you too," They reached into the bag and pulled out a horned weasel.

Eda grinned and chirped, swallowing the weasel whole. Raine giggled.

"Do owls even work like that?" Amber asked, "The whole 'mated pair taking care of babies together' thing?"

"Some do," Raine shrugged, feeding their love another weasel, "The owl beast does in any case. Maybe Eda still has some say in what the beast does."

Amber sighed and reached for a sandwich. Eda trilled to Raine once more before leaning over and grabbing Luz by the scruff of her pajamas. She settled the teen between her paws and sniffed her hair. Luz groaned as Eda began licking her hair, making it stand straight up.

"This is going to take forever to wash out."

Amber froze and Hunter stared at them both.

"Please tell me she isn't going to do that to all of us," Hunter whispered.

"She probably will," King took another sandwich from the tray, "We have been fed. Now we need to be clean."

"I'll take you all to the bathroom in a little bit," Raine assured them as they sat on the edge of the nest, fighting back a yawn, "And I'll call Camilla and Darius and fill them in in a few minutes." They lost their battle with the next yawn and leaned over until they were resting against Eda's side. "I just need a…quick…nap…"

Eda purred as she swapped Luz out for Hunter. Amber chuckled and pulled out her flute. As she played, everyone settled in for a quiet night in the owl beast's nest.