The Daily Lives of the Owl Familia: P2:
Vee's Problems

Summary: A surprise visit from Gwen and Dell revealed another quirk of the basilisk species.

Timeline: a month and a week had passed since Camila and Vee moved into the Owl House.

"Do you think she would like it?" Dell asked his wife, looking at the piece of wood in Gwen's arms.

The elder beast-keeper chuckled good-naturally and said, "Dear, you have nothing to worry about. I'm sure Vee will love it."

Dell sighed, and Gwen saw her husband's shoulders slump slightly. She grabbed Dell's hand and gave it a gentle squeak.

"What's bothering you, dear?" the elder beast-keeper asked gently.

Dell sighed again and looked at his wife. "I loved carving my daughters' Palismen with them. I know it's silly, but I wanted to do the same thing with my granddaughters."

Gwen smiled at this and gave her husband a quick kiss on the cheeks.

"I'm sure things will be fine, dear," the elder beast-keeper reassured her husband.

(SC)

"...Umm," was the only thing Dell could think about saying.

Camila, Dell, Gwen, and Eda could only gawk at the sight; a "knocked-down" Vee wrapped around the piece of wood Dell brought, sleeping in a daze and making what sounded like purring.

"Should I be worried?" Camila asked her adoptive parents uncomfortably.

"I…don't know, dear," Gwen replied uncertainly.

The adult continued to look at the basilisk with worry.

"I think I may have found something," Lilith said, entering the living room with Luz, Amity, King, and the shrunken bond-beasts.

Immediately, the other adults were in front of the historian, eager to learn what she found. She took a moment to check the book she held to ensure her information was correct.

"It seems our forebearers used palistrom wood to deter basilisks," Lilith explained. "Apparently, palistrom wood gives off a faint smell that basilisks find alluring."

Eda frowned at this and looked at her adoptive niece. Vee hugged the log tighter, and Eda saw a faint blush on the girl's cheeks.

"That doesn't make a lick of sense, Lily," Eda said, looking at her sister. "There's four Palismen in this house, and I don't think I saw Vee even twitch her nose at them."

"Actually, witchlet, I think I may know the reason behind that," Dell piped in.

Everyone in the room gave the retired carver their full attention.

"Every carver could tell you that, while Palistrom wood's magic isn't all that strong, trying to turn it into something behind an animal shape could lead to disaster," he explained.

"I think I understand your logic, Father," Lilith added, "You're thinking that carving palistrom into Palismen refines the magic wood carries and removes the smell."

Dell looked at his elder daughter and nodded.

"We also must remember Vee's currently younger," Gwen added, glancing at her granddaughter. "It's possible that her current state is making it a bit harder for her to fight her urges."

Dell and Lilith looked at Gwen as they considered her words. Luz, who has been quiet during this time, walked up to her grandmother and tugged on her skirt.

"Yes, dear?" Gwen asked warmly.

"V-V, Otay?" Luz asked fearfully.

Gwen smiled warmly, and she picked up her granddaughter. She hugged Luz and kissed her on the cheek.

"Yes, dear," she replied kindly. "Your sister is just experiencing something she never dealt with before. She will be fine in a short while."

"But," Camila said, "What are we going to do about Vee? I don't like keeping that piece of wood here if Vee's going to act like this."

The Clawthornes looked at the basilisk.

"Maybe," Dell said, walking up to his new granddaughter, "We could keep the Palistrom wood at my house until she's ready to carve her Palisman."

"That's probably the best opinion at the moment," Lilith added, joining her father's side. "Vee's still somewhat adjusting to life here."

Lilith gently grabbed the piece of wood from her niece and slowly pulled it out of Vee's arms. The basilisk whined slightly when the wood was taken from her and looked ready to cry in her sleep.

Thankfully, Luz and Amity knew what to do. Gwen put Luz down, and she and Amity quickly ran over to their "sister" and hugged her. Vee calmed down when she felt her family's warmth and settled back into her nap. Soon, King, Roca, Owda, and Rath gathered around them and joined their napping.

The adult couldn't help but gush at the scene.

Eda couldn't help herself and took her camera from her hair. She took several pictures as Gwen decided now was the time to talk to her unofficial adopted daughter.

"You told me once that you were making notes on Vee, right, dear?" the elder beast-keeper asked kindly.

"Si," Camila replied.

"Mind if I help?" Gwen asked, smiling kindly. "I want to make sure my new granddaughter understands everything about herself."

Camila couldn't help but smile at the woman and said, "I would like that, Mrs-"

"Please," Gwen interrupted kindly, "You're basically my daughter now. You can call me Mom if you like."

Camila was caught off guard by this and slowly looked at Luz. She smiled when she saw Eda had stopped taking pictures and was now just sitting close to the current children.

"I think about it…Mama Gwen," Camila said with a light teasing smile.

(M Corner)

Someone asked if Raine losing their pants will b a running gag for the finale story in my series and if I would tell the tale of how Raine lost their pants during their youth.

To answer both questions, yes and no. Raine losing their pants would not become a gag, but a later chapter in this story will have a flashback to the incident in question. However, it is still a ways off, as it fits into part of the main story arc of this story, which is the story of how the Demon Realm began to enact with Gravesfields.