The Boiling Islands had an especial tradition in which they celebrated the first life that ever was on the world, Nasci. It was sort of their version of a New Year, which then was followed by another celebration of the birth of the Titan in which Bonesborough lived 5 days after, Gignasci.
Camila Noceda found herself packing up to spent said traditions on a wednesday and then walked through the portal with an anxious Vee clutching her hand a couple of days after. They stayed in the Boiling Isles for only a week, and never did the young basilisk step outside of the Owl House.
For Nasci Luz's friends stayed with their families though Hunter arrived with a purple-haired witch and a small humanoid-cat. A mint-haired witch also came with a trio of teens trailing behind them.
King planted a seed from which a monster grew and then all the teens went to hunt it, after the monster was decapitated, the mint-haired witch and Eda clean it up, and remove the skin. Then they cut its flesh, cook it with spices and flour turning it into some sort of pastry which they served with willow-tree's blood.
Since it was Eda's house the witch stood up and made the toast.
"Well, I'm…" Eda coughed, "I think I can say for all it was a pretty hectic year, too many close calls and all. I don't know if you can know how freaking happy I am that all of you are alive and safe, and well, I am also damn happy I'm alive too." Everyone cheered. "Now let 's eat. If it tastes bad is Rainestorm's fault."
The mint-haired witch laughed at that, "I'm not the one that overcooks things, Calamity."
The pastries were a strange taste on Camila's tongue but not bad, and willow's blood reminded Camila of eggnog.
"So, are you the mom of the greatest human witch I know?" Raine asked her. Camila didn't know how, but she ended up sitting between them and Vee.
"Luz?"
"I hope so," Raine smiled.
"Yes I am," She eyed them suspiciously, "Is she really the best or are you just saying that to be kind."
"She is, although I only know about two and the other one was the worst."
"Oh, is he…" Camila trailed off.
"Yes." Raine grimaced.
The conversation could have ended up there but Camila didn't want it to end so she end up blurting:
"You are Eda's ex, right?"
Raine smiled amused, "One of many, yes. And you are going out with her."
"Yes is…" Camila tried to grasp for a word.
"Exhilarating?"
"Exactly, is just so very new. She's the first person after Manny, she's the first witch and she's the first woman too."
"Oh, I forget humans are like that about gender." Raine murmured more to themself.
"You are…are you non-binary?" Camila asked.
"I've never heard of that word."
"Well, it means…" Camila took out her phone, "a gender identity that is outside from the binary of women/men."
"Now, I get it. In the Isles there isn't a binary, not really. We might use terms like girl, lady and gentleman but gender is more intangible. For example, for me my gender is skipping class and going for a mint-chocolate chip ice cream- just don't tell that to my students."
"That sounds weird but it looks like so much fun."
"It is so cool, try it."
"Okay so I describe my gender with food?"
"With whatever you feel it describes it."
"Okay, okay. I think right now is saying fuck you to my abuela and not straightening my hair."
"You have beautiful curls."
Camila blushed, "You have very pretty hair yourself."
For Gignasci Luz's friends and family came with them to the procession. It was a long walk from the feet of the Titan to its skull, but it was a beautiful walk, people decorated their houses and built caravans in honor of the Titan they had built their life on, and they carried offerings they would later leave at the gates of its brain.
Camila saw Luz walked across the isles, dancing with her girlfriend and friends. The young girl look truly happy and truly at peace for the first time in a while. Shame was worn different by mothers than everyone else Camila realized; why hadn't Luz been happy at home? Why did Luz felt the need to scape from her?
"Luz looks very happy; I used to hate processions when I was little, so much walking and so many people." Raine shudder.
"She does look very happy, doesn't she?" Camila said wistfully, "Maybe Eda does a better job than me."
"If I know the Owl Lady, she stumbled a lot to get there."
"But at least she didn't drive Luz away to literally another world. I don't know, every since Manny I don't think I… maybe I am not enough, not alone," Camila hugged herself.
"May I hug you?" Raine asked, Camila nodded.
"My students, Amber, Darwin and Katya, I failed them terribly. I didn't knew…I still don't understand, they see me as their mentor, as their parent, and I sent them all to prison. But they still love me, for some reason, so hey, you couldn't have mess up that badly."
"Rain I am…"
"I am not looking for compassion, I'm just telling you so you know I get it and that you understand that what I would say next, I say it because I know is true from experience. You can never raise up Luz by your own, not even with only Manny, you need a lot of people to build up a witch -or in this case a human- and they make themselves a bit too. Darius, my partner, he says it takes a whole isle for you to live in the ocean fully and not burn alive.
Or in a less bloody way, is like songs, they may have been created by just 1 composer but they need multiple people for them to really grow into classics."
"So maybe it looks like Eda has it easy right now, but that's because Luz has had you all those years before they even met. And now with Eda, you'll have it easier too."
Camila laughed through her tears.
"And Luz has you too." She said.
"She does."