Me: *emerging from below... something, crawling my way up, covered in dirt, and utterly exhausted* I... have... MADE IT! I finished this chapter at long! Long! LAST! I'm so sorry I took so long but: 1) I had been busy with my one-shot for the TTT anniversary, 2) I'm back on college and it's been kicking my butt relentlessly (still is, not gonna lie...) 3) My perfectionism kicked in again and 4) As a result from the above reasons, I was really tired and burned out... The important thing is that I'm back and nearing the end of the story's part one! Hope you guys are just as excited as I am! Anyway, that's enough of that. Let's get to the long-awaited chapter 24!

Chapter 24: Everyone's running from something

Eda closed the door behind her as softly as she could and made for Luz's room.

Hunter and his palisman clearly had some stuff to talk about, they probably needed some privacy. Plus, she did need to check if there was any damage in the room. She didn't really believe Luz about not breaking the window. They'd probably better have those glyph lessons outside.

And just as she arrived at the door-

Caw caw!

Her crow? Raine wouldn't call at this hour. Who could it be?

"Hello?" She picked up, after moving a bit farther (just to be sure).

"Hello, Edalyn." Lilith's voice was heard from the other side.

"Hey Lily. What's up?"

"Oh, not much. We were just running some errands in Bonesborough and we thought of stopping by to see you and the kids. Are you home right now?"

"Uh, yeah. But what do you mean when you say 'we'?"

"Uhhh..."

...

...

Something was wrong.

Why wasn't-

"...I tell her?"

Now she heard her again. Her voice coming from a distance... She wasn't talking to her and she sounded nervous. And on top of it, Eda couldn't really hear who her sister was talking to. Just... air, no wind. She must've been flyin-

...!

Eda dropped the crow, feeling like her stomach was dropped with it. She didn't understand a word, but she still recognised that voice. She always did. Whenever it was screaming in her ears in the bad days, the days her mind decided to hate her and bring back one of her worst memories...

She ran back to the direction she had come from, thankfully without the crow following her.

She arrived at her room, slamming the door behind her, as if that would hold the voice out, her back slamming against it almost immediately after. Mostly to keep herself standing, which felt even harder to do with every second that passed, with every rapid breath escaping her...

...!

She raised her head, noticing Hunter and his palisman at her vanity. For a second she had forgotten they were there. They were staring at her, probably shocked at the forced entry (and her being a step away from a breakdown...).

"I need to get out of here. Now!" She said, forcing herself to pull away from the door and head for her nest to grab a satchel.

"Wh-what's going on?" Hunter asked worriedly, grabbing his palisman and his crutch and walking up to her.

However, she passed him by (nearly crashing onto him in the proccess) without a word and headed for her cabinets.

A small trail of feathers behind her... Some of them slowly appearing on her arms...(!) Her breathing seemed to quicken too...!

Her movements getting more frantic as she walked, opened a cabinet and chugged a bottle with some golden liquid, her elixir (!)...

...That... that must've been it. She was... okay. Right...?

She wasn't moving for a second, letting out a deep sigh as the feathers disapeared. "Sorry about that, kid." She said, her tone calmer and apologetic, but she didn't turn to look at him. She was busy filling that satchel she took with elixirs. "Look, I don't have time to explain right now, I just have to scram before-"

"LULUUUUUUUUU!"

"Oh, dangit...!"

The Owl House was just coming into view, but judging by that blaring screech, Hooty must've seen seen them already. And it actually was more obvious when Lilith saw how widely he was smiling, staring directly at her with stars in his eyes. It almost made her nervousness disappear entirely as she sped up and flew farther ahead and then dove down to land.

"Lulu Lulu LULU! I missed you so much!" Hooty kept yelling, his voice shrill with happines as he wrapped around Lilith, hardly before she could even get off her staff.

"It's so good to see you, Hootsifer! I missed you too." She said, in between laughs, doing her best to hug her friend back, even though she could barely move her arms.

"Lilith?!" But then she noticed that they weren't alone.

"Oh, hello Luz! And King!" She greeted her sister's apprentice, noticing she had come outside with the little demon in tow. "Hootsifer, could you let me go now? I need to see the others too."

"Do I have tooo?" Hooty asked, giving her the puppy eyes.

"We'll have plenty of time to catch up, I promise." She reassured him, as he untagled himself from around her, and she walked up to the kids with a smile.

Just as the door opened a bit more, revealing a third kid. One with familiar golden eyes and triangle earings. But with a major difference in her hair, from a minty green to a lavender purple, loose without a ponytail.

"Miss Lilith?" She said in surprise, making her way to her and the others.

"Amity. It's... been a while." Lilith greeted, slightly averting her eyes.

Other than... the obvious matter, this was another thing she was nervous about. She really hadn't seen the girl in a while and their last interaction... could've definitely gone better. Just another thing to add to the list of things she felt guilty about...

But one thing she had learned from the last few months, was that she could either watch as this list would get bigger (in more ways than one) or use it as a guide. A way to retrace her steps and get somewhere new. She was already having a better relationship with her sister despite... the curse. And the numerous times she tried to get her arrested. And that time she captured her apprentice-

Okay, enough with the guilt-list now!

The point was she could try to patch things up with Amity. Or at least apologize to her.

Though, it probably would feel easier if she didn't look so uncertain.

Gripping the edges of her dress and letting go the next second, unable to decide whether to keep holding onto it or not. Just like she was unable to decide whether she should try to smile or start a small-talk, or give her the cold shoulder.

All of it was so confusing. If this had been any of the previous days, at least she'd be facing someone she'd knew how to do so. If it was a dirt-snake, or a scout or even her mother, she'd bring out her staff and an abomination fist and from there she'd improvise. Now though...? How should she react to this type of visit?

"So! How come you didn't tell us you were coming? You ran away too?" Luz piped up, bearing a (nearly nervous) smile, obviously trying to lighten the mood.

"Oh, Edalyn didn't tell you?" Lilith said, nervousness returning on her face for a moment, before it was quickly blinked away. "We were passing by and thought to stop for a visit."

"Who's 'we'?" King asked, just as-

"My, my! Now that's a warm welcome!" An old woman's voice was heard.

"Gwen? You're here too?" Luz said happily, as the old woman in question landed close to them.

She was wearing a long purple dress and glasses in front of her hazel eyes. Her hair was short, but pretty poofy and grey like Eda's.

"In the flesh!" Gwen said with a laugh, before quickly turning her attention to Amity. "Oh! And you must be Amity. Sweet-flea's old student and Luz's little girlfriend!"

At this both girls' faces turned red, as they looked away in shock, before exchanging an awkward smile.

This was probably an overreaction on both their parts, but... it was the first time someone said it. And actually it wasn't really that official.

It had to be soon though (before the cupcakes would get spoiled...).

"Uh, yeah. That's me." Amity said (after getting her blushing under control) and walked up to Luz and Gwen.

"I'm Gwendolyn, Eda and Lilith's mother. You can call me Gwen. It is so nice to finally meet you, dear, I heard so much about you." The older witch shook hands with her, before her voice got a bit quieter. "I know you're all avoiding your parents, but if you want to send them a little something, I happen to know a couple beasts that could help-"

"Gwen, are you sending another swarm to the Blight Manor?"

Another voice was heard. One none of them recognized. Or rather, most of them.

From the crack of the open window, Eda was peeking outside, listening in on the conversations and watching out for... anyone else. And for a moment she actually had calmed down, thinking she might have imagined it, and she was almost ready to open the window and greet her mother and sister as well.

But then... she heard that voice again. And it wasn't a distant, muffled muttering from the other side of a crow. It was perfectly clear. It was real and and it was there. He was there...

"Is that your...?" Hunter whispered, from his spot next to her, his eyes drifting to her from outside, before she pushed the window closed and quickly walked away from it.

"Yeah... That's my Dad." She said, keeping her back turned on him, her voice just as scared and distant as her eyes.

While Hunter stared between her and the window, the people outside it looking so blurry through the colored glass. However, his gaze quickly found focus on the figure of the old, bearded witch Eda was so dreading to see.

Even in the blur, Hunter could still make out the large scar over his left eye, or rather over the left side of his face. But he could also see the kindness and the warmth on his face as he spoke to Luz and the others. He could hear them in his voice, muffled as it was.

"And you must be Eda's famous apprentice. Who has probably learned a lot more than just spells, judging by this whole situation."

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't she tell you? When she was your age, she once ran away with..."
"Didn't you hear me? It's yours now."

...!

...

...

That was... different. It was...!

Eda had said so, after all. Her father never hated her, even after what her curse did to him... And-

"Flapjack?" Hunter ventured, his thoughts (thankfully) interrupted, after suddenly feeling the little bird on his shoulder shaking.

"Please move away. Before someone sees us, please!" He said, without tearing his gaze away from the window. His voice as scared as Eda's was before.

"Now you know why I gotta get out of here stat!" Eda suddenly said, turning to face them, just as Hunter stood up and moved away, like Flapjack asked. Her fear, this time, replaced by urgency and impatience.

"I agree! Let's all get out of here!" The little bird piped up, earning a confused glance from his witch.

"What? Why do you want to leave all of a sudden?"

"Your bird wants out too?" Eda wondered aloud, just as confused, if only for a moment. "Well, no matter! We all agree here! We're going now!" And with that, she brought out her staff, ready for flight.

"Wait-!" Hunter said, but she seemed to ignore him as she sat him down on the floating staff.

She jumped on as well, but before they could go past her nest-

"Hey Eda!" Hooty showed up (the timing of that bird-worm...!)... "Lulu and your folks are here for a visit! Aren't you gonna come down? I can give you and Blondie a ride down if you're too bored to-"

"No, thanks, Hooty! We gotta go now!" She cut him off, as she got off the staff and went to push him out of the way.

She was impatient about getting the heck out of there, but she had an injured kid and an equally injured palisman with her. She couldn't risk maneuvering her way out of this one. However, as she kep pushing and shoving Hooty, he just kept moving in front of her blocking her again and again, each time with more of him.

"Actually, your Mom said to either get you down or to not let you leave the room, bacause this has gone on long enough and-"

"Hooty, I swear on the Titan's bones, let me go or-"

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes! I! AM!"

"But your pops is so nice and-"

"Hooty! Off the balcony!"

Hunter watched as they kept talking over each other, the owl-tube covering more of the balcony with every remark and every demand from Eda.

Who was getting more and more frustrated and restless by the second. And she wasn't the only one...

Flapjack was staring at the owl-tube with an increasing nervousness and desperation, as it was taking more and more space, hiding more and more of the view. And Hunter could feel him shake again...

"Flap? Flapjack?" He ventured again worriedly, but his palisman didn't seem to hear a word.

Suddenly his eye started glowing, a whispering sound echoeing from around him, too unclear for Hunter to make out a single word. If it was even in a actual language, to begin with.

And before he could say anything about it-

"FLAPJACK STOP!"

...!

Eda and Hooty both stopped, hearing Hunter yell. The demon quickly moving away from the balcony, barely managing to catch him before he could fall off.

Eda's worry gave way to relief, as Hooty gently laid him down on her nest.

But then her eyes fell on her staff. On the last open crack that was left before Hooty would cover all the balcony, just big enough for her to escape through, before Hooty turned his attention back to her...

...

...

...

Dangit!

Hunter glanced at the owl-tube, before turning to Flapjack. The worry ever-present on his face, almost frantic, as he checked the little bird he was carefully holding in his hands.

"Are you two okay?" Eda asked, sitting next to them, after motioning at Owlbert to come to her. "Hooty, get me a first-aid kit!"

"I'm fine." Hunter said, barely looking at her. "Flap-"

"I... I-I'm fine too." Flapjack answered quickly, avoiding to look at anyone, especially his witch.

"What did you do?" Eda asked again, kinda unclear which of the two she was refering to.

"He tried to fly away." Hunter answered quickly, his tone slightly reprimanding, but still concerned.

"I was a bit impatient."

"Why were you impatient?"

"Because I can't be here right now."

"Why?!" Hunter suddenly yelled, catching everyone off-guard. He lowered his tone, though when he spoke again. He didn't want to yell at his palisman. "Stop doing that, please. Stop treating me like I'm dumb and be honest with me. What's going on with you?"

Flapjack didn't answer. He wasn't even looking at him, his face turned to the side, in an attempt to hide how his nervousness increased (and how several other thoughts and emotions were slipping through the ever-growing cracks...).

And after what felt like a really agonizing forever... "I... I can't tell you... I'm sorry, Hunter. I really can't..."

Hunter's gaze remained on his palisman, silently begging him to at least turn around and look at him. The hurt on his face, not really leaving him any words to say.

"Look." Eda suddenly spoke up, getting their attention. "This is probably not the time, and not the place for this. Let's get out of here, clear our heads and-"

"Are you sure about this?" He cut her off, his voice surprisingly controlled. "Maybe your fath-"

"It doesn't matter." She cut him off just as quickly, realizing where this was going. "I can't see him again after what I- what the owl beast- Ugh! After what happened."

"But it wasn't your fault." Unfortunately though, he was still pressing on.

"I was the one who attacked him! Of course it's my fault!"

"No! It was the curse-!"

"My curse! My fault!"

"No! You didn't mean to do it! You said so yourself! You lost control, you never meant to hurt me!"

...!

Hunter clasped a hand over his mouth, as a silent order to himself to stop talking. If only he could've done this a few seconds ago, before he let something he wasn't supposed to slip out yet again... Before it was made clear how much of a hypocrite he was, asking for honesty and openness, when he couldn't really give either...

He quickly turned his gaze down, away from Eda. Away from that same look she had a few nights ago. And definitely away from the look from his shoulder...

Eda felt something inside her break at this. And the more she was looking at the boy, the worse it was getting.

The wounds he had, the ones she was tending to all this time... they weren't the first Belos gave him, weren't they?

All those things he said about the curse, about how it wasn't her fault, both on that night and just now...

That scar on his face...

"Kid...?" She begun, her voice careful.

But before she could say anything else, a knock was heard at the door.

"Eda? Hunter? Aren't you coming down? We have visitors. That don't want to capture or attack us." And it was quickly followed by Luz's voice.

Immediately after, Hunter left his palisman down, crawled out of Eda's nest and headed for the doors, after grabbing his crutch.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Eda asked, her voice barely above a whisper, so Luz wouldn't hear.

Hunter stood at the doors for a moment, his head turning towards the nest, but still not facing them. "Don't worry, I'll cover for you. You can go." He said, his voice just as quiet, and lacking any mockery or sarcasm or anger. Instead, it sounded genuine and soft and at the same time... nervous and impatient. Like he didn't want to be there...

And so he wasn't. He went outside, opening the doors just enough for him to slip out and losing them before Luz could catch as much of a glimpse of the room.

"Wow... That didn't go well." Hooty said, earning an annoyed glare from both Eda and Flapjack.

And that's the end of this chapter! Hope it was well-worth the wait. Please, leave a review and stay safe. Until next time! Byeeeeee! :)