The Daily Lives of the Owl Familia: P2:
Better Call Grandma Gwen

Summary: Gwen didn't expect to get a call from one of her granddaughters so early in the morning.

Timeline: The first day of the second Odalia incident.

(SC)

Gwen was just arriving at her bedroom with some soul when a crow landed on her shoulder. She frowned as she set down the tray and answered the bird.

"Hello?" she asked.

"Hi, Grandma Gwen," the voice of Amity said. "Got a minute to talk."

Gwen couldn't help but smile as she replied, "Of course, dear. What's seems to be the problem."

Before Amity could answer, Gwen heard a noise in the background, followed by Luz's voice.

"I DON'T CARE HOW MANY STINK POTIONS YOU HAVE, MAMA EDA! YOU'RE TAKING A BATH AND THAT'S FINAL!"

Gwen heard a small explosion followed by a familiar cackling.

"Is everything okay there, dear?" Gwen asked in concern, frowning.

She heard Amity sigh tiredly, and the young witch replied, "No. The short of it, Grandma Gwen, someone spiked Mom, Aunt Eda, and Aunt Camila's drinks with Rejuvenation potions. And I was hoping you have some advice for taking care of Aunt Eda."

Gwen frowned as she chewed over her adopted granddaughter's words.

"That's hard to say, dear," the elder beast-keeper said, "Just how young were the three made."

"About eight-year-old," was Amity's reply.

Gwen's eyes widened, and her mouth slowly dropped at this information. Memories began assaulting her as she recalled how much of a troublemaker her witchlet was at that age. She shook her head to clear it and refocused her attention on the matter at hand.

"Dear," Gwen said slowly, "I need a whole mouth to explain how to handle Edalyn at that age."

She heard Amity sigh before she replied, "Figures."

Gwen frowned as she looked at her husband. Dell noticed the look his wife was giving him and understood what she was thinking. He nodded with a supportive smile, and Gwen returned the smile.

"Dear," Gwen said supportingly, "If you like, I could come by and help you for how long the potions last?"

There was a pause, and Gwen knew Amity was considering her offer. She patiently waited as she heard more background noises and knew that Eda was still being a handful.

"...No, I think we will be fine," Amity replied slowly. "I remember mom telling me that Grandpa Dell took a bad fall a few days ago."

Gwen frowned as she looked at her husband. Dell wasn't in the best of shapes at the time, but he had mostly recovered. She also had a neighbor who could watch him for a few days.

"Are you sure, dear?" Gwen asked uncertainly. "My neighbor could watch your grandpa for a few days."

There was another pause, and Gwen could hear her other granddaughter in the background. She frowned as she heard Luz mention something about biting.

"...No, I don't think you need to do that," Amity replied. "I think between Luz, Vee, and myself, we can handle Aunt Eda."

Gwen's frown deepened as she heard another noise in the background.

"Are you sure, dear?" she asked doubtfully, "I know better than anyone how much of a handful your aunt could be at that age?"

"I'm sure," Amity replied reassuringly. "If Luz and I could handle someone like Belos, I think we can handle Aunt Eda. Now I think I better help Luz before she does something to my aunt she would regret."

Gwen continued to frown as she replied, "If you think you can handle it, dear, I will respect your wishes. But call me if things get out of hand. Okay?"

"I will," Amity replied gratefully. "You have a good day. Bye and love you, Grandma Gwen."

"Bye, dear," Gwen returned the gesture, keeping the concern from her voice, and released the crow.

Gwen sighed and looked at her husband. She didn't miss the concerned look on Dell's face.

"Is everything okay, dear?" the retired carver asked.

Gwen sighed as she took a seat next to her husband.

"No," the elderly beast-keeper replied, "It looks like our family is getting targeted again. Whoever it is is also using rejuvenation potions against them; our girls have been rejuvenated to children."

Dell put on a thinking face as he stared deeply into their wife's eyes. The retired carver saw the deep concern swimming in his wife's eyes and put on a comforting smile.

"If our granddaughters think they can handle our daughters," Dell said reassuringly, "Then let them try. We can't always be there for our granddaughters."

Gwen sighed in defeat and nodded slowly. Dell continued smiling at his wife, reached out, and took one of her hands.

"I know," she muttered in defeat, "It just stings a little when I realize our girls, all our girls, are growing up."

Dell chuckled, gave his wife's hand a light squeeze, and said, "No matter how old or young our grandchildren are, they will always need their grandmother."

Gwen smiled at Dell. The retired carver saw his words had improved his wife's mood and smiled at this.

"By the way," Dell asked curiously, "Just what age are our daughters?"

"Eight," Gwen replied.

Dell chuckled at this as he recalled memories of his youngest at that age.

"At least our dear witchlet wasn't "knocked-down" to ten," the retired carver said with a slight chuckle. "That was the age when Eda somehow aminated an entire city block."

Immediately, the two elder Clawthornes grimaced as that unfun memory came to mind.

(G Corner)

And that, witches and Demons, is why Gwen and Dell wouldn't involved with the story. Next, we learn why Raine isn't there for their future wife.