A/N: Some small spoilers for the finale of The Owl House "Watching And Dreaming."

Chapter 9

Luz and Amity were in the living room, discussing what to do while Eda spent some time with her granddaughters in Solana's bedroom. The two girls had decided on coloring and Eda joined them, smiling as she remembered how much she loved coloring when she was younger. She hoped the activity would at least put the news about their grandmother far in the back of their minds.

Amity, however, was worried and angry, pacing back and forth. "How dare she try to take away our daughters," she growled. "Didn't she learn her lesson last time when she tried to join Belos and gain power?!"

"Sweet Potato, calm down," Luz said gently, pulling the purple-haired woman towards her.

But Amity was far from calm. "I should have made sure she was banished after that stunt and after she tried to get the collector to do as she wanted!" She said. "We were turned into puppets and did she care?! No!"

Tears now filled her eyes as she remembered that time being stuck as a puppet and she clung to Luz. "I felt so helpless do to anything then," she said.

"But you did so much, Amity," Luz said, hugging her close. "You gave me the idea to break free from the Collector's spell and free you all too. You even helped me, Eda, and King battle against Belos and stop him for good."

"Mama Camilla helped with that one too," Amity said with a small smile. "When we were unable to use our normal powers, she helped us by writing glyphs for us to use."

"And you guys did all you could," Luz said, smiling. "If we could defeat Belos, then we can certainly stop your mom from whatever crazy plan she has."

The purple-haired girl smiled up at the brown-haired woman, nodding. "You're right, Batata," she said. "I guess I'm just a bit more worried because this is closer to home."

"I know what you mean."

Batty, who had been listening in, flew back to the tree his owner was in and she listened as he squeaked at her. "I don't blame Luz and Amity for being worried," she said. "I just got some calls from some contacts of mine. Turns out Odalia is not only getting desperate for all magic she can get her hands on, she's also desperate to kidnap the two young girls in order to use them as leverage against her family."

Batty squeaked in worry and Bootstilla nodded. "I hope he comes soon too, because I've got a gut feeling that one of the other bounty hunters that Odalia hired is going to show up soon."

Just then, the pumpkin seed that she planted the other night sprouted into two vines that were curled up and as they uncurled, a foot stepped out and then another before a being came into view.

He had a pumpkin for a head with a jack-o-lantern face. His clothing was a black cloak with an old straw hat that had holes around the brim, a dark green button up shirt, black jeans, and black cowboy boots. He stood tall and gazed around, seeing it was almost nighttime.

Just then, he turned his head and his face glowed for a moment like a flashlight, both eyes and mouth projecting a light that caught a figure trying to sneak up on the house. "Oh no, you don't!" The being called out in a deep, rather scratchy voice, running up to the sneak in three strides and grabbing him.

The other figure, dressed in a brown cloak, yelped. "Get off!" He yelled, trying to fight, but the taller being simply picked him up by the shirt collar, making the shorter being gasp.

Bootstilla came up behind the pumpkin being and looked at him. "Did Odalia send you?" She asked.

The punk sneered at her. "We're not telling you anything!" He said.

The pumpkin being's eyes widened. "Blossom, the girls," he said.

Bootstilla quickly ran for the house, seeing another dark-clothed being nearly at the door. "Stop right there!" She called out.

Eda, hearing the commotion, looked out the window and her sharp eyes saw a young woman and a pumpkin being fighting off two others. Just then, a bat flew up to the window and began squeaking urgently. Nodding, Eda turned to her granddaughters. "Girls, we need to get to your moms, now," she said.

Mila and Solana quickly jumped up and ran for the living room with Eda following close behind. "Mommy! Mama!" Mila cried out.

Luz and Amity jumped up in alarm as the three entered the living room. "Girls, call your palismans," the winged woman said urgently.

The two quickly did so, standing ready before Eda, who wrapped her wings protectively around the girls. Just then, a crash was heard against the door, which shook the house. After it quieted down, Luz cautiously approached the door, Amity right behind her. She carefully opened the door a crack, waiting a moment.

"It's safe now," a deep, scratchy voice said, making both jump.

Luz opened the door more to peek out, seeing a strange scarecrow on her doorstep. "Who put a scarecrow on the doorstep?" She asked.

"I walked here myself," the scarecrow said as he took a step forward. "I mean no harm to you or your daughters."

The little bat palisman showed up and squeaked happily, to which Eda came up with the girls and listened to the bat. "He says Calabaza is a friend," the winged woman said.

"Calabaza?" Amity repeated, having not heard the name before.

"It means 'pumpkin' in Spanish," Luz translated. "Which is pretty accurate considering his head is a jack-o-lantern."

"Why are you here, Calabaza?" Eda asked.

"A dear friend asked me to protect your home and your family," he replied. "Odalia is growing desperate and must have offered more money to the two bounty hunters my friend and I caught trying to get into your house."

Amity felt anger rise up in her at the thought of her mother stooping so low. "You are certain it is my mother who is behind these bounty hunters coming to kidnap my daughters?" She asked.

Calabaza nodded. "She hired my friend too, but my friend knew Odalia was up to something," he said.

Solana looked up at him curiously. "You look like a cowboy," she said.

The tall being chuckled. "My dad and I are both cowboys," he said before Batty flew up to this shoulder and squeaked, to which he nodded. "I'll be nearby," he said. "But be careful. We may have caught two bounty hunters and my friend is the third one, but there is still one out there."

He turned and left, his black cloak moving a bit with the wind before he vanished into the earth. Luz and Amity both took a deep breath and turned to Eda. "He was telling the truth?" The brown-haired woman asked.

"He was," the winged lady said. "That bat palisman belongs to Calabaza's bounty hunter friend, a girl named Bootstilla."

"Bootstilla?" Amity repeated, her eyes widening. "Oh, no."

"What is it, Sweet Potato?" Luz asked.

The purple-haired woman turned to her. "Bootstilla is a dangerous bounty hunter. Though she's human, she's been known to always catch whoever she's paid to go after." She looked down. "Mom used to scare me and my siblings with a story that if we were out past curfew, she'd call Bootstilla to go find us."

Amity shuddered. "Bootstilla isn't affected by magic," she continued. "That's what makes her so dangerous. Any magic used against her is nothing more than a pesky fly."

"Irritating, but not doing anything to faze her," Eda supplied. "I've heard a bit about her. They say anyone foolish to mock Bootstilla is caught by her too."

Luz looked curious. "How is she immune to magic?" She asked. "Even though I've studied a lot, I'm not immune to it."

"No one knows why or how," Amity said. "All we know is that if she comes after us, we don't stand a chance."

"But didn't the nice scarecrow say that his friend was nice?" Mila asked.

Eda nodded. "He did say Bootstilla had asked him to guard you girls and your home," he said.

"If she's after us, why would she send someone to help us?" Solana asked.

"Good question," Luz said, looking thoughtful before gazing out into the night. "Why would she?"

In the woods behind the house, Bootstilla stood by a fire, seeing Calabaza walk up a moment later. "I was worried it would be too late," she admitted.

"I always keep an eye on the earth, Blossom," he said.

She smirked. "You are never going to stop calling me that, are you?" She asked without heat.

"Nope," he said with a grin. "You're stuck with it, just like how Dad calls you 'little pumpkin'."

Bootstilla rolled her eyes playfully before she grew serious. "Two bounty hunters down, but still one out there," she said. "Any idea who it might be?"

"If that crazy woman is willing to hire anyone, we better be prepared for anything," Calabaza said.

"Did Amity and Luz believe you?"

"They're in shock for sure, though I did hear them talking about your reputation," he said.

Bootstilla sighed before pulling out some fruit, cutting it up and sharing it with both Calabaza and Batty. "Should we call in your dad?" She asked after a moment.

"If the other bounty hunter doesn't show up, then yes," the pumpkin being replied.

Back in the other realm, Odalia was furious to learn that two of the bounty hunters she hired had been scared off and she hadn't heard back from Bootstilla. "Good thing I didn't waste good money on her," she said before picking up her phone and dialing a number.

"Hello?" A deep voice said at the other end.

"I have a job for you."

Uh-oh, looks like Odalia is getting more desperate. Who is she calling? That will soon be revealed.

For those wondering, Calabaza is very much like an older brother to Bootstilla. I will reveal how she met him in a later chapter.

And yes, Calabaza means 'pumpkin' in Spanish. :)

Please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418