Chapter Text
~oOo~
21 Days until the Day of Unity
~oOo~
“Five…”
They have to go. Hunter is already running, watching the human- Luz- use wild magic to burn a hole through the vine wall… the vine wall that he just created with wild magic, but he can’t think about that right now, they just have to keep running-
“Four…”
The Owl Lady’s voice continues it’s tinny call through the walkie talkie, and he feels Luz grab his arm and pull him forward through the vine wall-
“Three…”
They were running out of time, but he didn’t have time to think about that. He couldn’t waste valuable running time on getting distracted with anxieties or doubts. He got this good at being a coven scout, rising to the rank of Golden Guard, because he knew how to shut that part off and focus mostly on the mission, and right now the mission was to make it to that walkie talkie.
“Two…”
But then he catches sight of his Uncle’s face… if his uncle is even the right term, the horrific realization dawns upon him again. They likely weren’t even related at all- how much of what his Uncle- what Belos said had been a lie? He nearly trips on a root, distracted by the thought, but Luz pulls him, launching him forward, giving momentum as she lets go.
“One!”
He reaches the walkie talkie, grabbing it and positioning it behind him in the hopes that Luz would be close enough to be within distance considering she couldn’t be more than a few steps behind him. He begins turning his head to look back, to make sure, but before he can turn all the way around, all he can see is blaring gold and white as he feels his body being lifted. It doesn’t quite feel as if it’s being lifted into air, though; rather, for a split second, being lifted into something indescribable, washing over him with a feeling of coldness and a falling sensation that leaves him disoriented, until a few seconds later, it’s over.
“Don’t crowd…”
He hears the Owl Lady’s familiar voice as he attempts to get his bearings- he seemed to be laying flat on the ground, pushing himself up slightly and attempting to shake the disorientation of whatever mind-pocket-dimensional travel it took to venture into somebody's mind away. The adrenaline still seared his veins, but it gave him the energy to push himself up to sitting, allowing him to breathe.
Flapjack begins to peck at his face, excited to see him, but a panic begins to build in his stomach- he knows- the emperor knows. They were just in his mind, and now he knows that Hunter knows and now he’ll never be able to go back-
“Kid?”
The low growl of the owl lady breaks him out of his building spiral, however, and he’s able to look back at her. Flapjack has stopped pulling on his hair as well, and has begun flying in the open space next to him chirping, trying frantically to get his attention.
The open space next to him.
No… no no no….
“Where’s Luz?” She speaks again, half questioning, half demanding. He looks up at her, noting how the rigidity of her scowl can’t hide the mild fear in her eyes.
Even though one glance at her face confirms his fears, he still finds himself checking, double checking, the space beside him, as if possibly the human were just late and would be appearing any moment. After all, Luz had been bothering him and following him around and getting him in trouble enough, why should she stop now?
But when nothing appears, he glances back at Eda, whose eyes keep dancing between Hunter and the empty space next to him.
“She was.. She was right behind me, I swear..” he finds himself half explaining in shock, half defending himself- though, did he really deserve to defend himself? After all, if Luz hadn’t been following him, she likely never would’ve been put in this situation to begin with. “I- I promise, she’s supposed to be right here, we were both running for the walkie talkie-” and the panic begins to build again, worming its way through his gut like an uncomfortable sickness, putting pressure on his lungs and squeezing at his heart. Did he even have a heart? Was he even real? How come he made it out and she didn’t, he wasn’t even a real witch, it should’ve been her, not him, and now he’s here in enemy territory and the Owl Lady is probably going to punish him for hurting Luz and he should really run, but really where would he go-
“King, go upstairs. And please don’t argue with me this time,” He can faintly make out the owl lady tell the weird bird-dog-thing.
“Breathe, kid. You’ve gotta breathe,” She continues, now kneeling in front of him. “You hyperventilating isn’t going to help anything, okay?”
Flapjack nuzzles up against his cheek, trying to reassure him, and he tries to get his breathing under control. The owl lady was right, he was useless if he couldn’t get it together- but why was she helping him? Why wasn’t she angry?
He watches as the owl lady sighs, standing up again, and he feels another stab at his blood pressure- maybe she was, and this would be when she expressed it. Or maybe he wasn’t even worth her time, and she would leave him on the floor for the weird owl tube to take care of. Or maybe-
“Look, kid. I’m going to go make some calm-a-mile tea. Whether or not you’re ready to talk when you get back, you look like you could use something to settle down. All I’m asking is you don’t run off, alright? I need to know what you know.”
Oh. That was… not what Hunter expected, not by a long shot. He knew he looked shocked, but couldn’t manage to school his expression any better than just giving a quick nod in response.
He watches as she looks at him for another second, a look he can’t decipher on her face, before turning and walking into a different room, leaving him sitting alone to make sense of his thoughts without another word.
She was just going to trust him? In her house? After everything? He isn’t sure whether she doesn’t see him as a threat after all the pathetic emotions he just displayed, or if it has something to do with the rumored bird tube that’s said to be the houses defense system, but it’s still mildly shocking to him that she just leaves him there.
The room is filled with various trinkets and baubles, looking much more lived in than his or even his uncles quarters. He would never be allowed to leave blankets splayed across the couch, or have so many things displayed on his walls. He rises to his feet, both so that he’s standing when the owl lady comes back, but also so that he can get a better look at his surroundings. Flapjack quickly decides to perch on his shoulder, taking an almost protective stance, seemingly resolute not to be separated from him again.
There are some books on the table next to the couch, several tomes on wild magic, sitting next to a half-empty mug with “30 & flirty” on it. The front door appeared to be to his right, and if the other coven scouts were correct, this is where the horrific bird tube resided. Part of him wanted to inspect further, but the other part of him supposed that maybe the owl lady had asked it to stand guard against enemies and didn’t want to tempt fate.
He keeps looking around, determined to do something. If he has an objective, he can’t fall to pieces, and he can’t afford to fall to pieces right now. He can’t afford to do any of that pesky thinking that leads him into feeling like his central nervous system is alight with flame and his heart is being stomped on by a griffin.
Instead, he turned his attention towards making a plan on what to do next. The owl lady, Eda, he thinks he heard the hu- Luz refer to her as, might be playing nice, but what if she isn’t satisfied with the answers he gives? What if she comes to the conclusion that Hunter is to blame, and punishes him for it? Though, Luz had said that Eda might be willing to let him stay here, but was that the truth, or just her optimism?
Still, with what he knows now about his.. About the emperor, he would have no place there- and much more importantly than thinking about that, he owed it to Luz to try and save her. After all, it was technically his fault she got stuck to begin with, and she had attempted to save his life multiple times.
Hunter made up his mind. Whether or not she was as kind as Luz had claimed, he would tell Eda everything, and swear to aid her in getting Luz back in any way he could.