“Eda-“ Lilith rested a hand on her sister’s shoulder, gently squeezing it. “I know it’s hard but it’s time. Mom, Dad, Raine, and I are worried. You’ve never been this quiet.”
Releasing a pent up breath, Eda gave a very subtle nod, smoothing out the cloak that once belonged to her daughter. After the truth of the Collector had been realized and promised of him having a family, the search for the missing Witchlets had started. Her son, King, had seen them run to the portal but saw it exploded before assured of what happened to his older sister and her friends.
Now, after almost a full summer of searching, her partner and the other council members had made the decision to declare the Witchlet deceased and honor them amongst the rebellion fighters who had been lost.
“I just needed a moment,” she sighed, gripping the cloak with her arm. Carefully, she followed the crowd to where the other mourning families had gathered. “I brought the Kiddo’s witch’s cloak.”
Meeting her halfway, her partner, Raine Whispers, pulled her close, one arm around her waist and the other coming to hold the other side of the Witch's cloak. They hadn't known the bright and bubbly human witchlet long but was quick to realize Luz was something special. A Witchlet bright as Luz only came once in a lifetime.
“We’ll get through this together,” whispered the bard as they halted in front of the fire pit. Following the customs of their ancestors, one of the witch’s prized possessions would be burned. This would be done so their mana and essence could be returned to the Titan, later allowing another Witchlet to bare their spark. “In one way or the other, the Titan will bring her back to us, Calamity. She will find her way back to us.”
Tears spilling down her cheeks, she blinked as the cloak was laid to rest. Gently being guided back, she stood between her partner and her mother, clinging to both for strength. If it wasn't for them, the Owl Lady knew she wouldn't be standing. Everything was pulling and tugging for her to break, collapsing and mourning for a daughter that had not been allowed to live.
***
The children, Azura and Rosaline, had been brought into the world by sacrifice and love. Their mothers' love allowing for one to carry while the other mourned the deteriorating of the other. One planned and one accidental. But both loved and wanted.
Still, that didn't stop the monster of Jacob Hopkins and his crew from spilling blood, pushing two children to a world they had only heard stories of.
***
Today was hard.
Today marked the twenty anniversary of her daughter's death and her mana being returned to the Tian.
And Edalyn Clawthorne-Whispers couldn't find the day to grow any better as the marketplace begun to lull down, the crowd returning back to work for the rest of the afternoon. She was debating to close early, taking the time to see her eldest daughter, Odessey at her and her partners' home, and picking up her youngest, Melody, from Hexside. She had just finished taking her last Pre-Track work and was starting half days of Track Work, transitioning her with older Witchlings.
But, even then, she knew it wouldn't stop the pain of her aching heart. Many experiences were given to her three children, her two daughters and son, that was lost for her human daughter.
Leaving her Palisman, Owlbert, to stand in the front, she made her way to the back, planning to collect her bag and cloak. Heims was taking grip onto the Isles, leaving the temperatures low and chilly.
Slipping her cloak on and fastening it into place, the former wild witch was in the process of collecting her bag when a loud ray of voices came from outside of her stand. Ears twitching at the distant sound of a pleading voice, high pitched for a young Witchlet, the graying hared witch frowned. What in Titan's name would cause an isles young get involved?
Bag coming to rest on her hip, Eda pushed her way to the front, exiting from the side door. Coming to the front of the gathered, whispering crowd, she found two Isles young, one possibly around three or four summers, and one resembling the same age as when Luz had first stumbled upon the isles.
The eldest, a scrawny thing, stood in front of the young Witchlet, fangs bared, and eyes narrowed. She was hissing, growling out in a low guttural voice, "¡Te haré un hexadecimal!"
This caused the witch to freeze, two stomachs dropping. Those words, long and almost faded, had only been spoken by one other. But, she tried to push back, it was impossible. Her Owlet was gone. It was impossible.
But, gold-gray gaze settling, it was hard to unsee.
The eldest had the same cowlick of her human daughter, hair pointing out into a jagged pattern.
The youngest had her gaze, bright and innocent but haunted.
They both bore a familiar crest, one that had been an ancestorial ward, which only was given from mother to daughter.
For a mere heartbeat, almost too late, Eda found herself unable to move. It was known that the Titan would always bring loved ones back together, weather through mana or slight touched. However, it didn't make it any less startling to see two resembling young standing before her. It was almost as if her encounter with Luz was replaying.
"Rosie!" The elder pushed the youngest behind, their attacker beginning to draw a spell circle. "Post tergum!"
The smell of sulfur and low whimper brought her back, causing Eda to push herself between the Isles young and the attacker. Gaze smoldering, she dared them to try anything. With the summers passing and she is reaching sixty-four summers, she had now reached the status of Elder. And attacking an elder was considered as high treason, one of the few punishable offenses left from Belos's time.
"Back off," she barked, voice holding authority from her youth. "The Witchlings are under my protection."
The attacker stumbled back before bowing their head. Muttering an honored apology, they fled, pushing the crowd to slowly trickle away.
Muttering crossly, Eda quickly softens her gaze before looking at the young. They are both shaking, frightened. "I won't hurt you," she reassured, smiling. "I believe you have traveled far young ones." Her finger gently caught one of the crested cloaks, almost choking. "But I believe you have found the right person. These are the crest of my ancestors, once given to my daughter, Luz."
"That's our Mie," the youngest offered, peaking nervously around her older sister's side. "She told us about our Avia Eda and Avuse Raine."
"Well, you found, Avia Eda." Eda crouched down, holding a hand out.
Hesitantly, the eldest reached out, eyes doubtful. This didn't look like the witch in their Mie's photo but seeing the soft glow, she knew. This was what their Ma told each night. Of once non sanguinis reaching out and becoming something later in summers.
So, with no hesitation, the mana of one who had been lost and the one mourning of a mother had reunited, beginning anew.