Monday.
Thanks to the time differences, when Luz had break, Amity had lunch. So Luz was taken out of school, made hed girlfriend's lunch, and went to the Isles. She was lent Owlbert, and was off!
Luz carefully landed, Owlbert sending away his stand and resting on Luz's shoulder. They both perked when a bell went off, Luz walking inside the school as students rushed the same way. Except one. Amity kicked off walls, shoved past beasts, even jumped over those kneeling down to fix their pants.
She pounced, jumping into Luz's arms, the two falling back. "Luz!" Amity licked her cheek. "Hi Luz!!"
"Hi Mi Amor~!" Luz cooed, holding Amity tightly. "Mi Cariño~"
Amity snuggled closer, purring loudly as her tail hit the floor roughly. "Hi Luz~~"
"I came to drop of your lunch! Then, I'm off!"
Amity's purrs turned to soft yowls, "Noooo~"
"Don't worry Amity, I'll be back tonight!" Luz nuzzled her fur. "Remember to bring me your clean container, okay?"
"Mmm...Okay.." Amity squeezed Luz. "I hate being away from you, Luz.."
"I know." Luz sighed, lowering her head. "I hate leaving you. I..Guess, I can stay for a little longer.."
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Lilith had been staying over with Eda while she was on paid leave, and was cleaning around on her free time. Which, unfortunately, was most of the time. "When can we go back to the animal world?" Lilith turned to her sister.
"When Cam has finished her chores." Eda took the pillows from the couch, taking them to the laundry basket. "I would go help her, but it's also her time cause she loves cleaning."
Lilith huffed, "There is so much I would like to do right now, but I need Camilla as a guide."
"Too bad, cause when I get the call I'm going to take her to bed and head to sleep."
The door opened, King waddling in with bags, Vee behind him, her true tail gently pressing against King's back so he wouldn't topple over. "Set them down, King. I'll put them away." Vee said.
He squat down, carefully slipping free of the bags and jumping to Eda. "Up up up!" He rose his paws.
Edalyn leaned down, lifting King up and allowing him to slink around her neck. "The more you hang out with Cam, the younger you get." Eda scratched his chin.
"Vee," Lilith stood, clearing her throat. "I know you..Uh.."
"Are you still invested in my shape-shifting?" Vee closed the door.
Lilith nodded, "I..Despite what you have gone through, I have been very curious on how you have grown, since then.."
Vee hummed softly, "Well, I can mimic others alot better now." Vee's fur grew darker, wings sprouting from her back as her paws turned to talons and she grew in size. "But I haven't mastered their voices yet."
The basilisk copied Lilith, from feathers to color, height and length of tail. "Oh my." Lilith stepped closer. "Is..This more helpful for you? To be out and about?"
Vee nodded, "I've been given my own time to learn about my body, not when everyone stops by and gawks at me." She leaned back, her change sudden as she switched to Luz. "Besides, I had help."
"You mean, Luz has helped?" Eda stomped closer.
"At first, I thought Luz would hate me for being her when she was here. One day, she just pulled ne aside and asked me what I could do." Vee poked King, jumping towards Eda and shrinking down. "From changing my ears to horns, or horns to antlers.."
Vee, mimicking King, hopped from Eda's head to Lilith's shoulder. "To a beast." Lilith finished.
"Yup!" She jumped off, reverting back to Luz. "My first non-forced form, and I can forget about my past cause I'm not forced to do anything now."
The front door opened again, Luz walking in, perking when she noticed her twin. "Oh?"
"Don't say 'being the prettiest person around huh?'" Vee rose her hand.
"That goes to my girlfriend, sorry to burst your bubble." Luz turned her back to close the door.
When she turned, her ears pinned back, tail drooping. "Oh yes, your girlfriend." Amity said, sighing. "You and your Amity."
Luz's pupils dialated, the pup barking sharply and pouncing. Vee yelped, falling back and holding Luz's muzzle back. She squeaked at Luz's fangs, drawing back, "I'M SORRYYYY!!!" Vee cried out.
She reverted back to her pup form, Luz being dragged off by Lilith. Vee sighed sharply, falling limp, horrified. Luz snorted, sitting down. "What'd you do that for?" Eda set King down.
Luz huffed, "I don't associate my sight with smell anymore." She looked to Eda. "I trust my nose more than my eyes, it's what I've trained more."
"So if Camilla smelled like me--"
"You're a scent I had to learn was on my mom." Luz stated. "Had I been half asleep when Mama first started smelling like you, I would've bit her. Amity almost nearly never touches Vee. Again, I trust my nose more than my eyes. My nose never lies."
"You a bloodhound now??" Eda ruffled her fur. "We'll work to connect new smells then."
"Since Luz is back, are we going back to school?" King rose his head.
Vee, suddenly feeling better, shot up. "Yup! We'll go see Clara, and François!"
King jumped up, tail wagging. "François!?"
Lilith perked, "I will be able to see your schools? Yes! Let us go then!"
^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^
Hours later, when school was over, Luz had to return to the Isles to do her shift at work. She gazed into the water, ears flicking to the little sounds she heard. She rose her hand, glancing to her boss. She pressed a finger to her lips, quietly slipping in the water. She took a soft breath, and went under.
The buffin perked, refraining from shifting on his feet, continuing to stare at the water. Luz surfaced quickly with a large fish, the slimy thing still struggling against her. The buffin rushed to her aide, helping Luz throw it into a large tank. "Thanks for staying late to help Kid," He sighed. "You're off the clock, I'll see you soon."
Luz shook herself off, thanking him softly and going inside to change and dry off. Finally, she would be able to see Amity again. Well, she had seen her a few hours ago, but she loved her girlfriend dearly. Luz closed the gate behind her, walking down the street. A rustling in the bush caught her attention, the pup turning to it.
Golden ears peeked over the bush, but then a mutt stood, glaring. Luz's heart sank, not from shock or suprise. But of fear. 'Why can't I smell him?' She stepped away. 'Why does he have no scent?'
The mutt stepped through the bush, raising his staff, the orb glowing red. "Luz Noceda. I'd have to ask you not to resist, as this will get messy."
Luz swallowed, stepping towards him. He was suprised it worked, and moved over the bush to cuff her. But she punched him in the nose and ran towards the public street. He cursed, sending his staff away and jumping down on all fours, chasing after Luz. She heard him, charging for a tree and kicking off the bark, jumping up a wall and sliding into the alley on the other side.
He jumped over her, his footsteps fading. Luz waited a minute, trying to recall the faint scent of him. Yet nothing clicked, and she couldn't remember what it was. She slipped into the street, sniffing the air, briskly walking to a shop. "Amity!" Luz rushed over.
"Huh-" She turned, setting the candle down. "Luz!"
The pup hugged her girlfriend, sighing. "Mi Amor.." Luz held her tightly. "You ready?"
"Oh- Yes! I was just looking." Amity nuzzled her cheek. "Come on, I want to get home so we can eat dinner and cuddle."
Luz softened, "Yeah, let's go."
They left the little shop, Luz walking Amity to the stoplight. It changed upon their arrival, the two crossing the street, paw in paw. "Why did you get off work so late today?" Amity asked suddenly.
"The boss wanted to catch this big fish cause it was eating all the babies. He said only I was quick enough to grab it, so I had to wait for it to come close enough." Luz explained. "He didn't want to kill it, so I could only catch it."
Amity hummed, "Agh now I'm craving fish."
"Are you now?" Luz grinned. "Cause I'm making pan fried tilapia, with your favorite."
"Rice-"
"Rice!" Luz yipped.
Amity linked her arm around Luz's, purring as she nuzzled into the crook of her neck, "You know me so well!! I can't wait to get home then!"
"Don't worry, we'll be there soon." Luz's tail wagged.
They eagerly chatted, nearing The Owl House, spotting the home on the hill. A branch snapped, Amity and Luz stopping, looking to where they heard it. Luz ushered Amity to keep walking, the two quietly making their way closer to the house.
A figure jumped out in front of them, growling softly as their staff burned red. "Your silly little trick only led me to your home, Luz Noceda."
She hid Amity behind herself, snorting, "Who are you?"
"That is of no importance to you. Come quietly, or the cat gets it." He spat.
"Are you.." Luz stepped forward, pupils slits, teeth bared. "Threatening my girlfriend?"
He shuddered, stepping back. "I won't hurt her if you don't resist."
Amity whipped her head around, hissing and being pinned to the ground by a large avian. Luz turned back, rushing over and biting the neck of the beast, the two toppling over. "Amity get inside-!!" Luz waved her off.
The kitten flipped over, snorting and charging for the mutt and lowering her head. "Uh-Oh-"
He grunted, falling to the ground, yelping when Amity stepped over him and rushed to the house. Luz ran after her, tail being grabbed when she passed the mutt. He dragged her back, growling, "That's it-- I'm tired of doing this the easy way!" He rose his hand, claws glowing red and crackling with electricity.
Luz yelped when he shocked her, feeling her shoulder go numb. "Why.. Why are you doing this.." Luz exhaled softly.
"Because I saw you turn into a basilisk! You're #5 so quit with the backtalk you beast!"
For a split second, Luz gained clarity. He thought she was Vee.
Luz heard the front door burst open, and sighed. "Then I concede. Just don't hurt my family.."
"The Emperor's Coven makes no promises to the likes of you.."
He looked up, Edalyn glaring at him, ready to bite. But he grinned, and disappeared with Luz. Edalyn skidded in the dirt, panting softly. "Where did.. M..My Kid--" Edalyn looked around. "Luz- Luz is--"
Lilith gazed at the empty space, feathers ruffling as her thoughts formed. "Lily.." King gently tugged at her robe. "Who took my sister..?"
The griffin's eyes glew blue, a scowl crossing her beak, "Hunter."
To be continued.