The Owl House (Hunter x Reader)

Chapter 3: Chaos Reigns

"Alright, kid, I'm headed out," Eda declared as she stuck her head in the kitchen. Y/n glanced up from her plate and nodded, quickly chewing in order to talk properly. "Good luck," she called as she was leaving. 

King, whose mouth was too full of sausages to speak, made a muffled sound of encouragement through the amount of breakfast food that he had stuffed in his face. 

Eda waved as she shut the door behind her, Hooty's distant 'ouch' audible through the walls. 

"Don't slam the doors so hard! That's my body, you know!" Hooty complained from outside.

Silence fell over the house as Y/n drank her tea, relaxed in front of the large sunny window over the table.

"So! What are we gonna do today?"

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Eda climbed onto the table, happily collecting money from the gullible patrons. 

"This thing?" she told an elderly witch, who had picked up an old red fez hat. "Was stolen specifically from the humans' god of thievery and swindling. The only one of its' kind."

The witch oohed and slapped a bag of coins on the counter. Eda watched in satisfaction as she walked off, proudly settling the fez atop her head.

"I must say, it's a pretty impressive business you've got here."

Eda spun around to see the Golden Guard leaning against the pillar of her stall. Instinctively, she moved her hand into a spell casting position. "What do you want, shiny?" she hissed.

He laughed. "Relax, Owl Lady. I'm not here for you. This time." Gesturing to the stand, he leaned forward inquisitively. 

"However, I am interested in where your little werewolf went. Hiding away after yesterday?"

Eda snarled and her hands simultaneously lit on fire. "You stay away from her, you understand? If you so much as harm another hair on her head I swear~" 

The Golden Guard put his hands up in a mock display of peace. "I wouldn't dream of it. I just wanted to talk to her."

"Liar. I know what your high and mighty fake god wants with her," Eda said, letting out a bitter triumphant laugh. She began to back away from him. "You'll never get to her. She's safe where she is."

"I know," he sighed, then snapped his fingers. A guard appeared behind her and brought his fist down on her head, causing her whole body to fall limply into awaiting hands.

"So we'll just have to bait her out."

From behind a shelf, a little wooden owl watched fearfully before taking off towards the direction of the Owl House.

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"CHAOS REIGNS!" King squeaked excitedly as he stood proudly atop a tilted mountain of chairs and other assorted furniture.

Y/n shrieked as he sent another barrage of pillows towards her, and she ducked behind a turned over table. "You can run, but you cannot hide! I am inevitable! I am almighty! I am~"

His foot slipped and his little body swayed as his feet grappled for purchase. "FALLING!" he shouted fearfully as gravity took over. Gasping, Y/n dove forward just in time to catch him before he hit the ground. 

The two lay shocked on the ground, King's near incident stunning them into silence. "For your act of heroism, I think I'll make you a Duchess in my kingdom." King said slowly. Y/n laughed and squeezed him tightly. "As long as you don't fall from anymore towers, we have a deal."

Frantic tapping at the window caused King to spring up and pose menacingly in front of Y/n. "Who DARE intrude during the King of Demons' playdate?" he roared adorably. Y/n rolled her eyes and went to the window. 

Owlbert was flying around in short circles, hooting loudly. "Owlbert, buddy, what's wrong? Did Hooty mess with your feathers again?" Y/n asked lightheartedly, before she realised the palismen's owner wasn't close behind.

"Where's Eda?" she asked him slowly, growing increasingly more concerned. Owlbert's eyes glowed, and a projection of Eda appeared in front of her.

"Kid!" Eda called out, relieved that she was still safe. The inside of the cage rattled with screams from upstairs, crackling over the poor quality hologram. "Eda! What happened?!" Y/n gasped, trying to distinguish where she was. 

"Shh, kid, there isn't much time. I won't be coming back for a while. But I need you to listen, okay?" Eda whispered, holding her hands out as if she could hold them to her face. Y/n nodded and Eda continued.

"Whatever you do, stay in the house. If, in case of emergency, you need to leave, use my Witches' Wool. People are going to be looking for you, now that I'm not here to protect you."

"But what about you?" Y/n choked, wishing more than anything that she could reach in and pull her back.

Eda smiled sadly through the glitching image. "I'll be fine, and I'll feel better knowing you're safe." Clanking echoed from the hallway, and Eda frantically peered behind her.

"I'm sorry, Y/n. Stay safe. I love you~" the image fizzled away, and Y/n felt tears well in her eyes. "Mom? Please come back,"

She slumped forward, her knees hitting the polished wood planks. She felt King's small paw on her shoulder, as he curled up into her side.

"We need to get her back." Y/n choked, standing up abruptly. "What?" King gasped, staring up at her. "She just said-" 

"I know what she said!" Y/n said loudly, the tears replaced with angry determination. She grabbed the Witches' Wool cloak and fastened it around her shoulders. "But I can't just let her get hurt and do nothing!"

"You don't even know where she is!" he protested, following her as she shoved food and bottles into a backpack. "I'll find her."

"People are looking for you!" he tried again, becoming increasingly more desperate. Y/n shrugged. "I can handle them."

She made her way towards the door, only for King to throw himself between her and the exit. "King, get out of the way," she groaned. "No! I'm not letting you leave!" he shouted, sticking out his little limbs as far as they could go.

"Why won't you move?" Y/n grunted as she tried to dodge her way around him. "I have to do this!" 

King flung his arms around her leg. "Because I can't lose you too!"

Y/n froze. She knelt down to his level, and cupped the side of his face with her hand. "We didn't lose Eda," she whispered fiercely, "and you're not gonna lose me."

King looked up at her and wiped tears from his face. "I'm coming with you."

"No, King, it's too dangerous!" she protested. "Nu uh. If it's too dangerous then I'm sure as heck not letting you go alone." he argued, then pulled himself up to nestle in her backpack.

"Can I come too?" Hooty asked. "I wanna be a part of something!" 

Y/n and King exchanged glances. Then Y/n turned to the owl with a solemn expression. "Hooty, you have the most important job of all." He perked up. "Really?" 

Y/n nodded. "I need you to take care of the house, okay? And it better be in perfect condition when I get back."

Hooty nodded, or wiggled in his approximate version of a nod. Y/n took a deep breath and walked out, feeling the slightest magical jolt as she left the protective barrier.

"You ready?" King asked from over her shoulder.

"Hell yeah. Let's go get Eda back."