The Owl House (Hunter x Reader)

Chapter 5: Wolf Hunting

Y/n sat up and stretched, her joints protesting as she stood from her position against the tree. The light dappled across the clearing while the soft sounds of animal life echoed around them.

She walked over and scooped King into her bag, hearing him sleepily protest at the sudden movement. "Hey! Where are we going?" he asked, sticking his head out. 

"We're headed into town. The nearest one is just north of here." she explained, looking back at him. 

"Are you nuts?" King exclaimed, his eyes widening. "You just said people are looking for you! Remember? Reward for capture? Why~" Y/n shushed him, clapping her hand over his mouth.  "I know that, King, but we need information. We can't just keep wandering through the woods hoping Eda will magically appear out of nowhere."

King made a muffled noise against her hand and she quickly let go. "First off, you're lucky I didn't bite you for that. Second, what are you even gonna do? Waltz into town and start asking random folks what they know?"

Y/n shook her head. "No. For this, I'm gonna have to go somewhere horrible. Despicable, beyond our understanding. A punishment for everyone in the area."

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"Welcome to Latissa's Guildhall, for our weekly Town Meeting and Informative Gathering." a town official called from a podium at the back of the building, surrounded by villagers and witches who waited expectantly for ruling decrees and direction.

"This blanket itches!" King whispered, squirming in the swaddled fabric. 

"Babies don't talk," Y/n hissed, a hood pulled low over her eyes as she cradled her 'baby' to her chest amid the crowd. She caught the eye of a farmer and quickly bent over the bundle, appearing to coo at her infant.

"-aside from the results of the annual produce race, the latest news from the Emperor has finally reached us," the official droned on, and Y/n perked up as he unrolled a scroll and held it closer under the light.

He cleared his throat and began. "'The Emperor and his Coven have taken into custody Eda the Owl Lady, to be held for trial at a non determined date." 

The crowd murmured in wonder and speculation at the announcement. "These people need to find something to do if this passes for entertainment here," King scoffed.

The man beside them glanced over questioningly, and looked in surprise from the furry, catlike 'baby' to Y/n. "It's a rare condition;" Y/n squeaked in a falsetto voice. "Gets it from his father."

The farmer backed away, concerned, leaving them to turn back to the podium. The official was still struggling with the ridiculously long scroll, getting further and further tangled in the length of paper. 

"H-However," he managed, tugging it from around his collar, "the Owl Lady's dangerous accomplice, the Wolf of the Boiling Isles, is still at large and believed to be on the run. Anyone with information that leads to the capture of this felon will be rewarded by our Mighty Emperor himself."

Breaking into loud chatter, the crowd started speculating the whereabouts of where she'd be, either sounding frightened or disgusted by the idea of her presence.

"I hear the Wolf eats children every blood moon!" One woman squealed fearfully, causing Y/n to roll her eyes. Not even a possibility.

One man stood proudly in the centre of a group. "I can do better than information!" he shouted. "Who says we hunt down this rabid dog and send its head to Belos instead?" Alright, time to go.

The collection of men cheered in a flurry of bloodlust. The official quaked and scrambled through the scroll. "Now hold on, gentlemen, it says here that he requires the wolf alive. I-I'm sure he wouldn't be much pleased if you killed it."

Y/n wove between townsfolk on her way to the door. "Alright, we know where we can find Eda," she murmured to King, "All we have to do now is~"

Two figures stepped in front of her, blocking her path to the exit. "I haven't seen you around before," the woman said, trying to get a better glimpse of her face. "Are you new in town?"

"Why are you leaving so soon? Don't you need to hear the rest of the announcements?" the man asked, gesturing to the official. 

"Oh, you know, too much excitement for the baby," Y/n said in her high pitched voice, gesturing towards the bundle in her arms. "Aw, I understand. Let's see the little fellow," the man grinned, leaning forward to get a better look. Y/n paled as he got closer.

Without hesitation King sprung from the blanket and grappled at the man's face, causing him to shout and reel backwards. "Demon baby!" the woman screeched, pointing to the dark fuzzy blur on her neighbour's face.

"Get him off me!" he wailed, trying in vain to pull him off. "I'm so sorry! He's always so grumpy before his nap!" Y/n cried, moving around him so she was almost through the door. "I'll get him home to bed right away! Bad baby, very naughty."

King jumped off the man's face and back into her arms as she took off down the streets and into the woods. 

"Hey! Who was that?" someone shouted from behind her as she made her way further into the foliage. Y/n let out a whoop of laughter as her hood fell back, revealing her face. 

"Okay King, looks like we're headed to the Emperor's castle."

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Hunter landed in the square, his cape sweeping up a cloud of dust as his boots hit the ground.

In front of the Town Hall building was a gathered crowd, all chattering worriedly as he made his way towards the official.

"~it attacked me, this demon baby," a man was sobbing, clutching at scratch marks across his nose. "All I wanted to do was say hello!"

Another man beside him nodded quickly. "I saw it too! The mother said it had a rare genetic condition." 

The official was writing the occurrence down, head bent over a scroll, when he looked up and saw Hunter standing in his uniform. He squawked in panic and in his hurry to bow sent papyrus flying everywhere. "Mr Golden Guard! Sir, I am so sorry you were k-kept waiting!"

Hunter shrugged. "No, this is mildly entertaining." He turned to the two witnesses. "So you were attacked by a demon baby?" he asked, amused.

They nodded in unison. "Looked like a tiny Titan, he did." one said. 

Frowning at this comparison, Hunter turned to the official.  "Did anyone see what the mother looked like?"

"No-o one seems to have gotten a clear look at her face in great detail, sir," he stuttered. The man with claw marks cleared his throat. "I got a glimpse. Quite lovely. Big, e/c eyes. Looked pretty young to be a mother, now that I think about it."

Hunter groaned in realisation, then turned back to the crowd. "This lady you saw, where did she go?"

"Into the woods, sir."

"Of course she did," Hunter muttered, glancing back towards the trees. 

"Well then. Guess I'm going on a wolf hunt."

He turned to the official and the guards behind him. "If she shows up here again, arrest her. Understand?"

They nodded and he turned to the gathered citizens. "That goes for all of you. If you see her, don't let her escape again."

Then he spun on his heel and headed towards the trees.