Calamitous Intervention

Witches Before Wizards

In the early morning, the wind pushed against Anne's window, making it creak. She rolled around in bed, recalling all the events that had happened the day prior. Finding the Calamity Box, ending up in the Demon Realm, meeting Eda and King, defeating Warden Wrath...

She woke up with a gasp, shooting up in bed. "Mom, Dad, I just had the craziest—... dream..." Looking around, the truth hit her immediately. What had happened was real, and it seemed she would, unfortunately, have to stay here for now. She looked toward a snoring King, sighing before smiling at him. "Well, I guess this is my life now," she muttered.

Anne picked up the little creature, hugging him tightly. "Good morning, my baby precious!" she cooed. While King was an oddball, she couldn't help but enjoy his company.

King tried to wriggle out of her grasp, grunting. "I am not your baby precious!"

"Don't deny it," Anne replied, smirking, and set him down, going to get ready.

King fell to his stomach lazily, sighing in defeat. "I know..." he mumbled begrudgingly, a bit embarrassed.

Anne rubbed his belly before walking over and opening the bathroom door, only to see two owls flying out of it, almost making her shriek. "The heck kind of zoo is this place?" she muttered to herself, closing the door behind her and walking toward the sink to wash herself, but then she saw something in the corner of her eye.

Turning slowly, she saw none other than Hooty staring at her, his face inches from hers. "Hi, Anne!" he greeted. In response, the human screamed, reflexively punching him in the face.

He yelped, backing away. "Ow! I'm just wishing you a good morning. Jeez! Hoot! Ow!" he complained, slinking back.

"Uh, sorry, but a little warning next time?" Anne replied exasperatedly, washing her hair in the sink. After she was finished, she grabbed a nearby towel, drying her hair the best she could. Looking up, Anne locked eyes with her own reflection. "Well, it's the second day in this kooky place. No sign of Sasha or Marcy yet, but they have to be here. I'm certain of it."

After looking somewhat presentable, Anne headed downstairs to the living room, plopped down on the comfy couch, and started going through her phone. It wasn't long before she heard someone coming down the stairs. Anne turned to see Eda herself wearing bunny slippers, with her back hunched over. The witch noticed Anne and looked confused.

Wow, what a mood, Anne thought. "Mornin', Eda," she greeted.

Eda blinked at her drowsily before shaking the spiders out of her hair. Wait, spiders?! "Ugh... Who are you again?" she replied.

The human's shoulders slumped. Did the witch go senile? "What? It's me, Anne. Anne Boonchuy. The human that punched the Warden Wrath in his big, stupid face?" Anne reminded her as she followed the Owl Lady into the kitchen.

Out of nowhere, a mug hit the back of Anne's head, making her flinch and grunt. Eda caught it, walking up to the fridge. "Kid, lay off the details," she muttered. "I haven't even had my cup of apple blood yet."

"Apple... blood?" Anne shuddered at this. "Please tell me you meant apple juice."

"No," the witch simply replied before walking over and sitting on the kitchen table. She sipped the apple blood from her mug, making part of Anne wonder what it tasted like. Next to her, King was poking at his plate of eyeballs for breakfast, not seeming too interested in eating them. Anne did not want to know where those eyes came from.

"So, how does this witch business work?" Anne asked curiously. "Do we say ancient incantations, or... whatever you do again in Dungeons, Dungeons, and more Dungeons?"