It's a Long Way To Dearest Gravesfield

Chapter 26: Endings

Lilith flies to the Head with Hooty in his house on her back, the Collector and King riding with her.

"I could have gotten us there faster," the Collector says, "We didn't have to ride on the staff."

"We don't know what that would do to Hooty," King reminds them, "And we only have one idea on how to end this."

"I don't know how it's going to work," Lilith says. "We might not have a chance."

The Collector nods, "I told you what I saw when I blinked over there for a second. The boy who said he'd play with me looks...bad."

Lilith nods, "Hunter. His name is Hunter. And I promised him he'd come home."

"Why'd you do that?" the Collector asks.

"Because he's family," Lilith says, "I'm his Aunt Lilith. Luz named him her brother. Eda claimed him as of her kids. And if there's any way I can bring that boy home, even if I die doing it, I'm going to."

King inches back against her, nestling into her, "I hope you don't have to, Lilith."

"I know. So do I. But that's how much that boy means to me. I made him a promise and I intend to keep it," she says.

"I hope this works," King says, "We have an idea, but we don't have a plan and if things are that bad when we get there...."

They dive low, flying through the opening to the cavern, "We'll figure this out, King," Lilith says, "Hooty says he's willing to try, so we're going to put our faith in this idea and tell ourselves it will work." Lilith doesn't slow down as they approach the chamber, speeding directly into the chaos.

She circles the room once, taking stock of where everyone is, before she calls over her shoulder, "Hootsiver...are your ready?"

"As I'll ever be, Lulu," he says. "Wish me luck."

She shoots to the ceiling, "Hang on, everybody." She dives directly toward Belos and Hooty stretches toward him like the figurehead on a ship.

"HOOT HOOT!" echoes through the room and the spells slow. Through the haze, the witches and humans can see vague outline of the owl-tube stretched toward Belos, beak open, and then the monster is gone and Lilith circles the room as she slows, hopping off her staff with Hooty still stretched long, trailing behind like a windsock. She takes off the house backpack and sets it on the ground.

Something inside Hooty writhes.

The Collector stares at the destruction and at the injured, exhausted people around them.

Hooty burps, "Oh no you don't! Stop wriggling – don't make me digest you!"

Amity and Alador let their shield down, careful to guide the rubble on top of it away from their friends. Willow's sobs, no longer muffled by the abomination matter, echo throughout the room. Gus shouts her name and runs to her, their peers following suit.

Viney faints and Emira catches her.

"Step aside! Move!" Principal Bump shouts, pushing through the cluster of teens as he makes his way toward Hunter. He crouches down and inspects Viney's work, "By the Titan...how did you manage this much?"

"She drew on me," Emira says, "She did the work. I gave her what I could. And now...she's probably going to need to be carried out of here."

"So will he, but he's alive," Principal Bump says, voice filled with awe.

Raine walks over to Hooty, "Is...is he in there?" they ask Lilith.

"Yes. For now."

"And what do we do, just leave him there?"