Trapped In A Glided Bird Cage (TOH)

Palisman Problems

Thanks to the missions I was assigned, it meant I was able to leave the castle a lot more often. Additionally, I'd be sent into town to run errands for some of the other Coven Heads if Lilith didn't need me. This also meant it was common for me observed snippets of the lives of other witches outside the Emperor's Coven. I couldn't help but notice most of the witches I saw had in their possession a Palisman. Which weren't very common things in the castle.

My mother was the only one to have one in the castle, a white raven. However, he almost always remained in staff form so I wasn't able to really interact with him much. I remember I asked her why she was the only one to have a staff in the Coven. She explained to me that part of the initiation and being accepted into the Emperor's Coven was giving ones Palisman to Emperor Belos. Belos had allowed her to keep hers, however. I tried to ask her what Belos wanted with the palismen. She refused to tell me and said it wasn't something I should know. It was pretty easy to piece together, however, that once Belos was given them they were even seen again... While at the time I still didn't know what truly did happen to the palismen that were placed in Belos' possession. I knew that he was never going to get a single one from me...

~Dark Forest of the Boiling Isles~

Etta was standing beside her mother in the very dark forest of the Boiling Isles. They had a few coven scouts with them and were searching the forest for the monster that had apparently been terrorizing the town. Etta wanted nothing more at that moment than to be in her room in the castle hiding under a blanket. Heck, she'd take being scolded by Kikimora over being in a dark and very creepy forest. She prayed to the Titain that no one noticed her knees knocking together as she stood beside her mother clutching her artificial staff in her hands tightly. Her wings had shot out of her back due to her nerves and she couldn't get them to retract, they were shut tightly against her back shuddering.

Lilith was directing the scouts to spread out and search the area for any sign of the supposed beast. Once the scouts had dispersed a sound of snapping twigs sent Etta shooting several feet up into the air using her wings. Lilith sighed and she reached up and grabbed her daughter's ankle and gently pulled her back down. Till she was at least eye level with her. "Etta, I told you you didn't have to come with me for this mission. Raine said they had errands they could have used your help with,"

Etta looked around feverishly and said, "I wasn't going to let you go into a terrifyingly dark forest alone!"

Lilith raised an eyebrow at her daughter and said, "I'm surprised you didn't mention the supposedly terrifying monster that's the reason for the mission in the first place,"

Etta laughed sheepishly and said, "The things I'm concerned about in this situation are definitely correctly prioritized,"

Lilith's face had the most skeptical expression, Etta had ever seen on her mother and that was saying a lot. Before Lilith could say anything the two heard a deafening roar. "Stay here! I'm going to go check what that was," Lilith said before starting to hurry off in the direction of the roar.

"What, no I want to help!" Etta called after her mother and started flying after her. But Lilith turned and demanded, "Stay here where it is safe! I mean it Merletta," The expression on Lilith's face made Etta freeze, her wings lowered her to the ground and she stood clutching her staff tightly in her hands, as she watched her mother disappear into the darkness. As Lilith left her field of vision, Etta's wings drooped on her back and she lowered her head.

Just then he heard a small meowing sound and felt something rubbing against her leg. She looked down and saw a small black cat rubbing up against her leg. "What are you doing here kitty?" Etta muttered and she bent down and gently began to stroke its fur.