Going back with the other witches wasn't a problem for him. They followed his lead like it was the most natural thing to do. It still felt kind of weird being the center of attention, but he slowly got used to it and it didn't bother him as much anymore that he could feel their eyes on him in the growing darkness.
He hadn't noticed Asha leaving the group, he could barely see here even if she was right next to him. As she rushed back to them she startled him.
It was good that she wanted to help a fellow cat and that Cybele acted immediately, but being left alone with two witches he barely knew was a little awkward. Granted, he didn't know Cybele all too well either, but he had at least known her before and got to know her through her familiars, so she felt closer.
He was also more comfortable with Dhana, who felt more like a loving grandma than a powerful witch and Merletta, who was much closer to his age. He estimated her to be a little over twenty, twenty-five at most, not just from her appereance but also from her attitude and the lack of a familiar. He had learned from Asha not to jugde a witch by her appearance.
Astoria seemed to be nice too, but he really couldn't assess Lunette. She was more like a mystery to him. She also hadn't talked much about herself, but her and Astoria seemed pretty close by the fact that they had travelled together and didn't leave each others side much.
With the two witches he reached their destination without a problem. It didn't seem like it was guarded. They sneaked inside through the back door. He tried to orientate himself and finally found the right door leading to the storage where the witches belongings should be.
Nobody seemed to live in this building, at least there was no sign of life. The doors were locked, but he had always been good at picking locks, so that didn't hinder them at all. The only reason why he hadn't picked the locks when they rescued Cybele and the others, was that it took more time and they had found a key.
Once inside, they searched for the brooms and everything else. It didn't take them long to find their belongings and what seemed like it belonged to Cybele and Merletta.
After they took everything and sneaked back out, Astoria asked them in a low voice: "Is it okay for you two to carry everything on your own? I want to fly back and see if the others need my help."
He and Lunette nodded in response and Astoria sat on her broom, flying straight up into the sky. He had never actually seen a witch fly, only ever heard about it. It looked surreal, proof that real magic did exist in this world.
To fly like a bird, without wings, how would that feel? You would feel totally free, unbound from the earth, right?
Dreaming about something he could never do wasn't of any help right now, so he shook his head to concentrate on the task. They had to carry three brooms and bags out of the village, through the forest and back to the clearing.
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wordcount:
chapter: 552 words
in total: 23.527 words
Yes, I know, a pretty short chapter again. I initially wanted to include a conversation between him and Lunette, but I don't have the time anymore (or at least I don't take the time to write that anymore). ^^"
But yes, you are allowed to ship Astoria and Lunette if you want! I haven't decided on their relationship yet, but they could be a couple, sisters or close friends, I'll leave that to your imagination. ^^
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The Familiars of the Lost Witch (ONC 2024)
FantasyA tale about a cat and a crow in search of their witch. Asha, a black cat, and her friend Kyrell, a hooded crow, are living their best lives as the familiars of the town witch Cybele. But as Cybele goes missing, their peaceful lives are threatened a...
