Our Wild Family

Trouble in the Moonlight

Trouble in the Moonlight

Luz held King tightly in her lap while she watched Eda play Hexas Hold 'em with Owlbert. As a Saturday, no one had anywhere they needed to be today. Hooty was draped lazily through the window and Amber was practicing with her ocarina. Raine was in the kitchen finishing off the dishes from lunch.

"Hah! In your adorable little owl face!" Eda declared as her cards ripped apart her palisman's, "Yes! I love the feeling of victory! It feels...fluffy?"

Luz laughed while Eda danced. Until thick grey feathers sprouted out of Eda's face and arms. Amber lowered her ocarina and shuffled closer to the sofa.

"Zaza!" King shouted, "It's happening again!"

Raine poked their head into the room and gasped. Hooty slithered out the window and stretched up to the second floor. Eda sat heavily on the sofa and looked down at her arms. Raine knelt beside her, running their hand over the feathers and glancing at Eda's bile monitor.

"I took it this morning, Rainestorm." Eda promised, "I swear. Not taking it ain't worth it."

"I know, Eda. It's ok."

"Um, guys? We have a small problem," Hooty slithered back in through the window, "THE ELIXIRS ARE ALL GONE!"

"What!?"

Everyone turned to face the house demon. Amber stepped over and put a hand on Luz's shoulder. King wiggled out of her arms and crawled into Eda's lap.

"That can't be possible!" Eda insisted.

"How many were left when you took it this morning?" Raine asked.

"I don't know. I just took the one that was on the table by the bed." Eda hugged King and tugged at her feathers, more growing in as she fret, "I took an extra one after that fight with Lily yesterday and...Oh, Titan! The extra!"

"I thought you had some stashed around the house in case of emergencies?" Amber said.

"Yeah. But Mama's real bad at refillin' her stashes."

Raine sighed, "Alright. Looks like we're going into town after all. We need to refill that prescription."

Amber and Luz nodded. Eda reached for her pack of Hexas Hold 'em cards. Raine grabbed her wrist.

"Nope. Not this time, Calamity." They told her, draping her red cloak around her shoulders, "Elixirs first. You can kick everyone's butt at cards later."

They dragged her out the door and followed Luz and Amber down the path to town.

Ping!

Amber reached for her scroll and grinned, "Oh! Is that today? Hey, Luz, how would you feel about joining in on a group spell?"

"A group spell?" Luz looked up at her, "Those exist?"

"Yup. Tonight is the blue moon. It only happens once a year and it's the only time we can do a Moonlight Conjuring." Amber explained, "Willow, Evan, Amity, and Gus are all getting ready for it and wanted to know if we wanted in. It's a group spell so it shouldn't cause any problems with your...magic problem."

Luz hummed and looked up at where Raine and Eda were whispering, trying to keep King from overhearing.

"I'd love to! If Raine and Eda are alright with it."

Amber began typing on her scroll, "I can't see why they wouldn't. We'll meet the squad in town and finish up all the plans."

Luz nodded and turned her attention back to the adults. Did they really not have to ask before making plans with their friends? She looked around the forested path. Once they got closer to the town, Amber took Luz's hand to keep her from wandering into the streets.