The witch and the werewolf

Orientation

Max was hurting, not emotionally, just physically, Miss Sissy Iris was holding onto them so tight their ribs were starting to puncture their lungs, their legs were numb, Miss Sissy Iris cut the blood circulation off to them a while ago.

Father Yamato simply patted on their back softly.

Max fell to the floor with a wheeze, limbs sprawling out as they struggled to balance, they smiled and their eyes widened as they finally regained structure and their legs buzzed as felling returned to them, only for the werewolves to smash their bodies into them and surround them in warmth.

They stumbled as they were almost pushed off the track and onto the railway, magical train only minutes away.

"Oh- please don't kill me!" Max rushed to balance themselves and pushed the group away as they clung on for dear life.

"Max, you can't go, you just can't!" Corvus cried.

"Corvus." Max said, a weary smile on their face, they were the tallest of the bunch and had to physically bend over to place their hands on his shoulders and speak at an eye level to them. "What's gotten into you, I thought you were ok with this-I-I have to go; you know this."

"No, I was never ok with this!" Corvus screeched and slammed his body into Max's. "You can't leave me." He was close to tears; snot ran down his nose and was smeared into Max's shirt.

"Corvus." Max cooed, rubbing the boys back and forcing him away so they could speak eye to eye. "Corvus, it's ok, I'm going to be back, soon you'll be off to college as well... maybe." They sucked in a breath. "Look it's only going to be for three years-"

"Three years?!" Corvus screeched, his hands grabbed Max's arms, talons dimpling Max's skin. Unknowingly drawing blood.

Mr. Constellation reached forward to stop his son, but Max was quick to pry the werewolves' hands off them and force them to his sides as they leaned down to press their forehead against Corvus's.

"Corvus, it's going to be ok." Max whispered, tone gentle and warm like a lit fireplace on a snowy day, just what he needed but didn't want, on a snowy day you were supposed to be out and sledding. Max was supposed to stay with him.

"Promise?" Corvus asked.

"Promise." Max repeated.

The train was loud as it pulled into the underground subway, Max grabbed onto their suitcase and bird cage containing Phantom, Jet was outspread hanging out of their shoulder and Angel was tucked into their pocket.

"Goodbye!" Max waved from the inside of the train after placing Phantom's cage down, the others waved back, even Corvus, though it looked like his father was having to hold him back forcefully.

The doors closed with the announcement and bell of the electronic machinery, they hissed and settled into the metal, Max wobbled and jolted as they reached down to grab Phantom, Jet jumping onto the ground, a 'support animal' vest around his torso so Max could actually bring him on.

Angel peaked out of the mage's pocket before immediately scurrying back in, Max patted their pocket, framing it like they were looking for something and once they didn't find it, they travelled along the train compartments.

"One, two." Max muttered their steps as they walked with their head down, just as Father Yamato and Miss Sissy Iris had instructed them to, finally they reach a doorway that seemed way to far from where they originally stood, with closed eyes, push through it, only opening their eyes once they closed the door.

Looking up, there is no one else, Max has found it. "80 steps." They murmured as they took a seat, propping Phantom on their lap, Jet jumps on a seat beside them and rested his paws on their thigh, Angel peaked over their pocket and that time, didn't retreat.