When Stars Fall to Earth (A FubuYuki/AtsuYuki AU) (HIATUS)

Chapter 2: Adventure Awaits

Slowly, the boy in the crater began to wake.

He groaned in pain and confusion, a hand going to his head to check for blood as he pushed himself off the ground. A sharp pain lanced up his leg and he bit back a cry, lurching forward and clutching at the wound. Hesitantly, he rolled the pant leg up, staring at the red that dotted the inside of the fabric and painted his leg.

He groaned, shakily reaching to feel along the gash and stomach rolling when he felt cracked bone. He quickly pulled the pant leg back down, looking away from his legs. Something sparkled in the corner of his eye and he looked over to the source, confused. A pendant laid innocently on the rock, covered in stardust.

The boy's eyebrows furrowed with annoyance.

He reached for the offending object, relieved it was within reach. He studied the gem in the center before looking up at the night sky, studying the stars. Panic flared in his chest and he looked around the crater once more, as if waiting for someone to appear. With little hesitation he slipped the pendant around his neck, worry and fear starting to make itself known now that the confusion had settled.

What was he going to do?

----

"Mormo! Empusa! Wake up." The witch who'd seen the falling star shouted, slamming her hands down on the chest at the end of the bed twice. "Now!"

Her sisters, as old and wrinkled as she was, sat up in their shared bed, staring at her with bleary eyes. "What is it?"

"A star has fallen." The witch exclaimed, holding her clasped hands out in front of herself in anticipation. At the news, the sisters gasped, leaping from their bed and rushing to get dressed.

As they dressed, the eldest witch walked to one of the many cupboards in their main foyer, frowning when she opened it only to be greeted with cobwebs and empty containers. "Where are the Babylon candles?"

"You used the last one, Lamia. 200 years ago; do you not recall?" Mormo scoffed, as if Lamia's use of the candle had been trivial at best.

Lamia sighed. That would make this much harder.

"Perhaps we can obtain another."

"Has your mind become as decrepit as your face, Empusa?" Lamia hissed, turning to face the youngest. "You speak as if such things are freely available."

"I know, sister, I merely thought—"

"You'd have us hunting for a Babylon candle while some other witch finds our star." Lamia growled, "Fool! There's no time to waste. If we must retrieve it on foot, then we shall." She looked at the many animals they had caged, glancing back to her sisters. "Mormo, we need information."

The sisters held a ferret down as Empusa sliced it open, uncaring for the gore even as the other animals let out terrified cries at their friend being slaughtered.

The three leaned in close, studying the entrails and letting out curious hums.

"If these divinations are correct, the fallen star lies 100 miles away." Lamia whispered. Together the three straightened, Empusa smiling eagerly as the other two kept their excitement hidden.

"Four centuries we've waited for this. What hardship a few more days?"

"Which of us shall go, then, to seek it and bring it back?" Mormo asked, her words smooth as silk even as she danced with anticipation.

The three witches closed their eyes and reached out with their hands, moving to grab from the entrails. Unaware to her sisters, Lamia glanced down at the body, sure to pick the win.