Chapter Text
Gus sat nonchalantly at the base of the tree. “Hey guys!” He said with a childlike grin and Cameron was sickly reminded he was. Her resolve to protect them all doubled as the oldest of the group. She noticed the way Gus’s eyebrows furrowed just slightly, how Willow would look at photos of Amity in her absence. The grimwalker brushed a hair out of her face, though the chunk fell directly back and she huffed. “Hi Gus!” Willow said with a gentler smile as she sat next to him, Hunter repeating the motion. Cameron stood against the tree with her gaze out to keep watch. “Gus, how’ve you been?” she said with a faint tilt of her head.
He smiled excitedly. “So, what’s the plan?” Hunter rung his hands and recited. “We free the younge- Amity. Then we stay the “hell away from danger” as Darius so kindly put it.” The group snickered softly and it would’ve almost seemed normal, if not for the look of looming doom
soon settling on their faces. “To be fair, it’s good be told us to,” Cameron said, a ghost of a smile fading to her lips as the younger teens looked up at her. “Hunter and I literally worked for the Emperor way back when, Willow and Gus.” She turned making a faux face of serious. “Your friends with Luz”
The grimwalker watched with pride as the group laughed again, seemingly more at ease. She looked up and around before summoning Barely, the group going back to talking. She teleported swiftly up the tree, only for Flapjack to ruin her jumpscare by twittering loudly. Hunter quickly picked up his palisman and looked to her past position, and then up in the tree- where his sister poked her face out with evident annoyance. “Flapjackk!” She hissed and the bird twittered at her again.
The teen rolled her eyes and slid back behind the leaves, earning confused smiles of amusement for the whole group. They watched the encroaching figure in the sky and stood up. Hunter walked behind the tree to try and get his sisters attention. “Cameron get down from there!” He whisper yelled and she poked her head down. “No. I need to have prime leaping position for this trick.” Hunter rolled his magenta eyes. “Then do it already! The humans here!”
She paused, sent her palisman about a meter away and then jumped down, teleporting to the ground. She stood proudly but her brother just dragged her over to the group. “I thought you were all hiding because of what happened at Hexside?” Luz queried and with Cameron still being dragged by her wrist Hunter said, “They were, but then they heard Darius ordered me to protect you.” Cameron straightened herself, dusted her arm while shooting daggers at Hunter before shrugging. “Actually he begged me to let him come? Something about feeling left out because he’s,” she turned to him, mischievous grin on her face “an absolute…” she whispered quickly to Hunter, not knowing how much the normal teens of the Boiling isles swore. “fucking pussy.” Soon she straightened up and said with a grin. “Wimp, biggest wimp I know.”
Hunter very rightfully was red in the cheeks and slapped her loudly on the arm.
He wondered towards the group, guilty sister in tow and Gus somehow managed to wrap a both condescending and comforting arm around him, to which the grimwalker shot more angry glares. Luz furrowed her eyebrows. “Are you guys really up for this? You must be dealing with a lot after learning-“
Cameron straightened up “That Belos is an evil jerk, nah it was bound to happen eventually. Plus now we get to fight on the side of… hold on I gotta think about this…” she trailed off, earning a confused but well meant laugh from Luz. “Nah we are A-Okay!” Hunter jankily finished.
He infact, was not “A-Okay”. He’d felt every breath of guilt of his sisters scars, knowing they should be his and now even further knowing they shouldn’t be there at all apparently? He had to push everything aside and worry about his sister because even though she seemed fine now, she was not fine a week ago. Far from it.
He turned and smacked heads with Gus, the younger boy still managing to shoot an “are you okay” look at him. Willow smiled knowingly before shrugging at the so very lost human. “This is what happens when you go missing for a week.” She walked over to go check out Gus’s head and Hunter quickly walked to the human.
Cameron stepped over and actually had to lean down to look at the darkly reddened site. She cast a somewhat janky spell circle and thankfully, it healed. “Doesn’t that hurt you?” She queried with interested, purple eyes. Willow nodded in agreement and Gus shrugged. “Not much to be honest, plus it’s fun!” King scurried forward and up onto Gus’s shoulder.
“I’ll go get revenge for you, one moment please!” She said with a wink as she walked away to annoy her brother into smiling once again. To be fair, it was the only way she knew how. “… They seem to like you!” Cameron swiftly grabbed her brother, holding him in place and scratching her knuckles against his scalp. “Sorry Luz but,” she turned to Hunter, who was writhing against her grip and yelling at her to stop being annoying with a ghosted smile. “He needs to be nicer to people!”
Hunter managed to turn his head to face the older grimwalker. “Says you, bitch” And she burst out laughing so hard she actually doubled over. Luz scolded him in spanish, then english. “Language Hunter! There’s an 8 year old present! Where’d you even learn that?”
Hunter shrugged “Covens full of soldiers, do the math- and anyway if that’s the case I should worry how they’d react, right?” He swept a hand through his now ruined hair until it looked right. “But have you told them about helping Philip?” Cameron watched wearily. She wasn’t sure how else to right the mood. It was tense, Titan she’d even failed at this so far. Luz tensed and Cameron said softly with a sympathetic gaze. “Yeah.. we heard everything. Are you okay?” Luz nodded slowly. “Don’t tell them.” Hunter said with soft worried eyes and she nodded slowly again.
The group regrouped and Cameron began walking down to path to the Blight Manor. “Come on, guys! We’ve gotta go get Luz and Amity to kiss.” Luz flushed as the group followed and Hunter appropriately smacked Cameron’s back. She was quick to point out he went for her back because the was too short for her head.
She got smacked on the back of her head too.
Gus stopped the group, using Greys tool to spot any guards. Luz nodded and rushed in, restraining him with plants as Hunter yelled “Sorry man!” while running past. An abomination restrained Luz, but the youngest grimwalker made quick work of knocking away its alarm. Willow trapped the creature in plants that the eldest grimwalker set alight as it was pulled underground.
The three fistpumped proudly.
Once Luz disappeared, the group were left without much to do. Hunter talked to Flapjack, seemingly arguing with the cardinal about him using his witch as a nest while Cameron used her height to stare at the window at the two of them. After a few moments Cameron turned to the group and said with a smug grin. “Oh they totally just kissed.”
“Good on her” Willow said with a toned down smile.
“Cameron, it’s not right to stare.” Hunter briefly scolded.
The couple looked down from the balcony and with the most innocent smile she could muster, waved. Her brother rolled his eyes before looking back up at them with a deadpan frown. Amity and Luz made their way down before the Blight explained that they had to sneak into the factory and warn her dad about the day of unity. The group snuck around the fence and located themselves in a bush with the illusionist of the group giving them uniforms of scouts once the real scouts were off duty. The group rushed in, Luz catching up soon after telling King to stay behind
They were hit with the overpowering smell of abomination. Musty and floral. The group watched Kikimora for a few moments before guiding them away. The room looked small and messy. Food was scattered everywhere and Cameron turned around and fought not to gag at the rat. “It looks so empty… and sad.” Luz commented.
The ex coven guards reflexedly stood up at the sight of Odalia. “Ahem.” She hissed, hands placed angrily on her hips, “These rooms are off limits.” Cameron and Hunter minutely nodded to eachother and the tallest out of the group whispered over them “Follow our lead.” Her height was either a massive inconvenience or blessing. Here, it wasn’t the best, she was taller than Odalia which meant the witch would see her mouth move, so she acted as though she was scolding them softly. The two guards stood straight and swiftly raised their hands to the forehead, the group following after. “Mrs. Blight.” Cameron quickly addressed, that same, old, formal cockiness entering her voice.
“Kikimora had told us of your products and such inventions would be invaluable assets to the Emperors Coven.” Hunter summarised, hands still matching his sister and they placed themselves behind their backs. Out of the whole group, they were the only ones who remotely looked like they were guards. Cameron figured it wouldn’t be enough to fool the woman and she turned to the younger witches, quickly sending a glance Odalias way. “Apologies Ma’am.” She raised her voice scoldingly, it holding the same power it used to. “Guards! I understand that it is your first day with us,” her voice broadened angrily, she’d done this before and you could tell. “But this behaviour is unacceptable! Stand at attention and do your jobs.” The younger witches mirrored Hunters pose, as he faced the woman. “Or I will be forced to report you to the officials.”
She turned to Odalia and bowed lightly. “Apologies again, Ma’am” She had a look of understanding and almost glared to herself, though Amity recognised this as a glare to her mentally. Thankfully, Cameron’s scolding made their presentation look somewhat real as they jankily spoke about “Assets.” Hunter finished the encounter with a strong “I apologise, we will return to our duties.” He shoved Luz away and the tallest “scout” trailed behind them, angry posture visible that swiftly deflated as an angry “I thought I recognised that annoying voice!” Echoed from the abomination as it slammed in front of them
“Shit.” Cameron muttered. They ran towards the exit only to be blocked by that same guard and abomination they took down earlier. He echoed Hunters words and the grimwalker repeated, louder “Shit.”
Gus fell and their illusions disappeared. Luz turned to Cameron and quickly said “Don’t say shit! It’s making me nervous!” With a scared laugh.
And there was Kikimora and Odalia.
Cameron bit her tongue.
They were swiftly encased an a glowing bubble that forced them to walk back out the front. Abomination goo wrapped itself around their hands and defeated, angry looks rested upon their faces. Luz stood at the head of the group, facing Odalia as she talked, Willow to her left and Amity and Gus to her right. The siblings stood at the back, both muttering frustratedly to each other.
“Damn Kikimora.” Cameron hissed and her brother nodded, a scowl etching into his features and he glanced around. “Always ruining things for us. Why can’t she leave us alone!” The demon walked out and Hunters voice lowered to a growl. “Speak of the demon.”
“And she shall come.” Cameron finished, a hardened glare being shot at the small demon as she was wrapped up in her abomination soldiers power. The two played little to no attention to Odalia. “Annoying rat-woman.” Cameron hissed at which Hunter attempted not to laugh.
Unfortunately, Kikimora ended up right behind them.
“I always knew you were rotten to the core.” She said smugly. The eldest returned that smug grin. “And I always knew you were pathetic without mechanical enhancements!” She looked the machine and it’s holder up with scrutinising eyes. The demon just continued harder “Well, maybe he’ll snap you in two when I hand you failures over…” The siblings tensed, sending a worried glance each others way.
Because he would.
And yet, the human stepped in front of them. “Hey! Leave them alone!” The purple eyed witch blinked a few times before a fond but still scared shit-less smile plastered itself on her face. Hunter echoed the sentiment. “I’m surprised you’re even here, Human.” She smiled downwards at the teens. “Aren’t all your friends at the day of unity?” Luz gasped in fear and Hunter quickly stepped closer to her. “Luz? You don’t have to defend us.” He whispered but she was far too occupied by the demon. “Oh that’s right, we have eyes everywhere. And they’re all pointed at your Owl Lady.” The demon cackled and mechanically stormed away.
Luz stared in horror for a moment before turning to Gus and saying something the siblings couldn’t quite make out. Hunter was in the midst of freaking out with his equally freaked out sister trying to calm him down. Willow tentatively stepped towards them, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. “You guys remember that counting thing Gus and I showed you, right?” A terse nod from the two of them. She held up a soft hand a started to count up to 4, breathing enunciated breaths that they followed. This was repeated two times before they visibly calmer down. “Thanks, Willow.” Cameron breathed out and she nodded.
And the bubble came crashing down. Cameron stepped forward as the couple began arguing. She wrapped her arm around Hunter, not even truly listening to them as the fighting became physical. Kikimora hissed “I don’t have time for this!” and descended upon the group. Everyone dove out of the way, Hunter, no, Luz rushing to save Willow as Cameron dove to shove Gus out of the way. She looked up just in time to watch Hunter get captured by Kikimora.
The teen shot up faster than the rest of the group, Luz looking over with a worried and and tight expression at the grimwalker. She wasted no time as Amity restrained her and Willow raised above her with metres of vines to pull out her lyre and play a minor chord that shattered the glass above Kiki and left her vulnerable.
Willow desperately shot vines that stopped in their tracks as Kiki directed Hunter before them. The grimwalker bellowed angrily. “Fight us without hiding behind a hostage you coward!” Her voice broke slightly on the last word but whether it was due to unshed tears or the sheer volume of her voice was up for debate. Luz once again shot Cameron a worried look, twinged with… guilt?
They stepped forward and Luz looked up at the ex coven guard, heart wrenched at the brimming of absolutely terrified tears in her eyes. An illusion cast over the space and Kikimora was left in the darkness. Shooting aimlessly and destroying the factory. Two chunks of debris came crashing down and the illusion broke. The demon shook the witch in her hands and barked “I don’t need you cretins but this one is mine.” She stared down at Cameron. “The other one… The Emperor should never have wasted his time on it.” The grimwalkers face morphed into one of undid horror as Kikimora launched away.
Luz stared up in fear only to glance to her left when Cameron snatched a glyph out of her pocket, took a deep breath and ran away, now invisible. “Cam?” A voice that didn’t belong to her body breathed. Barley summoned in her hand as they teleported to the ship. She began working levers and starting up the ship. She ran a check over the systems. “Clear. Okay.” Soon enough, Willow caught up, the group trailing behind. The moment Gus stepped a foot on the ship she knocked forward a lever, warming up the engine and setting it into gear.
Cameron stifled the tears in her eyes.
She turned around to see Luz suddenly morph into her brother. She gave her? him? a very “what in the absolute hell is going on here?” look. Gus panted as he leaned on the ship. “I’m sorry! It happened so fast and- and I didn’t realise what was going on, until she was gone-“ His sentence was interrupted as Cameron grabbed onto his shoulders and pulled him into a hug. The grimwalker quickly raised his hands up and held her back.
“She- she wanted to protect you, and Eda”
Hunter pulled away and sat down on a crate to which his sister followed as the group talked. She fiddled with her gloves and he wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in the crook of her arm as she leant her head on his head. “I thought I’d lost you.” She said, voice terse and shaky with tears and Hunter nodded. “I was so scared”
Cameron hiccuped and wiped at her eyes. “Are you crying?” Hunter queried, voice equally tear ridden. “So what if I am blondie.” She said with a laugh as tears started free falling down her cheeks. They knew someone was bound to look, they just didn’t care.
“For the record,” Hunter laughed, small tears trailing down his cheeks too
“You started it”