[ Eda thinks about it for a second. She doesn't talk too much about her past, but there doesn't seem to be a risk of it with Luz anymore. Luz knows her worst parts and her best parts and still wants to be around her, so Eda takes a breath, then admits: ]
Did I ever tell you about when I first got cursed?
[She had only been told of it briefly by Lilith, and to Luz, that didn't count. Lilith had only had to live with doing what she'd done to Eda: she didn't BECOME an owl beast. Eda did].
No, but to be fair, I'd never ask if you didn't want to tell me. That sounds like a pretty private thing you'd want to keep to yourself.
It is. But that's when I felt like I think you're feeling now.
[ She lets out a breath. She's committed now: ]
When I first turned, I didn't know how to turn back. Didn't have an elixir or anything, but I figured it out, eventually. When I did, I was somewhere where I had no idea where I was, deep in the woods, far from Bonesburrow. By the Knee. It was cold, and I was alone, and I didn't know how to get back home.
I was scared and hungry and there were monsters around and I didn't know how to deal with them, back then. I was terrified for days. I didn't know what was happening to me, and I was scared I'd turn into the Beast again. It's rough, not being able to control your own body.
Huh. Wonder if that's how the vamp felt. [ Not that that's an excuse. ]
[Luz didn't say anything for a little bit, just quietly nestled in Eda's arms a moment, listening intently. When she was done talking, Luz looked up at Eda].
What you went through sounds way worse, and must have been pretty lonely. I'm lucky that you're here, Eda. If you weren't, I wouldn't even have been able to escape. I did, you know, with the bird form. It saved me.
[She looked down a moment].
I'm sorry I wasn't here for when Fern had to put you down. You shouldn't have had to be in that position.
Kid, I'm not upset about that. [ Eda gives her a little smile, still petting through her hair gently. ] I told ya, I asked Fern to kill me if I went feral, he did, we moved on. He's a good kid.
You know I'll be here for you. There's no worse about it, that vamp was outta line, biting you. Hope she got a shock, you flying right on outta there!
I know he is, Eda. I didn't bear any ill will to him for what he did. That's just what this place does. But I am mad it had to happen and I wasn't there to ease you into dying.
She needed to feed, she tricked me. At least it'll be harder for her to get a meal next time. Probably.
Well... thanks. [ Luz has never really had to take care of her before, except for getting Eda out for the Owl Beast state. No one has really taken care of her in two decades. She can handle it herself.
But... it would be nice. If it happened again, to have Luz there with her. ] I'm not lookin' to die again, but I'd be glad you're here if I do.
Hm. [ Eda's ready to take down this kid if she ever meets her ]
I'm feeling a little better. Freaked out, and still not completely with my head straight, but I at least feel less like I'm about to have a heart attack. That's something, right?
Yeah, you're not walking. [ Eda holds out her hand, summoning her staff back into existence, and bundling Luz into her arms. ] Let's get you outta here.
[Luz, instead of arguing further, just buries her head in the crook of Eda's arm. She was just tired and way too out of it to argue anything, not that she would have.
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[ Eda thinks about it for a second. She doesn't talk too much about her past, but there doesn't seem to be a risk of it with Luz anymore. Luz knows her worst parts and her best parts and still wants to be around her, so Eda takes a breath, then admits: ]
Did I ever tell you about when I first got cursed?
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No, but to be fair, I'd never ask if you didn't want to tell me. That sounds like a pretty private thing you'd want to keep to yourself.
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[ She lets out a breath. She's committed now: ]
When I first turned, I didn't know how to turn back. Didn't have an elixir or anything, but I figured it out, eventually. When I did, I was somewhere where I had no idea where I was, deep in the woods, far from Bonesburrow. By the Knee. It was cold, and I was alone, and I didn't know how to get back home.
I was scared and hungry and there were monsters around and I didn't know how to deal with them, back then. I was terrified for days. I didn't know what was happening to me, and I was scared I'd turn into the Beast again. It's rough, not being able to control your own body.
Huh. Wonder if that's how the vamp felt. [ Not that that's an excuse. ]
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What you went through sounds way worse, and must have been pretty lonely. I'm lucky that you're here, Eda. If you weren't, I wouldn't even have been able to escape. I did, you know, with the bird form. It saved me.
[She looked down a moment].
I'm sorry I wasn't here for when Fern had to put you down. You shouldn't have had to be in that position.
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You know I'll be here for you. There's no worse about it, that vamp was outta line, biting you. Hope she got a shock, you flying right on outta there!
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She needed to feed, she tricked me. At least it'll be harder for her to get a meal next time. Probably.
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But... it would be nice. If it happened again, to have Luz there with her. ] I'm not lookin' to die again, but I'd be glad you're here if I do.
Hm. [ Eda's ready to take down this kid if she ever meets her ]
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[She coughed. Ok, less blood that time so...good]?
If you happen to drop kick her at some point, I won't complain. She IS ageless, after all.
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Well, good, 'cause I will. She can't just go around bitin' people without permission.
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[No dying, please and thank you].
And I'm glad you're one of the few people who can say that and it sounds completely reasonable.
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[ Eda gives her a small smile ]
How you doin', kiddo?
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[She cleared her throat]
I'm feeling a little better. Freaked out, and still not completely with my head straight, but I at least feel less like I'm about to have a heart attack. That's something, right?
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[ Eda smiles softly at her. ]
Let's get you off this beach, alright? Figure out where Margot got to.
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Ow. My everything.
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...ok..mom...thanks.
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[ Eda laughs, slipping them both onto her staff and flying off over the darkened beach. ]
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U...undo...
[She makes a weird motion with her hands as if she were trying to clean the air of her mistake].
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[ Eda cackles a laugh ]
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She is smiling though].