Author’s note: This idea came to me due to me and my husband rewatching Owl House last week due to our 2 year old son loving the into and outro music. I wanted to try a new style of writing as I’m mostly slice of life so I apologize if my fight scenes are bad I tried (kinda nervous about this). I hope you guys like River and Valos enough to excuse the mediocre fights I hope to get better at over time.
Summary: River finds out she can’t go home, and finds an unexpected ally in the local legend of the forest who only wants to be left alone.
Cw: bear death and skinning (not described), a beginning of a panic attack (quick), bad fighting scene, and multiple pov changes
Blue italics is Valos speaking Nostraman
River’s Day Out
River stumbles through the forest grumbling under her breath as she trips on yet another tree root she happened to not see in time.
“The portal has to be somewhere nearby,” she mumbles pulling out the ancient looking map she was given, “according to this it should be here. Where is it?”
The 13 year old squints while looking around, hoping it appears, as a slight panic begins to rise inside her. “Maybe I’m too late? Oh man I can’t get stuck in the human realm, the headmaster will kill me!”
She hears a twig snap and jolts her head towards the sound, “hello?”
River’s grip on her walking stick she found tightens wielding it like a staff as she prepares to attack just in case, “I’m armed.”
The young witch spots a huge brown bear charging at her angrily making the girl yell out and throw herself out of its path.
“A bear? There aren’t supposed to be bears near here!” She cried out as she ran into the trees pulling a glyph out of her pocket and activating it sending a bolt of energy through her which increases her speed. She swung wide and turns pulling out more glyphs to use when a large roar screamed through the forest rustling the birds from their nests.
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Volus takes in the sight of the small teen holding a stick as she runs swifter than any baseline he’s seen run before, and chuckles darkly. The Night Lord knew the kid would be easy prey for a hunter like him, the bear on the other hand would be more of a challenge and lead to a larger meal.
He had been tracking this particular brown bear for days, and had planned to finally kill it. He spots the girl circle the bear and chooses to take the kill for himself not wanting to share the meat.
He lunges for the bear and tackles it down to the ground as he claws and bites at it. He manages to wrap an arm around its neck and tighten it till it stops moving. Once it was dead he pulls out his knife and starts to skin it still ignoring the girl.
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River trips as she attempts to stop seeing a large, mud covered astartes run from out of no where and start fighting the bear. Losing her footing she hits the ground to keep from running into the massive Night Lord.
“Whoa, there” she exclaimed shocked from his sudden appearance quickly frowning as she rubs her knee massaging the ache away, “I heard you guys were fast, but damn you came outta nowhere.”
The massive man grunts and drops the bear seemingly ignoring her as he starts to skin the bear.
“Are you gonna keep the skull?” She gets up and curiously goes to watch amazed by his skill.
“Are you gonna keep annoying me? Maybe I should turn you into a side dish” the man grabs the skin and places it into a bag.
River turns her attention onto him noting his lack of armor, and the bleeding wound on his leg from the bear defending itself.
“Oh looks like it got a lucky swipe you’re hurt.” She pulls a piece of paper and a quill out of her bag and dips it into the bears blood and draws a glyph. She carefully places it onto the wound and touches it activating the healing magic.
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Valos growls warningly as the young baseline continues to annoy him. He notices her drawing something and placing it on his wound which heals.
“Are you stupid or foolish to help me?” He states flatly, “most would run while I’m busy.”
He pushes her away as he stands to his full height. He notices a lack of intimidation from the girl, “stupid it is.”
Valos grabs what was left of the bear and threw it over his shoulder ignoring the strange pull towards the girl he suddenly felt.
“Leave me be” he simply stated before turning and leaving to go back to his cabin.
“You’re a grumpy one,” the annoying youngling mumbled as she follows him, “you haven’t happened to see a glowy portal appear around here have you? I’m gonna be late to an important meeting.”
“Not my problem, leave me be.” He continues mentally picturing picking her up and throwing her as far away from him as possible.
“The faster I find the portal the faster you get rid of me.” She smirks jogging to keep up with his huge strides.
“I don’t need a portal to get rid of you, bug.” He raises a brow glaring down at her shocked to find her staring him down clearly not afraid.
“Then why haven’t you?” she shrugs as she gets momentarily distracted by a stream.
He just takes a deep breath and continues on his way, “can’t be bothered to kill you for a small snack.”
“Hey! I’m not that small!” She frowned stomping her foot.
“So I SHOULD eat you?” He stops and turns to the girl once again raising a brow intrigued by the clear lack of survival instincts she was displaying.
“Well… no… I just wanna go home.” She looks down her frown deepening.
He takes her in noticing the weird clothes, the branch she’s holding, and remembers the weird drawings that clearly are some form of magic, “your home is through the portal?” He looks up to the sky remembering his own displacement from his reality and sighs, “your portal closed a while ago like mine did. You’re stuck here same as me.”
“I can’t go home?” Her eyes widened as she processes the information, her grip on the branch tightening, “I can’t be stuck, my friends and everyone I know are in my realm. I need to get home I don’t know anyone here!” She gasps out as her breathing picks up and she falls to the ground curling up.
Valos’ eyes widened at the unexpected burst of fear pheromones, and a sudden strange pull of protective instincts towards the young teen. He sighs and walks over to her kneeling down to be closer to her eye level, “shut up and follow, I will not repeat myself.” He quickly looks away as he stands and continues to his home, “my cabin isn’t far as long as you aren’t annoying you may stay.”
River looked up surprised and a bit apprehensive as his words cut through the panic, “why would you help me?” She notices him walking away and quickly gets up and follows not wanting to be left behind.
“No sense in letting an animal kill you, besides you can be useful as bait since you’re quick.”
“Well, thanks I guess.” She gave a small smile as he waves it off, “my name is River by the way.”
“Valos. Now stop being annoying and walk.” He mumbles half-heartedly as he tries to suppress the new happy feeling from being thanked.
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