8:00AM

Ah, yes, a bright and early morning… OK, not really… actually, the farthest thing from it.  London seemed to be transitioning a bit early into the English Summer, which meant rain, rain, rain.  As most Wednesdays go, this one seemed a bit different.  Instead of grumpy faces and dragging feet, the Department Head found herself smiling as a good majority of her employees seemed to have quite a bit of quickness to their step.

The Remus Lupin Library and Resource Center was nearly completed.  In the construction sense, at least.

Indeed! Still there was much to be done, but at least now the exhausted workers no longer had to levitate the dark granite, configure slabs of cherry into bookcases, arrange furniture, or transfigure the West Wall into a full scale window.  Those were done, and she felt the latter—implemented at the last moment—was a nice touch, and it served some purpose.  The conjured sky and meadow would remain beautiful despite whatever weather was happening above their heads, but it would keep true to time, showing clearly when twilight was approaching.  Covi thought it was an excellent way to announce the coming night for those werewolves who would decide to stay within the Ministry HQ in one of the renovated Safe Rooms for their monthly transformation.

The next thing on the list was to fill the gorgeous library with books.  She had received a list of copies of volumes Magical Creatures and Beings which may be brought down from Gertie Poole at the Ministry Library (though she did not doubt Miss Katz had a heavy hand in it) but Covadonga needed/wanted more.  A section was going to be just for all things Lycanthropic.  Folklore, Magizoologic journals, biographies of famous and infamous werewolves, and newspaper articles were just a few of the things which would be available.

Alas, such things seemed to be hard to come by, especially when considering what was available on a global scale.  The same thing could be spoken of other Magizoological topics.  That was why she had scheduled a meeting this Wednesday morning with a renowned, wizened, and respected traveler, one whom she was told was also very gifted in the ways of Creatures and Beings.

And so Department Head Gertrudis stood, waiting patiently for the witch to arrive before the finely polished front desk.  The very one Speedy the raven, standing atop it, was looking down at his handsome reflection on the shiny surface.

Tulojow had to admit, it was nice to stroll down a floor of the Ministry where she was, largely, a fresh entity.  Her presence, until recently, was almost exclusively restricted to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.  Despite her experience with various creatures in the field, she'd had little reason to come to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.  Only since taking up the post of gamekeeper had she started strolling down this particular hall.  Her reputation for a rebel rouser, as far as she could tell, had thankfully remained confined to her previous department.

Even in its unfinished state, the library was quite impressive.  The large window temporarily captured Tulojow's attention and she gazed at it, nodding in approval before turning towards the woman standing behind the table.  "Covadonga?"  Tulojow confirmed with a warm smile, reaching out a hand to the younger woman.  "Things look like they are coming along very nicely," she said, surveying the expanse of the library she could see from where she was.

Tulojow took a few more steps into the library to get a better look.  The building was impressive, of course.  Quite a testament to the constructor's efforts.  But, even more so, the deeper meaning of it was even more impressive.  "We've come a long way, haven't we?"  she asked quietly.  Tulojow had long been a proponent of werewolf rights and the library was, really, an indication of progress that had been a long time coming.  It was just a shame that it always seemed progress came as a response to tragedy, rather than a means to avoid tragedy.

"Will the library be open to the general public?"  Tulojow asked as she turned back to Covadonga.  "Will it be restricted to solely creatures that are considered magical?"

The witch could not help but snort as Speedy suddenly pecked at his reflection, jumping when it pecked right back at him.  Sure, ravens were some of the most intelligent magical avians… but no matter the age they still had a touch of that curious nature they had developed as chicks.

Then she heard her name.  Looking up she smiled, “Ah!  Miss Nagde,” she took the handshake with a firm grip.  “And thank you,” Covi added humbly, “although the compliments should be directed more toward the designers.”

She stepped in time with Tulo as she ventured further into the not quite established establishment, folding her hands behind her back, the heavy heels of her dragonhide boots clicking along the marble floor.  The past few weeks she had come into work more comfortably than her sister-in-law would have liked, but it was necessary in these circumstances.  Her jeans had already garnered a few fresh holes from all her clumsiness as she attempted to aid the progress of this project.

An aisle away from the Mermish section she stopped and remarked on still how far they still needed to go.  Society was still far from the ideals she wished to ingrain in her kind, but at her question she could not help but pause and blink a number of times.

“Umm… well…” to her it seemed quite a silly inquiry, “of course!” she grinned.  Turning her head to the left she nodded at the opened double doors down the hall where a number of wizards and witches streamed to and fro, “that is the Auditorium where seminars will be held,” the Department Head then going into the details how some of the seminars and presentations therein would also be available to the public, “although for my employees and I believe that of the MLE some will be compulsory.”  She had an understanding with Alex and Marcus how some of the Aurors would be teaching her Capture Unit more humane techniques in Wrangling Lycans, and they would need to be knowledgeable about the species in order to do so efficiently and safely.

Blowing a strand of wayward blond hair back over her head she said, “If this area was closed off to just Magical Beings and other species,” like Centaurs, who while more than intelligent enough to be given the status of Beings had still declined all offers to be promoted, “this grand Wing would be quite sparse.”

With a dismissive wave of her hand, Tulojow shook her head.  "Please, formalities aren't necessary," Tulojow insisted.  The British were quite fond of their formal address and, though most of her adult life had been spent in England or English territories, it was a habit she'd never quite picked up.  It made her feel prematurely old.  At least in the past it did - now, it probably wasn't that premature anymore.  "You can call me Tulojow.  Or simply Tulo."

The uneven tapping of the heels of Tulojow's own scuffed, worn cowboy boots joined in with the clicking of the young woman's boots as she limped lightly along the the marble floor.  In keeping with the rest of the Ministry, there was a splendor to the library that could impress even the most discerning of visitors.  While Tulojow had never been a fan of the fancy side of life, she was pleased to see that the Ministry had afforded the building on the library with the same importance as it did the rest of the building. 

Tulojow had offered a brief agreement.  There was always work to do, always improvements to be made.  But, if one compared the progress that had been made in the last fifteen years to the progress that had been made in all of the first fifty-five years of Tulojow's life, the future did, indeed, look promising. 

"I remember during my school days," Tulojow mused as much to the young woman next to her as to herself.  Who could have imagined she'd arrive at a point in time when she'd reminisce about her own childhood as if it was some history tale.  That was something she recalled her own grandparents doing.  "They tried to organize resident hospitals for those they said were infected with the lycan virus.  Centers where they could live out their days in peace and solitude, safely isolated from the pure.  They amounted to the modern day equivalent of a leper colony set out in the desert.  This was in the States, mind you.  I don't know if they'd tried it over here.  The Congress of American Witches and Wizards thought it was a brilliant idea."

It was more a mark of their difference in age than anything else when the younger woman blinked in surprise at Tulojow's question.  How obvious the answer seemed to her, more than anything, was an indicator in the changes in recent times.  "If you'd told me, after Voldemort's first attempt at power that I'd be standing here in a library like this in a mere quarter century, I'd have thought you hopelessly optimistic.  This will do so much to making that work left to be done so much more doable." 

Tulojow couldn't help but smile broadly.  Her old department would have to sit through seminars. "That's a marvelous idea," she breathed quite satisfied.  "So, you said I could help you with something."

“Ah!  Indeed!” she went on to answer the woman’s question, continuing to walk along, “I know the natives from your continent have very spiritual ties to animals.”

As if on cue her familiar flapped awkwardly through the hall and settled on Covi’s shoulder.  The witch stroked the back of his head absentmindedly as they turned the corner.  Once she took hold of her office door’s knob, the magical clock’s third hand switched over to “IN OFFICE”.  Stepping back she opened it, allowing the other woman to pass through first.

Rounding her wide desk she opened up her magicked beverage drawer and withdrew the steaming coffee pot and the rest of the things needed to enjoy a cup of it with a flick of her wand and a mumbled incantation.

Returning to the front of her desk so she could sit closer and face-to-face with Tulojow, Covadonga settled into one of the plush chairs.  Poking Speedy in the stomach he hopped off to perch atop the chair above his lady’s head.  She would wait until her fellow witch was settled, motioning to the opposite seat, before she would go to pouring the coffee.

Sitting back she picked up where she left off, “I have only read a bit on the subject, but… do you know any lycans from the Americas who would be willing to speak on the subject?” vaguely she added if Tulo herself would be willing to speak as well.  “I believe the werewolves here would take comfort in learning all the different aspects of their disease, the various cultural effects as well as physical. 

“Do you think this would be beneficial?”   

Tulojow followed the younger woman into her office, nodding as she did.  "Yes, we do.  Though many shamans aren't considered magical by Ministry standards, we do have strong mystical ties with our creatures.  We believe in much stronger ties to the natural world then you do over here and that includes the animals of the natural world."

Tulojow nodded towards the raven that had followed the young woman into the office.  "Those drawn to ravens, many believe, have strong ties to the mystical side of our consciousness.  They help us keep and recognize secrets hidden in the subconscious of others as well as ourselves.  The closer we can come to the animal that represents us, the better we can learn the lessons it has to offer."

Carefully, her knee cracking painfully as she did, Tulojow lowered herself into the chair on the opposite side of the desk.  She considered the young woman's question as she took her cup of coffee, taking a sip of it black.  "I do know of a young woman.  Well, she was young the last time I saw her.  I believe she'd be willing to speak.  I also know of a few other individuals from my travels.  Back home, at least among Native populations, they are often mistaken as skinwalkers who, unfortunately, carry a very negative stigma.  They are viewed differently then those that take the form of their totem in honor of the animal."

She nodded her head.  "I would be more than happy to explore some of these options," she agreed. 

After her lips drew into a small grimace, Covadonga lifted her cup and took a sip.  Quietly she looked up at Speedy who looked back at her, cocking his head to the side.

“I would be more inclined to say that he was drawn to me, or stuck with me,” she laughed, “one of my mentors sent the poor lad all the way from Africa, and when he arrived he was so exhausted he ended up flying full force into the door jamb, breaking his wing,” pointing up to the appendage in question.  Looking up again she cawed.  In response he stretched out his crooked wing.

“It certainly amazed me when he managed to learn how to fly again,” tenacious little bugger.

Sighing, she returned to her drink.  After a healthy gulp she added, “I have been told by some shamans (wizards and non-wizards) that I seem more closely tied to leopards,” whatever that meant… Covi had never really bothered to ask, she had been far too busy doing her research at the time.

Her eyes lit up at the mention of some who could help, “Ah!  Very good!  Thank you so much!”

But skinwalkers?  Their totem?  Now here was something she had yet to hear of.  Blinking a few times she admitted, “I have never heard such things before…” almost sounding ashamed.  “I guess I will need to take a visit to your homeland, eh?” her embarrassed look turning into a much excited one, the possibility of having a fresh adventure causing a curious spark in her blue eyes.  “I will need to take notes myself during these seminars as well.”  Granted she had been rather busy lately, but to her this was important enough to warrant a space in her schedule.

Taking yet another sip she offered her gratitude once again with a nod and a full smile.

Tulojow smiled warmly at the young woman, looking from her to the bird.  "All relationships are two-way streets.  Our relationships with animals are no exception.  You were drawn to him, he was drawn to you.  That's especially true with birds.  If it weren't mutual, they'd fly away."  Even more so than many creatures, the relationship was mutual.  There was little that could keep a bird around otherwise.  Who knew what it was that initially drew two individuals to each other. 

"They are remarkable creatures.  My Kalie has only had a few minor injuries but he is always quite quick to recover.  They are quite admirable." 

Tulojow regarded the young woman curiously a moment.  She'd only met the young woman a few moments ago but it was interesting to consider this piece of information.  Leopard.  Interesting.  "Interesting.  Leopard.  Do you like your solitude?  Are you spiritual?  Not necessarily religious but aware of another plane?"  She wouldn't be surprised if it was the case, but it was a first meeting.

"Yes, it'd be a worthwhile idea.  Some discretion would be necessary; you are a stranger.  And, witches and wizards like us happen but aren't as separate or discreet as here.  If you go and start asking around for skinwalkers, you'll get some strange and maybe even hostile responses.  Skinwalkers are not regarded well.  You'd raise suspicions."  Tulojow took a drink of her coffee.  "The Aboriginals are, probably, easier to approach.  Fewer speak English, though."

It seemed at the wizened witch’s comments made more sense to the avian than it did to the human, the former quietly nodding its beaky head sharply in agreement while Covadonga pondered.

She was able to see a great truth to her words, but some instances still did not seem to wholly apply to her.  There were FAR too many creatures around her house, even she would admit that, and her magnetism with animals could be as much as a curse as a gift… especially when going about Wrangling a certain beast.  Having one’s cover blown by a curious toucan while trying to pounce upon a dangerous Nundu was hardly desirable.

Then again, to play Devil’s Advocate, mere curiosity and simple attraction were very different than a relationship.

But those questions… the questions certainly caught her off guard.

“I do like to be alone, I work better by myself than with a team, I find,” and even so with a team often the lot were often clueless as to what the hell was going on.  “Now spiritual… hmm…” she took another sip, her mind instantly drawn back to Africa.  There were several times where she had been able to Apparate to the canopy of the forest and sit amongst the branches like a monkey, journal in hand as she listened to the noises and looked at the clouds, pondering on what was out there, not only what else there was to be found… but the things also never to be found.

After all, if this Wizarding World was a plane the Muggle population had next to no clue of, Merlin knows what could be hidden from them.  Those were certainly thoughts she had not entertained in a good long while.  She needed to visit her old home sometime in the future, she decided.

Taking her wand out of her pocket she Wingardium’ed the pot toward her and with a gentle tilt of the hand filled up her cup with fresh steaming java.  Replacing her wand in her lap, quiet forgetting the coffeepot still hovering next to her, she answered the second inquiry, “Spiritual, yes, but aware of another plane?” she paused, “… perhaps…” before issuing forth a cool breath over the top of her coffee.  Right then and there Covi decided she liked Tulo.  She made her think, very deeply, in fact and if there was one thing Covadonga was besides a doer she was a thinker.

"The Aboriginals are, probably, easier to approach.  Fewer speak English, though."

“Heh,” she chuckled, “I have been known to pick up on languages quite easily, indeed!” going into a brief tirade on how she was more adept at picking up on body cues and other types of sign language.  “Hmm…” she started, finally taking her first sip of the new cup, “What areas would you suggest visiting?  Are there some locales reserved especially for the ‘skinwalkers’?”

Tulojow smiled at the small black bird as it seemed to be following the conversation.  He was a remarkably well-mannered bird.  Whether it was luck or something to do with the bird, or the woman, Tulojow could only fathom.  "How nice it must be to have such a well-mannered partner," she commented aloud.  "Is that his usual manner or does he actually possess the common sense to be more reserved in the presence of others?  If so, can he teach mine that?"  She grinned in amusement and shook her head.

Tulojow nodded her head as the woman opposite her answered her questions, finding none of the answers wholly surprising.  Those that had a tendency to devote their lives to animals were, in Tulojow's experience, more likely to be solitary workers.  Solitary as far as working with other humans went.  They generally preferred the cooperation of other animals over other people.  Tulojow watched quietly, patiently as the other woman seemed to ponder the question about her spirituality. 

What thoughts had led to Covadonga's conclusion, Tulojow couldn't tell but it seemed to fit with her first impressions of the woman.  These were not easy questions, by any means, but, as far as Tulojow'd always believed, one had to have a spiritual side in order to give the concept due consideration.  "Other planes can mean different things to many different people.  If it's something you're willing to ponder, I suspect there's something there." 

"That should help.  And they are a very patient people."  Tulojow had to consider the question a moment.  "The territory of New South Wales has the largest population.  Dick Farnhan heads the semi-human division of the Australian Magical Parliament and would, probably, know of some individuals that are amenable to speaking."

Covi’s head tilted to the side, “His usual manner?”  Looking up Speedy and the witch exchanged a few glances before both shrugged their shoulders in unison.  “I believe it depends on the person.”  Immediately her thoughts turned back to Simon.  “Nearly pecked off the ear of one of my potential employees earlier this month…” then shooting the bird narrowed eyes at which he just averted his attention elsewhere, as if what she was talking about involved him in no way whatsoever.

While turning her gaze back to the North American, she finally noticed the pot still floating beside her.  Her eyes widened in surprise, “Oh!” and just as she thought to hastily put it back on her desk her inbred etiquette returned, “Would you like a refill, Tulo?”

As she readied her wand for the witch’s decision she quietly listened and nodded as she spoke of different dimensions of the universe.  It was certainly something she was willing to ponder… if only she could find time to do it.  That would be the troublesome part.

Tulojow laughed and nodded her head.  "Well, at least he's discriminating," she admitted, giving the bird a grin.  "My own bird's pompous an arrogant around everyone, though I suppose his degree of vanity will change with the company." Her own Kalie's degree of vanity had always surprised and amused Tulojow, especially considered who the bird chose to associate with. 

"Of course, that begs the question of whether the potential employee deserved the pecking.  Or the position for that matter."  Perhaps the bird knew something his companion did not.  Couldn't blame the bird for making it quite clear.  She gave the bird an approving nod.  "As far as I'm concerned, if a possible employee can't handle the antics of a judgmental bird and, no offense,  but you aren't exactly a large bird my friend, then perhaps working in a library dedicated to magical beasts isn't the best choice."  If this possible employee could be bested by this bird, what would he do with any of the other beings that might come through here?

Tulojow nodded to the offer of a refill and held out her cup to be topped off.  She always appreciated those she found in this world who were capable of a decent cup of coffee.  Coffee had always seemed the unfortunate weakness of the British.

“Ha!” she giggled and waved off her last comment, nearly spilling the pot of tea, “He pecked my nose as well,” then properly using her wand to delicately fill Tulo’s cup.

Placing the instrument back in her lap she took a sip, considering what else she had said.  “He was hardly put off by it.”  Was he? she asked herself.  Mentally shaking her head she concluded, Naaahhh… couldn’t be.  He’s had to deal with much more painful things than being pecked.

Well… that was a bit of a downer…and she had been having so much fun!

“And he did deserve the position,” she emphasized the word while looking over the rim of her cup.  “He was appointed as Head of the Lycan Legislature sector.”  Did she need to mention that he was a werewolf?  Well, it would certainly show that he was the appropriate man for the job.  But she had been an Auror, hadn’t she?  Maybe she would have known Simon, but Covi didn’t know exactly when she had served.

While honored the fact that while Miss Nagde was for winning the rights of his kind, she also knew Mr. Reid had not left in the most graceful fashion.  As such she would keep his name to herself for the moment.

Tulojow grinned once more at the bird, now, admittedly, quite curious about what had prompted the raven to peck at the noses of both the interviewer and interviewee.  She had to assume the bird knew something about the interchange - something that, perhaps, his chosen companion hadn't picked up on.   

But, there were, really, no answers to be found when she watched the bird.  And asking seemed awkward at best, so she let the topic rest. 

"Well, that's good," she concluded, looking back at Covadonga.  "Sounds like if he's well qualified and wasn't put off by that little exchange then he should be a perfect match."  In fact, what more could one ask for for such a position. 

"Lycan legislature sector - is that a political pressure group?  Or is he more an advocate for werewolf rights?"  Of course, the answer could be entirely different.  While it sounded like it'd be a politically motivated group, perhaps it was more legal representation.  Or even implementation of current policies.  But, Tulojow was certainly curious how distinctly proactive the position would be - she was always excited about anything that threatened to disrupt the status quo. 

“Ooo… political pressure group?” that certainly sounded like a loaded term if she’d ever heard one.

Polishing off her second coffee, she set the empty cup on her desk, back on its saucer.  After crossing her legs she rolled one of her stiff ankles, allowing the air trapped between the connective tissues to—quite inappropriately—pop out, the more than well-loved dragonhide hardly making a sound as it easily twisted with her.

“It is based mainly on revising the current laws pertaining to lycanthropy, getting the word out about the revisions, while still holding werewolves and those who interact with them accountable for their actions.”

Leaning forward she set her elbows on her knees and continued, “It will not… quite be like a court,” yet she said to herself, naturally, “more like a preliminary hearing for werewolves who have broken the law and those who have broken laws against werewolves.”

Like sabotaging their Safety Rooms, taking unnecessary actions to “defend” themselves, terminating them upon discovering that their employee is one of the infected, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.  The lengths some people went through… sometimes made her sick.

“The LLS will also be working very closely with the Capture Committee,” which, of course, meant the Capture Unit.  No shenanigans would be tolerated.