New Experiences

The Christmas before starting the Miertr school for Castors, Nuntis was on the fence about magic, it was a part of her but it wasn't a part that she always embraced. In other words, the idea of going to Miertr scared her. No. It terrified her. She wasn't stupid, her sperm doner of a father knew her age. It was a risk. He could find her. Her presents didn't help at all. Notebooks, stationary, and the likes. One present that confused her was one wrapped in newspaper in comparison to the rest. The others were all wrapped in neat brown paper and tied with string. It was squishy. The youngest Lucifera looked to her mother, who nodded with an excited smile for her to open it. Tearing into the paper, Nuntis could not help but be even more confused. It was a blue collar. The thick material was held in her hands as she stared at it. Nuts raised a brow shaking the collar in question with a scowl on her face at her mother's smile. She hated those stupid 'I know something you don't' smiles.

"Mama! Bring him in!" Diana called in Italian to her mother. Lupa beamed as she walked into the living room carrying an animal. It was a Border Collie. A ball of black and white fur. They had gotten her a dog. Nuntis didn't know what to think in all honesty. Was it some kind of sick joke? Getting her a canine companion because she was a she-wolf herself? What was the meaning of this?

Carefully, Lupa placed the pup in her granddaughter's lap. "He is for you Tesoro. He has been trained to know sign language. The faculty at Miertr, combined with your therapist that it would be beneficial for you to receive a service dog." Nonna Lupa began to explain only to be interrupted by Diana.

"He is called Tyr mi amor. Miertr has not had many students with disabilities. It was thought to be best for your safety that you receive some extra help. For example, if you were to fall in a trick step or get lost; Tyr can alert someone to come to your aid." Diana explained as she placed Nuntis' hands to slip the collar over the excited pup's neck. "He has been excited to meet you Tesoro." The girl didn't bother communicating, she let her hands draw shapes in the animal's fur, studying it. Was she that weak? Her father, if he could even be called that, had started to train her in the ways of warriors. It was gruelling, horrific work but it was work to be done for her to survive. He had taught her that much, to survive against him it was necessary. This aid, this animal. Tyr. It was a sign of her weakness. Albeit, it was a cute sign. His fur was soft and fluffy, his ears perked and tail wagging. Horacio would love the thing. To Nuntis, it was a dual edged sword. Tyr was adorable and he was a companion she could take to Miertr. He would be dependable and invaluable. However, there was a but. The animal would ensure she stood out from the other students more than she already would. If Fenrir was here, he would most likely gut the animal before her and make her sleep on its hide once the full moon arose. She couldn't let herself become too attached in case he came back but she so desperately wanted to.

Fenrir could no longer rule Nuntis' life. Thus, she would treat Tyr the way he should be, spoilt and well loved.

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The journey from Tiree to Britian's biggest Castor shopping district, Compracastiamo, was long and exhausting for the mother-daughter duo. Lupa had traveled to Italy a few weeks prior due to a family emergency. Which involved the family farm, two cars, a chicken and a can opener. They had to get a ferry from Tiree to Scotland then they got a train to Edinburgh. From Edinburgh they got the train to Liverpool and then a ferry to the Isle of Man. The extensive journey took a myriad of hours that the duo spread over a few days. As it was Nuntis' first year and trip to Compracastiamo Diana had wanted to make it special for her little girl. Tyr's lead was grasped tightly in the she-wolf's hand and her bag in the other as they checked into the leaky cauldron late in the afternoon a week prior to the 1st of September 1972, it was a friday. This delighted Diana as it left the students the weekend to settle into their dormitories before starting the school year properly on the following Monday, the 4th.

If one was to describe Compracastiamo in a single, simple word it would be overstimulating. Even from the postoffice that served as a bridge between mortal and castor shopping district was excessive. Everywhere was loud, too bright or too dark, things whizzed and whipped about overhead and it was crowded with parents rushing to buy everything in time to send their children off to Miertr. Diana had not been to the shopping district in years. She had spent her time away from Fenrir in hiding. Compracastiamo was too much of an open space for them, the risks. Yet, the woman could not bring herself to deprive her daughter of every castor child's experience of shopping for Miertr in Compracastiamo. It was exactly how the Italian had remembered it but also wildly different. As if it was yesterday, she could almost hear fenrir telling her of how he had gotten his wand at Nuntis' age and rode the ferry to the famous school. Now she knew this all to be a lie, the man having been a human and not a castor before he was infected as a lycanthrope. However, nostalgia at what had been one of the most happiest points in her life crept in.

Nuntis gazed around in amazement, the young witch had not seen such blatant displays of magic in years. It was astounding. Owls flew overhead, toys whizzed and banged in shop windows and people bustled about their day. The she-wolf had not seen this many castors since, ever. Many of their people lived together in hidden communities like Haworth's Hallow, Little Portree and Meirtr port. The Lucifera household were outliers, hiding in plain sight amongst mortals. It was easier to hide from Fenrir that way. Tyr pressed himself against his owner's legs, hoping to bring her some tranquility. He was a god send. Despite Nuntis' first apprehension to the canine he had been nothing good for her. A prime example of this was her using him as an anchor, the feel of his soft fur and weight against her skin was something familiar to focus on with everything flying around her. Everything was bright, it reminded her of the painted pots her nonna always brought back from Italy or their statue of the virgin Mary. She wasn't religious. How could she be? Why would god give her such a cruel hand? Yet, her hands itched to play with the cross that always hung around her neck. If heaven existed, it would be as bright and unique as this place. It would be a place full of wonder and curiosity and life. The she-wolf swallowed thickly before turning to her mother, with a nod they began their way to buy a wand.

Wands were the trickiest thing to purchase as a witch or wizard. Finding the right fit often took time and was a process of trial and error. The process was boring to the young witch, maybe it was because she wanted to explore, maybe it was a long and boring process but all the same, she didn't enjoy it. Twenty three wands later and she was free from the musty shop that made her sneeze. Her wand, like every Morbity wand, was a perfect fit. The wand was made from obsidian with Lily's engraved along it. It was dark, long but not too long and like herself it had little imperfections. There was a notch in the handle from an accident while it was being made and Nuntis couldn't help but find it endearing. The imperfection reminded her of her own scars, marks of survival. They were one in the same, perfect for eachother. The mother and daughter duo, did not spend much time elsewhere. It was, as one could say, 'get in, get what you need, get out' kind of shopping trip. The close proximity to the back alleys made Diana anxious. Fenrir would know it was Nuntis' first year at Miertr soon, would he try and come for her? The Italian prayed every night for their safety and placed ward after ward around their room. This practise occurred every night until the night before Nuntis was set to depart.

Nuntis was busying herself with checking her trunk as her mother started her warding ritual. She had to ensure she had everything, her clothes, books, writing materials, Tyr's toys and necessities. Whoever had discovered that you could make a bag bottomless deserved all the praise in the world in Nuntis' book. It was amazing, Nuntis felt like Mary Poppins. The girl was convinced the character was a castor. She also couldn't forget her bag for tomorrow, packed for another long train ride. Tyr was watching them both from his place on Nuntis' bed. "Tesoro." Diana blurted out, her surprise at herself was evident in her wide eyes and how her hand automatically went to cover her mouth. The woman still hadn't recovered from her father's abuse and Nuntis doubted she ever would. The young she wolf moved to sit on her bed, waiting for her mother to continue.

There was a pause before Diana spoke again. The room had fallen into a silence full of anticipation before it was broken. "I want you to promise me something tesoro. If Fenrir, your father. If he finds you at Miertr. I want you to run, I want you to run and hide in this room I have read about. It will protect you from him. I can't lose another baby." The elder woman's cheeks were damp and her eyes were bloodshot. "It is on the 13th floor, it becomes whatever you desire even if you do not know what that is. You have to knock, thrice, by a wall for it to reveal itself for you. Think about what you desire whilst doing so and it will become that thing." Diana paused to wipe her cheeks and take a long sniff. "Find it, as soon as you can. Ask Professor Crumpsall for help if you are struggling. You could use it for your transformations. I know they have a place sorted with you, and there's even another wolf. But. If you wanted your own space, you could go there." Nuntis had been nodding along the whole time, obediently. "Promise me." Her mother demanded finally. The younger swallowed before offering her pinky. Diana intertwined her own with her daughters before both she and Nuntis kissed their pinkies. The promise was sealed.

"Now, off to bed. We are up early in the morning. I have to put you on the Meirtr ferry before catching the 8 am ferry to London." The elder ordered, climbing into bed. Once they and Tyr were settled, the lights were settled off. Diana seemed to quickly fall asleep. Yet, Nuntis could not. She spent the majority of the night imagining what her time at Miertr would be like. It would be fine if she was tired the next day, Tyr would protect her as she slept on the ferry.

Nuntis could not have imagined how her life at Miertr would turn out. It would be a time of a myriad of ups and downs and twists and turns.