March 24th, 1890 - Podmore Zoological Aviary

Go on, leave your worries too
Not a bit of good they do

Emilia had gotten to work early and left early so she could come here; the zoo was still open, although barely. The sun was starting to set. She walked past the bulk of the exhibits without pausing, until finally she got to the aviary. She could have easily looked at the birds - EJ liked birds - but was instead looking for a flash of red hair, and ducked around a child when she spot it.

She touched her hand to her niece's elbow before she spoke. "Eavan," Emilia said. "I missed you."

Although she was largely indifferent to the father, Emilia was fond of her North American niece - a girl who looked like Nola, (but with the red hair,) who was whip-smart and honest and outgoing. Coming to see her had been an easy decision, and maybe, if she was lucky, EJ would get to know why she had left.

---

  

Having been back only a few days, Eva had slipped into her old routine rather quickly, the familiarity of the day a pleasant change to the deserts and she was thrilled to be back in a cooler climate. She'd never complain about Scottish rain ever again.


Amelia had done a brilliant job in her absence and Eva was more than grateful she'd had capable hands to leave her birdie babies in. Now the pair could share the responsibilities and Eva had no qualms about diving right back into the thick of it. Plus now she had Astra to care for and she had to teach Eva and the other zoo workers how to care for her. Not to mention Beau was still lurking around.

She was feeding the snidgets when a familiar voice at her side caused her to grin. "Auntie!" She greeted with a laugh. Their age gap was not so great that Eva had ever really thought of EJ as her aunt really, more like a cousin, but sometimes it was fun to call her that anyway. "What a lovely surprise to see you!" She said as she put the last of the seed into the feeder and turned to hug EJ tightly.

Though her reasons to leave were valid, Eva was glad to be home with her friends and family. Taking the expedition had been life-changing and she was thankful for the opportunity, but it made her realize the zoo was really home now.

---

  

---

Emilia returned the hug with enthusiasm; she gave her niece a tight squeeze before letting go. "I hope you don't mind my dropping by," she said with a laugh, "I thought this would be the best place to find you." Eva was devoted to her creatures - it was clear that the Federline work ethic had been passed down. (Although Conall Mackay was, clearly, devoted to his adventures.)

Besides, she liked the birds. Even here, they had a freedom that people could only envy - perhaps because they were so well cared-for. Emilia eyed the snidgets for a moment before returning her gaze to Eavan.

"Of course, you know you have to tell me everything," she said with a laugh. She mostly meant about the deserts - but Emilia wanted to know why Eva had left, too.

---

  

"Never! Saves me trying to track everyone down to visit!" Eva grinned as she pulled back. It was nice that everyone was making it easy on her and coming to find her. Though she had to wonder who it was who had told everyone she was coming home this week. Only her father and Amelia had been notified, mostly so they could start prepping things at the zoo, but word seemed to travel fast around here!

"Everything, could take a while! Want to take a walk and see my new charge?" Astra had settled into her new pen fairly well, though Eva could tell she might benefit from a friend in there with her, it would be tricky to figure out just what kind of animal would be able to handle it. For now the thunderbird would have to settle for Eva and Beau stopping into check on her.

Indicating for EJ to follow her, Eva moved toward the far entrance of the aviary and started off. "Let's see, it was amazing, thrilling, everything I wanted it to be." Her experience had been a once-in-a-lifetime joy that she hadn't thought she'd missed having settled at the zoo, but she was so thankful she'd decided to go. Even the reason that propelled her there in the first place, as heartbreaking as it was, was more like a dull ache in the wake of what had happened afterward. "I'm sad it's over, but happy to be home." She added as they exited the aviary itself and moved out into the zoo.

---

  

---

Emilia followed her niece; it would be nice to see Eva's new passion project.

"I'm glad you had your adventure," she said. Eavan - like Nola, and like her father - could not be tied down to any one place; while EJ was glad to have her back, she doubted that Eva would be in Irvingly on a permanent basis. No, she would be happy as long as her niece considered it a home base - and even if she didn't, if she came to visit every once in a while, that was okay.

Of course, there had seemed to be some drama to the whole departure - but it still wasn't anything Emilia had managed to put her finger on. She had time, though.

"What's your favorite thing you learned?" she asked, deciding she might as well be aunt-ly while she was here.

---

  

Humming out a content noise of agreement, Eva led the way out of the aviary and toward Astra's new pen. The thunderbird seemed to be adjusting alright, though Eva knew she'd need a companion sometime soon. She seemed to get lonely rather quickly and was fascinated by the creatures in the surrounding pens. Eva had starting thinking about it and was going to pose the question to Beau next time she thought about it, but hadn't brought it up yet.

"It's nice to be home too," She added after a moment, thinking it was really, quite nice to sleep in her own bed and a regular bath. Her aunt's question caught her off guard, but it was a good one. "I'll have to ponder that one for a moment. How have things been here in my absence?" She was genuinely curious and hadn't heard much else about the town outside of the zoo just yet.

---

  

---

"About the same as usual," Emilia said easily, "Some idiots smuggled in Pictish artifacts, so that was - fun and different and interesting." She rolled her eyes. People were always getting into things they ought not get into, and then the Department of Mysteries had to fix it. At least it gave her something new to think about.

There was something else.

"And your uncle's mostly living in London now," she said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. If she said mostly, then he had not moved out, he had not broken her ribs, and they did not have the extremely evident problems that they were facing. Things had been bad around when Eavan left - Kit might have left before her, but not by much, and Emilia had not wanted to tell her family - and it hadn't been worth putting in a letter. "And Anne started at Hogwarts. But that's all."

---

  

Oh boy. Pictish artifacts did not sound like something any sane person would meddle with. Magical artifacts, not entirely unlike magical creatures, were unpredictable at best, and downright nasty when they wanted to be; only idiots would mess with them. Her comment about that was swallowed as Emilia went on to explain how home had been for her and Eva grimaced a little bit. She knew they'd been having some struggles, though not the full extent, it was surprising to her that Uncle Kit had moved out entirely.

"I'm sorry to hear." She passed her aunt a sympathetic smile. "Sorry I wasn't here for you, I was dealing with some personal problems, hence the trip." Eva was pretty good at up and running when she felt the need to get away from a situation. "But it did lead to the best thing I learned at least?" Of course she'd learned all about thunderbirds and breeding and a whole host of other things about her occupation she previously hadn't, but truthfully she had learned far more about herself on that trip.

"Anne must be thrilled though," Though the house was totally empty now, that must have surely been a shock.

---

  

---

"Anne's having a lovely time," EJ said cheerfully; her kids were smart, one of the perks of being descended from two parents who were also rather clever. She had every confidence in her daughter.

She went on to ask: "What sort of personal problems?"

Emilia had never gotten details, but she wanted to know - it wasn't an easy thing to fluster a girl like Eavan and send her packing off to Arizona.

---

  

Eva was pleased to her her cousins were enjoying their time at Hogwarts. She still had yet to get into the school itself to see the famous castle, but perhaps she could utilize this connection to get in touch with the Care of Magical Creatures professor. Eva would be more than thrilled to do a guest lecture at the school. She filed that little tidbit away and moved onto Emilia's next question; so direct and to the point.

"Oh you know, boy troubles." Actually, her aunt likely didn't know. Eva really hadn't told anyone outside of the house about her courtship with Fletcher and she wasn't so sure her father or other cousins would have said anything. "I was loosely courting a gentleman, taking it extremely slow, when the opportunity to go to Arizona popped up." Ugh rehashing this was her least favorite thing, but she supposed she should spill to some fresh insight. Walking in silence for a moment, they approached Astra's pen and the thunderbird came trotting over merrily.

"I had promised not to travel anymore, but it was the opportunity of my career really. I had planned to decline, but he found the letter inviting me to take the position without my permission. We had a huge row over it and so I packed up and went and didn't look back." She cast a sheepish glace in Emilia's direction, hoping her aunt wasn't judging her too harshly.

---

  

---

"He read your mail?" Emilia said, nose wrinkling with offense. That was hardly the most substantive takeaway from Eavan's story - nor was it, perhaps, the most upsetting part of the story - but it was the part she took the most offense to, right away. How dare anyone read Eva's mail?

"It sounds like you did the right thing," EJ said, confidently. She was always inclined to take Eva's side over that of a random man - but, well, he read her mail.

---

  

Eavan couldn't help but to laugh at her aunt's reaction. Of course Emilia would be incensed that Fletcher read her mail without permission. That didn't surprise her at all. It wasn't exactly that simple after all. The fight had shown Eva just how incompatible they really were and that she needed to follow that dream. Plus the takeaways had been much more rewarding than staying could have ever been.

"I think it will all work out in the end." For now she had the zoo and Astra to occupy her days and most fortunately, Beau to occupy her nights- when they dared. Speaking of Astra, "Here she is, my new pride an joy." Eva leaned on the fence that separated magical creatures from people. Being able to bring back pieces of Arizona was the best part after all.

---

  

---