One Short Day

[Tamas Mauven]

Although Tamas loved his job, mostly because it gave him the ability to move around often and to have freedom of what he was doing and when, he did not want to go to Scotland today, nor to England, France and Spain because he just wanted to spend time in New Zealand with Frances Alexandra. As of late he had been keeping himself away from what he really should be doing to spend more time with her because he was falling quickly in love with her and he was at that point when they could not stay away from each other. But he needed to get work done so he told her that he kissed her goodbye before apparating from her store, The Muggle Market, to his Scotland. Unfortunately, he had meant to arrive in his restaurant but as Tamas Mauven looked around he could see that this was not true because he was in a forest. The man looked out of place as he loosened his tie and walked through the dusty forest floor and hoped to find someone to tell him where he was without looking too suspicious but he knew that it would be unlikely considering the fact that when you went into a forest it was for a reason and muggles did not understand this sort of thing.

Tamas looked around as he walked, hoping to find some person here so he could find his way out because he did have to get to his restaurant and talk to his chefs in both Glasgow and Edinburgh. But it was a good thing that he had not splinched himself because that would be a little bit hard to explain to the muggles that worked for him. This was when he saw a large creature and he stopped in his tracks immediately. But it was not because of fear, it was because of confusion because unless this creature had gotten out of a zoo nearby it made no sense that it would be in this forest, they did not reside in Scotland. Lions belonged in Africa, Asia and parts of India. He looked into its eyes momentarily and quirked an eyebrow before he confidently asked, “Animagus?” There was no real harm in doing so because if it was an actual Lion he would find out soon enough but if it wasn’t well they would know what an animagus was so he was fine doing so. Tamas waited for the large cat to do anything he felt rather foolish but if it tried to run after him he would simply apparate away, back to Frances to start over.​

 

[Gregory White]

Truth to be told, Greg had the life scared out of him when Tamas called out 'animagus'. It would have been a lot more impressive to be caught standing proudly on a high rock and surveying his land, but instead he'd been rubbing his back energetically against it instead, trying to get rid of a persistent cluster of burrs. As it was, the white lion's paws stumbled all over each other and he ended up on his side at Tamas' feet. Gregory rolled up as gracefully as too hundred pounds of mass could, and snuffed in assent. Yup, that's me, animagus-man. said Greg inwardly as he pawed at Tamas' toes in what he hope was a friendly fashion. Not for a moment did he consider shifting into human form. Granted, it would be easier to talk to another wizard if he did, but he was looking decidedly scruffy with his long dark curls almost halfway down his back. He considered the thought that if he'd met a lion, he'd be more afraid of the wild hobo it morphed into than the feline.

Greg wound his way around and between the unknown wizard's legs happily, almost knocking them out from under the man's with his bulk. His tufted tail began to wave back and forth in an undignified fashion. How did you end up here, mate? he pondered. Greg pointed his nose at a gap in the trees where a shaft of morning like was poking through, then looked back at the handsome fellow. You lost? Ah damn, he can't hear me. Well, there was only one thing for it. The lion gambled along a few meters and jerked his head towards the 'exit'. This must be where you're headed, am I right? thought the 'lion'. His great white back shivered suddenly as the burrs began to prickle, and he sat down heavily and tried to nibble them free. Cr*p, damn.

 

[Tamas Mauven]

Tamas nearly chuckled at the lion who had lost its footing but as it tried to paw at his own, he moved his feet out of the way quickly because the paws would have hurt him quite badly, even through his leather shoes and if the lion had not meant any harm, which Tamas assumed he had not because there was no growling or raised fur going on. This was when the lion went under his legs like a domesticated dog would to pass by and Tamas gasped as he nearly fell down because the animagus had clearly underestimated how large it really was. It must have been confusing the first few times when they interacted with humans but he wondered why this person was not in their human form. He knew that some people liked to keep these talents a secret but the likelihood that Tamas would tell someone of the person that was the animagus was unlikely.

Either way, Tamas was thankful for what the ‘lion’ did next and followed quickly, assuming that this was the exit to thie forest so he could get to work. Just as the ‘lion’ stopped, so did Tamas who smiled graciously. “Thanks. Apparation from New Zealand is always such a mess,” he chortled uncomfortably before he looked down at the animagi’s discomfort and said, “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” This was when, Tamas picked out the burs carefully from the fur, hoping he did not hurt the lion badly but he seemed uncomfortable and anything to thank the lion would be good enough for him. Once they were out and on the ground of the forest floor, Tamas pet the head of the lion and smiled contently. It was a rather strange thing to do, even if he was aware that this was an animagus. The thought of petting a lion just did not work in one’s head because they were not small kittens that bites did not seriously maim or kill. Lions, on the other hand were.
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[Gregory White]

Out of Character:

Omg, week-long gap! I so sorry! -bow, bow- I'll make up for it in swift replies.

"Prrrrp!" said Greg in response, pressing his pink nose to the back of Tamas's hand. That cluster of tangles had been plaguing him for days and it was nice to finally be rid of them. There was a slightly awkward pause as lion and human faced each other in mutual silence, before Greg decided he liked the man well enough to change back. It was only fair after he'd so kindly not laughed at his boof-headed antics and removed his irritant. The air rippled visibly with undisguised magic as the lion closed its eyes and shifted into a vaguely human form. Or perhaps mostly human, but the strange man that appeared in the feline's wake still had pointed ears: albeit the fact that they were no longer furry. Apart of that, he was looking somewhat normal in tattered blue jeans and socks that were basically all hem. He was otherwise shirtless and shoeless. That coupled with his golden brown curls that poured down his back, Greg was looking quite worse for wear. It was obvious that he'd been living rough for more than just a few weeks. Frankly, he couldn't remember the last time he'd seen another human being. It must have been at least six months.

"Hi," said the boy/man shyly, picking an autumn leaf out of a ringlet. To his horror, he felt himself going pink just talking to someone for the first time in months. Was his voice always that soft?
"I, er ... hope you haven't been lost for too long. This forest is part of the wizarding world, so you could have come across something a bit more dangerous than I." He cleared his throat. "Shall I take you to the lane? I think it's about two kilometers from here. Thank goodness you didn't apparate into the heart of Ae." said Greg, referring to the forest they were currently in. Something rustled in the bushes a few steps from the two men and he twitched at the sound. How ironic that the moment he deigned to shift back, he went from proud and unafraid to the usual gentle and sensitive Greg that he always was.​

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[Tamas Mauven]

Tamas had not expected the 'Lion' to change into a human but he watched as he did because the man had never actually seen an animagi transform. It seemed that the man had been a Lion for quite some time because he seemed tattered and he had a thick beard, long hair and was dressed inappropriately for interacting with humans on a regular basis. He couldn't imagine why someone would be like this constantly but it was not his life or his earned talent so he really had no place to judge this person. As the man opened his mouth to speak, the suited man could not help but be a little shocked at the meekness of his voice. For someone who was a lion animagus you would think that they would have a strong, sturdy, confident voice. "Hello," replied Tamas with warmth in his voice like most times he spoke.

As the animagi told him that this was the wizarding part of the forest, he nodded now understanding why this lion was not discovered by muggles to be in a local extremely wrong for an actual lion. As the man told him exactly where he was, Tamas nodded his head slightly. "That would be great, thanks," he said to the man's offer because he simply could not afford getting lost again. Time was important today because he had several other countries and several other restaurants to visit. "I thought this was a muggle forest at first. It's a good thing it isn't, you'd be noticed in a heartbeat," he said, shrugging his shoulders before he realized they actually had not gone through a proper introduction. "I'm Tamas," he added quickly, even if he knew that he probably would not be meeting this man again if he resided in a forest as a lion. He put his hand out for a shake so he could be polite and as formal as he usually was because he thought acting otherwise was rather peculiar for a man of his status. Not that he wished to be thought of as self-important seeing as he believed that he was not.​

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[Gregory White]

"Gregory Yearling," replied Greg as he put out his hand with intent to shake, before he noticed how grubby it was. Something was tickling his nose, too ... was his beard past his chin? Greg looked down at his practically bare feet and decided that a bit of maintenance was due before he could even face shaking the poor man's hand. Hastily he withdrew his hand and, with another hefty blush and a mumbled apology, began a series of quick Scourgifies, Reparos and Diffindos. A few moments later, he was fairly presentable but still generally homeless looking, on account of the fact that the only other item on his person aside from clothes was his wand and a silver pendent (strangely reminiscent of a dog tag. A lion tag?).
"I hope you'll excuse my state of dress," said Greg as he took Tamas's hand in his gentle, warm grip. Whatever the circumstance, he was definitely English with a Yorkshire accent that was bizarrely cultured for that region. "I think I've been in this part of the woods for a year and half, and there's not much company besides the unicorns, I fear." It didn't occur to him that he may have been revealing something potentially shaming. Greg had forgotten many months ago to look beyond each moment.

Suddenly he began to sniff, his pointed ears twitching. As if on cue, a doe stepped out between a copse of trees and stared at them with round brown eyes. It stared at the two men and Greg stared back, tilting his head to one side as if trying to decide whether or not she was worth chasing for fun. Something must have come back to him then and he stepped back with an appalled expression. It broke the tension and the doe darted back the way it had came. "I really need to spend a bit more time as a wizard," said Greg to himself. He then did a very human thing and blushed once more as he turned to Tamas as he gestured towards the gap in the trees. He was spending a bit too much of this human-time with pink cheeks. "If you don't mind me asking, where were you shifting to?" he asked his darker-haired companion, using the slang term for apparation.​

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