Atlas Wild
Disclaimer: All that you recognize from the Wizarding World of J.K. Rowling, does not belong to me. Characters thought up by yours truly, though, are another thing entirely.
Prologue: The Astonishing Vittori Almanac or The Unpublished Journal of Antonius Vittori
A precisely transliterated and sparsely revised excerpt from the unpublished journal of Antonius Vittori, c. April 1906
I am not someone with a proclivity for documenting things by way of hand. The use of the pensive has always been my preferred choice in reviewing important events and to be honest, my handwriting leaves much to be desired (as you can tell). Vana insists on trying to convert my archiving methods much like the way she is determined to make me embrace the culinary atrocity that is Brussels sprouts, both of which I have to say are not going well at all.
But, she is my wife and I love her dearly, and so I shall try for her. Not, the Brussels sprouts though; I will never yield to the accursed, cabbage emulating, anus-flavoured abomination.
This is our third night away from home and I miss our daughter, our polpetta (lit. little meatball) terribly. Her smiles and laugher haunts my dreams and waking thoughts and I cannot wait for the expedition to be over so that we can go home to the greatest magical being of our lives.
Vana and I are currently camped out on the shores of Lake Tinn in Telemark, Norway. There had been a sudden increase in sightings of what the locals had unanimously described as 'a great water serpent with large breasts and horns on its head. And also, human legs.' It was nothing we have ever heard of in the history of magizoology and naturally, Vana wishes to investigate.
I have a sinking feeling the great water serpent with large breasts, horns and human legs is just another delinquent kelpie that sought great enjoyment in terrorizing the locals and eating them up. It wouldn't be the first time the both of us went out searching for a supposedly unknown water creature, only to find that it was a kelpie in need of a serious talking about the ramifications of playing practical jokes on the benighteds (lit: Italian term for non-wizarding folks). But the wife, ever the optimist between us, is confident that we are going to discover a new species of water creature.
(Let's be honest, it's going to be a kelpie. It's always a kelpie.)
It is cold here, terribly so, and we have been surreptitiously casting heating charms on each other whenever the benighteds look away. They are, as usual, none the wiser to the magic we have been sneaking in, although the curly haired nincompoop from earlier was starting to look suspicious at our lack of shivers and angry cursing at the weather gods.
I do not like the man. We have only spoken a handful of times during these 3 days and already, I know for a fact that he is grumpy, ignorant and above all else, uncompassionate.
Earlier today, Curly asked me what it was that made me decide to pick zoology as a career. We had been talking about ourselves as we huddled around the meager fire when the topic of careers was brought up. I told him, quite simply, that it was because I was interested in creatures and their behavioural traits. He frowned then, looking very much like a disapproving oversized toad, and asked me why.
And so, I said, why not?
He did not look happy with that answer. Then again, he did not look happy to be here at all. I'm guessing he only joined the expedition for the money. Soon after, he went on a passionate but completely idiotic tirade about how zoology should not even be considered a profession and that studying about animals and how they behave was a waste of time.
My dear, sweet Vana was about to set him on fire when she heard it.
I do not know nor understand what is it about creatures, be it magical or non-magical, that most humans find hard to embrace. Sure, some may be dangerous and they may try to eat you the moment you're within sight, but these are instincts that have been ingrained into them since the beginning of time, and it was something that I feel should not be faulted.
Every living thing was borne to survive, after all. Most creatures survive through the age-old predator and prey system.
Whenever I am once again reminded of the egocentrism and blindness of my fellow species, a quote from a past German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer often comes to mind:
"The assumption that animals are without rights and the illusion that our treatment of them has no moral significance is a positively outrageous example of Western crudity and barbarity. Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality."
Through the years of introducing myself as a zoologist to both enlighteneds and benighteds alike, I have met many a person like Curly, people who believed in the absurd idea that the world we lived in belonged to humans and humans alone. They believed that creatures should not be able to call this planet a home when they have as much right as the next person.
Trying to convince them otherwise will be an exercise in futility. These are the people that often make me think that for a superior race capable of intelligent thoughts responsible for pioneering amazing inventions, humans are not very bright.
I am fortunate, though, that the people around me are as much of a creature lover as I am. Vana and I are especially proud of Nella, who is starting to exhibit her potential as a future magizoologist just like her papa and mama. She is currently nursing the orphan crup pup we found on a trip to Naples on her own, and at the age of 6, that is a great feat indeed.
Of course, I might be biased. But what father isn't when it comes to their little girls?
I can only hope that someday, perhaps in Nella's time, our world will be a much more tolerable and empathetic place for all creatures and other oppressive races alike.
Although, judging from the reports of tension breaking out in some parts of the world, I am not optimistic at all.
Oh. Someone just screamed. I think it was Curly. Fingers crossed it's the serpent.
P/S: I was right, it was a kelpie.
This story will take place before the events of FBWTFT, and will follow through the movie and beyond.
Feedbacks are always welcome, be it a sub, fav, review. I'd love to hear from you guys in any way possible and will definitely appreciate if you took the time out to do so :)
Until next time!