Trouble on the homefront. (Open)

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Torn. That was the only word Colton could put to the many emotions that ran through his head. His work had gone from incredibly hectic with the damage done to Hogwarts and the assistance MACUSA had offered the ministry to rather quiet after the fact. The Purifiers as a whole were finished. Sure, there were certain to be a few members who had hidden their involvement and were not leading quieter lives. Now his job had turned to just people of interest for both MACUSA. While not rare they were still few compared to his work on the Purifier case. Yet these were just changes to his work life, the real struggles came from his home life.

His family was once again insisting on his return home to the ranch. His mother had turned pulling his heartstrings and guilt trips into an art. Something she was the master of. Each time he rejected coming home for the sake of the ranch she made sure to find a way to make him feel awful about his decision. Almost implying it was selfish to have his own life outside of the ranch. Yet, she could hide it under her concern for the family's livelihood. So if he even dared question her motives it would only make it worse. Eventually, he just stopped answering and even reading the owls from back home. They made a small pile on his table which he avoided like a plague or dementor.

Work-related issues he dealt with head-on. With the confidence of someone who would could appear unshaken but the hardest obstacles. Yet, his family knew all his weak spots. A way to get under his tough exterior. He just wanted to get his mind off of such things. Which is why he found himself at the magical animal sanctuary. As much as his professional life didn’t involve horses. It was still where he found peace in his free time. Volunteering his time to the creatures that had been stranded here till they could heal properly. Colton brushed the manes of a herd of winged horses which had gotten hurt in a recent storm. Nothing major but they just got a little banged up and turned around. They’d be in their way soon enough. Feeling his stress slowly slip away as he just focused on the creatures around him.

(Open)