Newt's POV
Every day for the next two weeks he and the other nijis came across the human. While the others approached the warm man he stayed away. Even his little friend couldn't stay away.
The light blue haired man continually watched him however. There was something in his eyes as he watched Newt. Almost like he was curious about the boy turned niji.
In the last few days there were less niji than normal. Something had been out hunting and killing them. Newt only came out of the safe area because his friend wanted to see the man.
It was just before sunrise and they were slowly making their way through the forest. Around them things had just begun to lighten. It still felt cold and dark around them. The feeling set Newt on edge.
His little friend was bounding around in front of him. While Newt typically found his antics entertaining there was a sense of dread he couldn't shake.
A shadow moved just in front of them. It was too large to be another niji. At the same time to small to be the human.
Newt rushed forward using his stronger body to knock the little niji out of the way. Fangs enclosed around his body as he did so. They bit into his skin and crushing his tiny bones.
His magic lashed out at the creature as he tried to struggle. Then he was suddenly dropped and the beast yelped in pain.
His first look at it was a grey wolf. It looked sick and starving. Much like how Newt was before he came to the forest.
Newt couldn't stand but his magic continued to lash out until the wolf left. Blood pooled in the ground underneath him. His once white fur was nearly the same shade of pink as the other nijis.
His little friend moved towards Newt. Red eyes held worry in them as he tried to help Newt to his feet. It brought only more pain with each movement.
He whimpered and his magic tried to lash out. His little friend moved back watching him carefully. Then he ran off in the direction they had been heading.
The pain sent him to into the darkness. His last thoughts were for his little friend. There was hope that he would stay safe. Then he knew no more.
Karoku's POV
Having set up a small house using magic in a small clearing he was finally settling in. The niji forest was a calm place that he liked. All of the niji welcome him readily. All but one of them.
The tall skinny niji was still cautious and wary around him. Even when others approached he would stay back just inside the clearing.
As he stepped out that morning he noticed the lack of nijis around his home. They came just before dawn and would leave just before dusk. It was unusual for them not to be waiting on him.
Movement on the far corner of the clearing drew his attention. A little niji appeared out of the shrubs. It didn't have the usual curiosity in its eyes. Instead there was true fear and desperation in its eyes.
Upon seeing him it hurried over and grabbed at his his pants leg. It pulled on his leg desperately trying to get him to come. In all his time studying the creatures he had never seen one act like this.
He said gently pulling the little one away from his leg, "Easy there. Now what's got you so riled up?"
As his hand came away it was stained red. Immediately he kneeled down to check the niji over. It made a frustrated noise at him before pulling at his pants leg again.
That's when he recognized the little niji. It was smaller than the others and this was the one that stayed with the long one. The only niji who would not approach him.
Karoku's eyes widened as his head shot up to look for the other. It was not in the clearing and it never left its little friend alone alone for long. He has the sudden suspicion on where the blood came from.
Quietly he ordered, "Show me little one."
The little niji didn't hesitate and Karoku quickly followed. Not far from his home there was a small animal trail.
On the ground bleeding was the long niji. Its normally white fur was drenched in blood making it look similar to the appearance for his little friend.
Karoku could see deep puncture wounds that littered the niji's body. If he had to guess a wolf grabbed it around the middle trying to kill it. He drew his wand and carefully ran a diagnostic charm on the little one.
To his surprise it came back with only minor internal injuries. The worst the poor thing faced was blood loss and infection.
That wasn't the most surprising thing however. The niji wasn't in fact a niji at all but a wizard. A young animagus stuck in his animal form.
If not for his time at the research lab he would not have known about this charm. It checked for everything from the simplest infection to the magical core of a creature. That was if the creature had one.
Casting a simple cleaning charm followed by a healing charm he fixed the damage done. It was a good thing the little niji came to get him. Otherwise the animagus would have died.
Now that he knew that the long niji was in fact human it explained a lot of its mannerisms. The mistrust of him when all the other nijis wanted to be close to him. The ever watchful eye he kept over the younger one.
Carefully he scooped up the animagus. The little niji that led the way was already climbing up his pants leg. It seemed that these two were inseparable. It made him wonder just how long the animagus had been in his animal form. He knew the spell to change them back if he was stuck.
Once the little niji was atop his shoulder he made his way back to his house. For the first time since coming to the forest he allowed one of its creatures inside.
The little niji stayed perched on his shoulder as he grabbed a towel from his bathroom. Karoku wrapped the healing niji on the fluffy white towel before carefully rubbing him down.
It didn't take long for the white towel to turn pink and then red with blood. With gentle precision he got all the blood out of the animagi's fur.
Then every so gently he double checked for any wounds he might have missed. Thankfully there were none and the animagus was resting peacefully on the towel.
After putting the bloody towel in the hamper he grabbed a clean blanket. It would keep the young animagus warm until he awoke. Then they would find out why the person was hiding in this particular form. For now all he could do was wait.