This story still seems to want keep going, so I hope you enjoy. Rather enjoying this writing lark. Again thanks for the lovely reviews :)
Queenie smiled to herself at Jacob's very male thoughts, as she walked away from his slightly gormless form. She was utterly entranced by Newt's case, a rare thing for a pureblood witch who'd grown up in the magical capital of America. It wasn't just the complex spell work, it was the compassion and love that practically saturated the air. Newt was a very unique wizard, more accurately he was a completely unique man overall. It pleased her that this fact wasn't lost on her sister.
As she approached a large hillock that was reminiscent of andean plateaus, she noted several alpaca-like beasts, with comically large eyes, peering down at her. Mooncalves, Queenie mentally corrected, Newt's sketches had certainly done them justice.
She paused staring back up at their expressive faces, but not hearing the familiar swirl of thoughts. This was why animals generally unnerved her, without thoughts to work off they were so unpredictable. Smiling again to herself, she thought how Newt would say the complete opposite was true.
The pause had gone on a little too long, and the mooncalves were encroaching on her, expecting dinner to materialise.
"Hey guys," she said a little nervously "Sorry, I'll get to dinner in a sec, just let me check what's on the menu today."
Queenie pulled Newt's worn leather-bound notebook from her coat pocket, and taking her eyes off the expectant mooncalves, began to flick through it. Just as she reached the right page, she felt a tugging on her dress, turning slightly she saw the culprit. A curious youngster was nuzzling around at her feet, looking for scraps.
"Hello honey" she all but cooed, before reaching out a hand to pet his head. The mooncalf's fur was gloriously smooth and warm, it was like stroking silk.
"Ahh here we go.." she exclaimed, finding the the relevant information she turned from her new friend toward the ramshackle hut that served as Newt's base of operation.
"Accio moon-pellets," she uttered smoothly. A delightful trilling rose up from the herd as they noticed the chain of floating pellets approaching. Queenie waved her wand to stop the chain just in front of them, her face splitting into a pleased smile as they eagerly tucked in, her earlier nerves forgotten.
On the opposite side of the case, encouraged by Pickett's abuse of his ear, Jacob had roused himself. As he settled the demiguise back onto the floor, Pickett ran down his arm and attached himself to Dougal's long white fur.
"Can you guys go and keep the peace, let everyone know Queenie and I will be round soon with food," he asked the pair, Dougal regarded him with serious eyes and nodded, before ambling away.
Deciding to start with beasts he knew, Jacob set off determinedly clutching a bucket of worrying ambiguous meat he'd found in the hut. He made his way over to where he'd first seen the Graphorns. Luckily for him they were waiting patiently at the edge of the plain, no need to attempt the rather interesting call Newt used to summon them.
The two infants were playful rolling around in the dirt, while the adults stood guard, rather stoically meeting his gaze. Jacob tried to exude confidence, this wouldn't be too hard, feeding people was what he lived for and he was happy enough to extend this principle to beasts.
"Good to see you again," he gave the adults a lopsided grin, at the sound of his voice the infants had stopped playing and were now padding towards him.
"Hey guys, you must be famished," he fished into the bucket, selecting two suitable sized chunks he threw them gently towards the pair. They happily gave chase to the rolling meat, and seeing that their children were tended to the adults also stepped forward. Awarding Jacob with the greeting that they normally reserved for Newt, he chuckled as their tentacle-like mouths tickled his face, and rubbed their noses affectionately, before once again reaching into the bucket. He stepped back and looked on satisfied, as the family consumed their dinner, he could see why Newt loved this.
Rather unfortunately for Jacob his progress hadn't gone unnoticed, something had been tracking him since he had left the hut. The female erumpent looked on from her area as the quarry she'd previously thought lost made his way across the case. She knew he probably wasn't her mate, but his rounded form made him distinctly more likely than her caretaker, who often liked to dance for her. It was only when the breeze picked up his scent, which still smelled distinctly erumpent musk, that she decided the human was worth another investigation. So she began trotting towards him.
At the sound of heavy footfalls Jacob looked up from the domestic scene unfolding in front of him, to see the female erumpent careering towards him.
"Shit!" he exclaimed, looking around he noted the considerably distance back to the hut and to freedom. Dropping the bucket he set off at speed, hollering at the top of his voice for Queenie.
She had just been about to move on from the mooncalves when Queenie heard Jacob's desperate cries. Running towards his voice, the sight that greeted her would have been comical if it wasn't so dangerous. Jacob was running as fast as he could from a massive bulbous creature, that she recognised as an erumpent from Newt's notes. Wand drawn instinctively, she cast a shielding spell between Jacob and the creature.
The erumpent ran into the shield at full pelt, resulting in an echoing crash. Dazed she leaned back onto her hind quarters, shaking her head in an attempt to clear it. Taking advantage of her distraction, Jacob made his way over to Queenie.
"Thank you," he panted, out of breath, but she wasn't looking at him. "Don't thank me yet, it's getting back up.." she warned.
The erumpent wasn't one to give up easily, and quickly regained her footing, rounding on the pair she charged once again. Finding her way still blocked by Queenie's shield, she let out a frustrated roar, which bounced off the walls of the case.
"How long can you hold it?" Jacob questioned.
Queenie grimaced, "I'm not sure...we need to think of something...quickly".
The erumpent's roars could be heard from outside of the case, Tina looked worriedly at Newt, and his eyes began to roam around the room, searching.
"They're in trouble..we need to help them..I need my shirt," he spoke quickly, wincing as he swung his legs off the side of the sofa.
"You can't, you're still injured...besides Queenie is perfectly capab-" she began to protest, but was interrupted by another roar. She stopped torn between the injured man and the thought of something hurting her sister. Her resolved wavered.
"Okay, fine" she handed him his shirt that had been hung over the back of the sofa "but you have to let me help you".
Newt looked pained as he gingerly slipped his arms into his shirt sleeves. "I don't think I'll have much choice" he mumbled weakly as he buttoned up shirt.
Reddening slightly in embarrassment, he cleared his throat.
"Actually can you help me up.." he trailed off gesturing vaguely. Tina stepped towards him,
"Of course".
And between them they managed to get him upright, Newt swayed violently as he adjusted to the new position, closing his eyes and swallowing in attempt to stave off the nausea and dizziness. Tina's strong grip held him in place as he acclimatised,
"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly, as his face paled several shades.
"I'm fin-" Newt started before being cut off by yet another roar, his face shifted, steeling in determination.
"I'm fine, we have to help them," and on shaking legs he made his way over to the case. Tina bent down and undid the clasps, the lid snapping open.
"I'll go first" she told him "Just in case."
With trepidation the pair descended, unsure of what might greet them below.