Once again thanks to everyone who has read this story, I'm glad it has been well received :) Please let me know if you like where is is going..there should be some action coming up in later chapters. Anyway enjoy the story :)
"What's a Mishipeshu?" Tina asked apprehensively, taking in Newt's serious tone and the way his face was now pinched with worry. He didn't acknowledge her question, but stood suddenly, pocketing the vial,
"We have to go back to your flat..now..I need to confirm somethings," he spoke quickly, holding out his arm for her to take. Realising she wasn't going to get anymore answers out of him, Tina took the offered limb and within seconds they were back in her living room.
They had barely been gone fifteen minutes, and Jacob and Queenie were still cleaning up the kitchen when they rematerialised, startling the pair.
"That was quick, what is going on?" Queenie queried, regaining her wits faster than Jacob. Newt ignored this question too, his face determined as he headed toward his case and the answers within.
"Not sure, Newt thinks he's onto something," Tina said hastily following Newt, who had already unlatched the case and was descending the ladder. Queenie and Jacob looked at one another, and in silent agreement decided they didn't want to be left out of whatever mystery that was taking place. Setting the china they had been drying down on the countertop, they also entered the case.
Newt was rifling through his many notes and books, he had to confirm his suspicions, though in his heart he feared he was correct. As Tina reached the bottom of the ladder, he let out a pleased cry as he located the right text. This pleasure was quickly lost as he skimmed through the pages, and he sunk heavily into the chair by his desk, cradling his head as he continued to read.
"Newt, what is going on?" Tina asked tentatively, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder as she moved behind him to read what had distressed him so. Jacob and Queenie had entered the hut and were hovering at the bottom of the ladder, looking curiously at Newt. Queenie frowned as she caught a glimpse of his thoughts, they were a swirling mess of darkness, water and drowned faces.
"I think you need to explain what this beast in the river is," she spoke up, approaching him. Broken from his churning thoughts, Newt looked up at the group and cleared his throat,
"Right sorry..I just had to confirm..I've never actually seen this before but I heard rumours,"
He stood and began pacing has he told them what he knew,
"The Mishipeshu has long been known, and feared by the North American wizards..when I was training dragons on the Eastern front, I worked with an American chap...McNair..anyway he was interested in beasts too..we often told each other stories over a drink."
He paused, running a hand through his hair, lost in the thoughts of the past, shaking his head to clear the memories he continued,
"So one night we were comparing notes and the Mishipeshu came up, it's feline in overall shape, scaled with large copper horns and a serpentine tail..wait I have a drawing,"
Newt stepped back over to the desk and flicked through the pages until he found the image, and held it up so the rest of the group could see. From the page a hand drawn sketch growled at them, has Newt has described the beast resembled a heavy set mountain lion, though is was scaled with webbed paws and tail reminiscent of a salamander. On it's proud but terrible head, two large slightly spiraled horns protruded, glinting with a copper sheen.
"Impressive creature, but what is so bad about it?" Jacob asked.
"Normally nothing, they are fairly peaceful frequenting large bodies of water alone or in small groups, I mean they can locally affect the currents and weather patterns when riled up..which has lead to a few deaths..but generally speaking they are harmless."
"Why has this one attacked a ship then..what has you so worried?" Tina said, Newt flipped to another page, holding it up to reveal a picture that looked a bit like Frank.
"They are natural enemies of the Thunderbird..when they clash it can have cataclysmic consequences..great storms that last for weeks, I think when Frank used his powers to release the venom it triggered something in the Mishipeshu," he sighed.
"But surely Frank is long gone by now, won't it just calm down?" Queenie spoke up.
"Possibly, but I fear that without the satisfaction of the fight it will grow frustrated and lash out..if this was a great lake that would be okay...but this city is so populated..I'm worried what the consequences will be..McNair always used to say that the Thunderbird and the Mishipeshu kept the world balanced and when they fought it restored this balance..their great storms bringing life to the land..I just don't know what is going to happen.." he broke off wringing his hand together.
"Okay...we need to get back to HQ and tell Madam Picquery about all of this," Tina said with determination, glancing worriedly at Newt she continued, "I fear that she will want to take lethal action against it though."
"We can't kill it, it's not it's fault...if anything it's mine for releasing Frank here instead of Arizona," he said fiercely.
"I know, I know I'm just preparing you for what she will say," Tina placated him, and he bowed his head slightly to acknowledge her warning.
"Alright then, is your case capable of holding it ?" she asked.
"It should be, I've had dragons in here before and Frank of course.. I'll make some alterations… oh and put the others somewhere safe..it'll take some work but it's doable.." he trailed off considering what had to be done to accommodate his latest guest.
"Right, here is what we are going to do, you and I will head over to MACUSA, where I'll ask that we are in charge of handling the beast's removal, then we will make improvements to the case, if possible and work on a plan for capturing it, Queenie..Jacob if you stay here and read up on this Mishipeshu..try and come up with a way of dealing with it," Tina said in a business like tone. Despite his worry Newt couldn't help but smile at the way she took charge of the situation, she was the strongest woman he knew, and it was moments like these that reminded him how privileged he was to have met her.
All three of them nodded in response to Tina's words, and Newt turned to Jacob and Queenie,
"So most of my notes on the Mishipeshu are here, I have some more books on North American beasts on the shelves which may have something of use in them," he said pressing the leather bound notebook into Jacob's hands.
"Thanks pal, we've got this covered, you two go deal with the boss lady," Jacob gave Newt a weak smile, clearly shaken by the latest magical craziness he had found himself caught up in. Sensing this Queenie discretely took his hand in comfort, and Newt clapped him on the shoulder,
"Good man, I doubt we'll be long..we need to deal with this situation as quickly as possible."
Newt and Tina made their way over to the ladder, while Queenie and Jacob settled down by the desk.
"Good luck, we'll hopefully see you soon," Tina said, with a slight smile.
"Same to you sweetie," Queenie reciprocated.
Once back in the apartment, Newt and Tina took a moment to steel themselves, neither one of them had been back in MACUSA since the incident with the death potion. Between Grindelwald, Newt's injuries and now the Mishipeshu, they has barely had time to process it. They stood forehead to forehead, arms intertwined,
"Are you ready for this?" Tina breathed,
"I am with you by my side," Newt responded, pulling her in for a tender kiss, when they broke apart they were all business.
"Let's do this," Tina spoke firmly. Once again they disappeared from the girl's apartment, towards the adventures awaiting them.