Jk is the reason for the season.

Beta love ooo yeah beta love

made a change an edited past chapters. The travel spell with the crystal is olibamkanni. no more location specific words for you. it means 'travel well'

CHAPTER SEVEN

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Newt and Tina took their time ambling down the path towards the center of town, holding hands and basking in the glow of their first kiss. They walked up to the amphitheatre and heard a cacophony of voices drifting up from within it.

"Why should we help them? They're the ones that let the damn thing loose in the first place. Let them clean up their own mess"

"Rowtag, we've trapped it before, we can trap it again. We know our magic can do it. Why should we entrust such a task on others if we don't know for sure that they're capable of achieving it?"

"What's so bad about helping others anyway? Different magic or not, we're all human."

"Machk is right! We help others. It's what makes our magic stronger. To deny them is to deny our own ancestry."

Newt and Tina strayed back just listening to the voices argue back and forth.

"I didn't want to cause such a fissure between them. Maybe we should just go." Tina whispered sullenly.

"No, we need help. Like that woman said, we know for sure their magic is capable of this. Plus, they know the land and having a bird's eye view will be immensely helpful." Newt replied.

"I'm glad you think so highly of my ability."

Newt and Tina looked up to see a falcon sitting on the vine covering of the amphitheatre.

"You can talk in your animal form?" Newt excitedly asked the falcon who had begun preening his feathers. The falcon stopped and looked down at them, opening his beak slightly.

"There's a lot more we haven't shown you yet," Sahale's voice said from his falcon form. He flew up and extended his wings, uttering a loud cry. Suddenly, other falcons began to swoop in, perching atop the vines where Sahale had previously sat. The Sahale falcon dove down, transforming back into his human form and landed softly on his feet beside Newt.

"We can also command those connected with our spirit." Sahale beamed with pride. He opened his mouth and let out another falcon screech and the new birds flew back to where they had come from.

"I am thoroughly impressed." Newt clapped a hand on Sahale's shoulder.

"Oh that's nothing. Istas can take the water from your body to turn it into snow. Dry you out like a raisin." Rowtag bragged threateningly for his sister.

"If only you could turn your hot headed idiocy into something useful." Istas teased back at her brother, crossing her arms in front of her chest with a huff.

"I would say you get used to them, but that hasn't even happened for me yet." Machk said as he scooped up Newt and Tina in a crushing hug. "Good to see you two again."

"It's good to see you too." Newt firmly shook Machk's hand after being released from his arms.

"I know all of you must have reservations about hunting the Wendigo down and I just wanted to say that I'm deeply sorry for setting it free. I know what sort of fear comes from the threat of an unhinged creature. I've lived with that terror. Knowing that I've brought that on your tribe is ripping me apart. I feel like I haven't slept more than an hour this past week and I can't even begin to imagine how you feel." Tina apologized with tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

"Hey, hey just ignore Rowtag. He's a brat during the best of times." Istas placed both her hands on Tina's shoulders, disregarding Rowtag's interjections, and began to rub her arms comfortingly. "We've trapped it before when our tribe first learned to connect to their spirits and now, well, we're badass! The Wendigo won't know what hit it." Tina nodded, a slight smile began to spread across her lips. Istas looked up to see Sahale and Machk staring at her in confusion. "Oh, don't look at me like that. English swearing is fun." She let out a childlike giggle and snow began to fall down around her from a little cloud floating above her head. Tina blew at a snowflake that was falling towards her nose. "Sorry, it does that sometimes when I laugh." Istas smiled and skipped over to tease her sulking brother.

"You have to give us a chance to flex our magical muscles and show the Wendigo who's boss." Chogan flexed his arms and punched the air rapidly.

"You're a little bird, what muscles are you talking about?" Hassun teased, pushing Chogan in his side.

"At least I have my binding already, mister 'I'll be bound before you can say fairy'." Chogan mocked Hassun with a derisive tone.

"Oh, shut it already." Hassun crossed his arms in embarrassment. The blush creeping up to his cheeks began to turn his face to stone.

"You two are ridiculous," a voice sounded from behind the group. As they turned their heads to find the source of the intrusion, a small raccoon bounded towards them and transformed into a beautiful petite young woman.

"You still put up with me, Mika." Chogan draped an arm over her shoulder and placed a kiss on her cheek.

"I really wish I knew why," Mika teased and Chogan put his hand on his chest, feigning offense.

"Alright alright, so where are starting today?" Machk changed the subject back to the matter at hand.

"I wanted to start from the cave the Wendigo was imprisoned in and work out our way out from there. There was an attack in town last night, perhaps there is a trail to follow from either points." Newt said to the group.

"Are we supposed to side-along apparate everyone? There's more of a danger of splinching with a larger group. Maybe take one or two at a time?" Tina tried to work through travel plans aloud.

"Take me and I will create the crystal passageway. There is no danger with large groups in that." Sahale straightened his shirt, preparing himself for the tug and pull of apparition.

"Ready?" Tina said and reached her arm out.

"Wait, can I come? I've got to try this." Chogan pleaded.

"Side-along with me then," Newt held out his arm. "You might feel a slight pull." Newt warned him and the four disappeared with a CRACK to the surprise of the group that remained.

oOoOoOoOo

Another loud CRACK and the four appeared outside of the Wendigo's prison cave. Chogan quickly ran and ducked behind a tree. The splash of sick hitting the ground and the sound of retching echoed off of the rock around them.

"You," Chogan wiped his mouth and stood up, "failed to mention that it feels as if you're getting ripped in half by a dragon!"

"You asked for it," Sahale chuckled loudly at his brother. He turned towards the forest and held his hand palm up while his other grasped his cuff and labradorite channel. His hair began to wave slightly, though there was no wind, and Sahale shut his eyes in concentration. There was a low hum that seemed to drift up from the ground as a clear quartz crystal materialized in his hand and his hair fell back to stillness on his shoulders.

"Wow," Newt and Tina said simultaneously.

"Sorry, I forgot the crystal at home." Sahale shrugged with mild embarrassment.

Sahale knelt on the ground and dug a small hole with his hands. He placed the crystal inside the hollow he created and covered it in dirt. Placing his palm on the fresh mound, Sahale again grasped his cuff to call upon his magic. He uttered the word 'olibamkanni' but it came out more like a song, a perfect mirror of the pure beauty in the magic he was using. The earth under his hand glowed a faint green and his hair settled as the air continued to flow once more. He uncovered the crystal and stood to face the others.

"I'll be right back with the rest of the group. Olibamkanni." Sahale appeared to evaporate as he traveled back to his village.

"I should really be taking notes," Tina finally spoke through her astonishment.

"I could write an entire book based solely on your magic," Newt said to Chogan.

"We're amazing. I know." Chogan boasted and puffed out his chest.

"Be a bit more humble next time," a voice sounded as Hassun's body appeared to accompany it.

"So how did you like apparating?" Machk asked while clapping a large hand on Chogan's shoulder. "Was it everything you imagined?"

"And so much more." Chogan shrugged Machk's hand away and crossed his arms, sulking as a result of the teasing. Machk and Rowtag laughed at him, knowing all too well of the sickness associated with first time apparition.

"So this is the place? This is the prison that held the driving force behind our people learning to bond with our spirit?" Rowtag ran his hand over the stone entrance and Istas pulled him back roughly. "Hey! The thing isn't even in here anymore!"

"You don't know that," Istas said in a hushed tone.

"If I were to escape prison, that would be the last place I choose to set up camp." Mika said as she stepped forward to observe the stone.

"Let's check it out," Rowtag rushed into the cave before his sister could stop him.

"Rowtag!" Istas called out and followed hesitantly behind him.

"Come on, love." Newt held out his arm for Tina and they followed the group inside.

The contents of Tina and Elias' camping gear was still strewn about the cave's interior. The once transfigured log and stones lay undisrupted in their previous positions. The cave lay untouched since Tina had brought Newt to search it.

Rowtag sent little balls of fire from his fingertips to hover slightly below the ceiling to illuminate the small space. The shadows created from the flames flickered over the shredded cots and destroyed camping stove. The blood written kotuhpu had oxidized, almost blending in with the color of the stone.

"Here is the binding spell," Tina pointed to the symbols etched into the rock, arching over the exit.

Mika placed her palm to the carved symbols and touched the red stone delicately held in ornately woven thread around her neck. Just like with Eluwilussit's staff, colors started to spiral outwards from the stone and began to take shape above them. A scene formed of a gathering of people circling in front of the cave. Low and somber music filled the space as a sepulchral alto voice began to sing slowly.

Once was out

Now trapped for years

A creature whom

Was born from fear

Not subject to run

From menacing claws

Pure terror dwells

Within these walls

A prison created

For all eternity

Never to be awakened

Nor to be freed

Magic is the lock

Yet also the key

Spirit commanders

Take turn and flee

This beast will rot

With nothing to feed

Please take notice

This warning, pay heed

The scene above them erupted in a flash of bright light as the Wendigo was thrust into the cave. The glowing symbols sealing the beast away as the colors dissipated from the air and back into Mika's channel around her neck.

"Wow, anybody else get chills from that?" Istas asked after a minute of stunned silence.

"That was absolutely brilliant," Newt whispered, still in a slight state of shock from the beauty that was held in their extreme power.

"So I am the reason the Wendigo escaped." Tina said as she backed into the wall, sliding down onto her heels as she collapsed to the floor.

"No, no don't say that," Newt knelt down beside Tina and attempted to console her.

"You all just heard it!" Tina whipped her face up to lock eyes with the others. "Magic is the lock and the key. If I had just camped like a no-maj then we wouldn't be in this mess. People are dead because of me, Newt!" Tina's voice grew louder as her anger bubbled to the surface. She locked her gaze on Newt and her brown eyes seemed to flash a deep scarlet to match the intensity of her glare. Tina abruptly stood up and walked towards the exit, stopping right before she left the cave.

"People are dead, Newt. I have to be the one who figures out how to stop it." Tina turned to face Newt again. "It's my job to track down and trap the Wendigo before it can hurt anyone else." She straightened up and held her chin a bit higher. "I'll do it alone if I have to." Tina declared with headstrong determination.

"You're not alone, Tina." Sahale stepped towards her. "We know what the Wendigo is capable of and we will do anything to keep people safe from its grasp."

"We'll do whatever it takes to keep this evil at bay, love. No doubt about that!" Newt was excited. He thrived off of tenacity and the group he had found himself a part of was made of courageous and strong willed people. The air crackled with the collective fearlessness of every member of the unexpected team.

"Alright, Scamander, take us to the Stag's Saloon. Let's see if we can pick up on a trail from there." Rowtag puffed up, flames that were charged with enthusiasm danced around him.

"Ready, love?" Newt turned towards Tina.

Tina flashed a broad smile and nodded confidently. "Let's do this"

Sahale held out the crystal for everyone to gather around. Once all hands made contact, a deep 'olibamkanni' resonated in the cave as they faded from sight.

oOoOoOoOo

Bodies began to materialize in the forest at the edge of the wizarding town. The air was still and quiet. The town lacked the usual noises of it's daily commotion, silent with the loss of an integral member of the community.

"We'll have to go in the alley door. The street is filled with law enforcement." Newt instructed the group and waved for them to follow his lead. They hurried to the tree line, using the border as cover for any unwelcome attention.

"Homenum revelio" Tina said and pointed her wand towards the building.

"Nothing happened," Hassun piped up nervously.

"That means it's empty. Perfect timing. This way." Newt gestured towards and took off to the alley that led to the saloon.

"Alohamora" Newt unlocked the door and held it open, ushering everyone inside.

"Oh, Merlin!" Tina brought her hands up to cover her mouth, shocked at the gruesome scene around her.

Rowtag sent out the same orbs of fire as he used in the cave to hover overhead and illuminate the room. The light from the flames danced over the dark red blood that tainted every surface. The destruction was emphasized by the softly glowing spheres.

"The Wendigo wrote kotuhpu in Gertrude's blood on the floor behind the bar." Newt said while waving his wand over the splatters of blood, making them send up purple smoke that dissipated after a few seconds. Machk and Istas observed the bloody scrawl left in the wake of the Wendigo's terror. Rowtag and Mika felt along the wall for traces of residual magic while Chogan and Hassun were glued in place, not sure where to start or what to do.

"I just can't believe Gertrude is gone." Sahale say heavily on one of the few unbroken chairs and got lost in his memories of the woman who had grown to be his friend over the years. She was always willing to lend an ear to anyone in need and Sahale was there to listen to her troubles as well. The two had formed a wonderful friendship since she opened up her bar in town.

"What's the smoke for?" Chogan asked Newt as he continued waving his wand over the blood.

"Testing for species recognition. I have hopes that Gertie may have given up a good fight and got a few swipes in. Maybe there is some Wendigo blood amongst all of this rubble." Newt answered.

"How would it help if we had its blood?" Hassun questioned.

"I developed a spell while in Australia that uses blood to discover the specific signature of that species. I used the signature to track down a colony of Billywigs that were terrorizing an aboriginal village. You can't hone in on the specific one that bled but I don't think we'll have a problem with that." Newt tested another section of blood splatter.

"That's really clever, Newt." Tina praised him.

"It's been known to happen a time or two." Newt teased and smiled up at her.

Newt walked over to the bar and began testing the blood that dotted the countertop. More purple smoke puffed out and Newt began to grow discouraged. He sighed heavily, dragging his hand over his face and something halfway down the bar caught his eye. A corkscrew lay in a tiny puddle, blood still staining the tip. Newt rushed over and anxiously waved his wand over it. He jumping back, astounded when a small puff of jet black smoke emerged from the blood that pooled under the tip of the corkscrew.

"She did it! Gertie cut the bastard! Oh, I knew she could get a shot at it." Newt practically danced with his overwhelming excitement as the others shared words of praise for the witch and hope for the Wendigo's swift capture. Fishing a vial out of his coat pocket, Newt began to siphon the Wendigo's blood into the container.

"Well done, Newt. How long will your spell take to go into effect? Want to explain how it works over dinner?" Sahale congratulated Newt, firmly grasping his shoulder in encouragement.

"Sure! Tina?" Newt turned to offer a questioning brow.

"I'd love to. I really feel safe in your village, like nothing can hurt me while I'm there." Tina replied.

"That's because no one can find it. Mom worked on the commands herself. Ridiculously strong hiding command and a repelling force." Chogan boasted of his mother's abilities.

"It really is like Hogwarts." Newt smiled as the wave of nostalgia washed over him.

"Let's get out of here already." Hassun pleaded to the group.

"Alright, let's get back to the village. We can regroup and figure out what to do next." Sahale stepped towards the door, holding it open for everyone else before he left the horrid scene behind them. The group made their way down the alley but were stopped when a booming voice from the other end caused them to whip around to face the disruption.

"That's the bastard that was always pining after Gertie! You fucking killed her cause you couldn't have her, didn't you?" A large man stood at the far end of the alley near the street pointing Sahale out to the group that began to rally behind him.

"They always come back to the scene of the crime." Another man joined the first and called his peers into action. "Get 'em!"

The alley suddenly erupted in a slew of spells and curses that hurtled towards Sahale and the others.

"Run!" Sahale yelled and the group took off towards the tree line. Newt and Tina threw up shield charms and fired a few stunning spells back at their attackers, flanking their group to get everyone to safety.

"Hurry! Come on!" Rowtag and Istas yelled encouragingly, already guarded in the forest.

One by one, their group made it to the security of the trees with Newt, Tina, and Sahale bringing up the rear. A powerful stunning spell broke through the last of the shield charms leaving them defenseless. The initial accuser recognized his opening and bellowed "PETRIFICUS TOTALUS" that struck its target directly in the back.

Sahale's body was paralyzed and fell harshly to the ground. The attackers began to surround him, putting restraints on his wrists and ankles.

"NO!" Chogan uttered an animalistic cry and began to rush towards his brother's attacker.

"Chogan, don't!" Mika called out and Newt pushed him back into the asylum provided by the trees.

Hassun, emboldened by his friend's grief, sent up a wall of rock to prevent any more attacks. Tina brought her crystal out and, once everyone quickly gathered to it, she choked out a soft "olibamkanni", barely discernible over Chogan's despair that echoed off of the trees surrounding them. His cries faded into the air along with their bodies as they retreated to the safety of their village.