Unspoken // Theseus Scamander

Chapter Eight - Central Park

Word Count: 2,268 words. 

Warnings: None. 

I didn't know the streets of New York well. How could I, having only been there for a day, and yet I found peace in the empty streets of the night. I had thought that the walk home would give me the time to think, to put together the thoughts in my head and the pieces of evidence that I had, but New York had other plans.

"Because your skull is susceptible to breakage under immense force." It was the unmistakable voice of my very stupid Newt Scamander.

"Merlin," I sighed, turning the corner to see Newt and someone I didn't recognise heading towards a large park. I assumed it to be Central Park. "Newt," I called.

He turned around, wide-eyed. "Nat."

"Who's Nat?" the stranger beside him asked as I approached quickly.

"Mr. Kowalski, this is Nat, a friend, Nat this is Mr, Kowalski..." he paused, gesturing to the stout man, "... a Muggle."

"A Muggle?" I posed, my own eyes widening. "I thought America had a very strict policy on Muggles."

"They do."

"And yet your friends with one?"

"Acquaintances," he muttered, avoiding my gaze.

"Mr. Kowalski," I began, addressing the man.

"Jacob," he corrected.

"Jacob. Have you... seen the creatures inside his case?" I asked.

Jacob seemed to look between Newt and I nervously before nodding. "Yes, got bit by a nasty one."

"Bit?" I turned to Newt.

"It was a Murtlap."

"A Murtlap?" I asked incredulously. "They can cause serious reactions."

"He exhibited most of them."

I perked a brow. "Sweating?"

"Yes."

"Twitching?"

"A lot of twitching."

"Flames out of the anus?"

"Flames out of what now?" Jacob piped up, holding up a finger.

"I gave him the antidote before it could get that far," Newt assured me.

"Alright," I replied, letting out a breath. "Now, I can assume that you are out here in the middle of the night because you've lost a creature nearby."

Scamander nodded. "Yes."

"Want to tell me what the creature is?"

"An Erumpent," he muttered, almost too quiet for me to hear. I hoped that I had misheard.

"What was that?" I tried.

He spoke louder. "An Erumpent."

I scoffed. "You let an Erumpent loose?"

"Someone want to tell me what that is?" Jacob spoke up, taking a step towards the two of us.

I sighed, shaking my head at Newt before facing Mr. Kowalski. "Think a massive rhinoceros who's tusk can cause things to implode."

Eyes wide, he nodded slowly. "Sounds... just like the thing to have in a briefcase."

There was a loud caw and suddenly an ostrich came running across a nearby bridge, flightless wings flapping up and down in fear. It rushed by us.