Rectify↦Newt Scamander

Farewell to Freud!

Dread twisted at Tegwen's stomach as she prepared herself to say goodbye to her "plantonic " companion. There was still hope that he would choose to leave with them, but she realized that Newt had a point. Freud was back among his family and it far better health than when she had found him. If he was capable of surviving and wanted to return to his natural environment, she couldn't just tell him no. It wouldn't be right, she learned when it came to the beasts and creatures that Newt looked after, that if it were possible, he released them when the time was right. The ones that remained with him permanently stayed because they wouldn't be able to survive on their own. 

But she didn't even feel bad for herself, she felt bad for poor Pickett. The bowtruckle had become so attached to Freud that the two were hardly ever separate from each other. She remembered Newt telling her about Pickett acting so dramatic and depressed until the bowtruckle was reunited with Freud. When they were finally reunited, he was so incredibly happy with all his happy clicks and chirps of excitement.  She definitely didn't want to be the one to break it to Pickett. 

"What if Freud plans to stay and Pickett doesn't want to part with him?" Tegwen asked Newt as the man was slipping on his shoes. Newt paused for a moment before looking up at her.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, if Freud decides to stay here, you told me how much Pickett misses him when they're apart...what if Pickett wants to stay with him?"

She wondered if Newt would allow his little companion to stay behind on the island. 

"Unfortunately, that wouldn't be possible," Newt said standing up and resting his hands on his hips.

"Why not?"

"Because this environment is far too harsh for Pickett," Newt explained. "It get's far too cold at night and he has enough problems with keeping his own body heat as it is. One really cold night and I...I don't think he would make it. We can't leave him with Freud."

"Maybe it wouldn't be as cold for him, after all, he's around plenty of hugging flowers," she pointed out. However, Newt didn't look fully convinced and he was considered the expert in that situation. If he didn't think that Pickett would survive then it was probably because it was true. However, he didn't look very happy about the possibility of Pickett being miserable without his companion. 

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Tegwen said noting the frown on Newt's face. "After all, there's nothing stopping up from coming back for a visit. The giants aren't going to bother stopping us now."

That seemed to cheer the man up a little as the frown faded slightly. "I suppose you're right."

"I am," Tegwen said in a confident tone as she stood up and walked over to him. "Besides Pickett is tough and he might be too busy checking out all the other plants that we're going to see to bother with being sad."

"You say that, but I did plenty to try and keep him busy during the time that we were apart from you and Freud and...well...he's incredibly stubborn, Twiggy."

"I think he gets it from someone," she smiled at him before she felt a tug on her sock. The two looked down to see Patrick standing down at their feet, holding up a coin for Tegwen or Newt to take. 

She let out a chuckle as Newt smiled. "Sorry Patrick," she said crouching down towards the niffler. "I can't play with you right now because we're about to set out, but I promise we'll play some tonight. Why don't you just hold onto that for now...for safe keeping."

Patrick quickly hid it back into his pouch before scampering away. Pickett had made his way over and climbed his way up Newt's leg all the way until he rested on the man's shoulder.  The adults exchanged nervous glances as Pickett clicked impatiently waiting until they left the case. Newt allowed Tegwen to climb out first.