MOSAIC➝ N. SCAMANDER

ONE

THE AFRICAN VILLAGE BUSTLED WITH PEOPLE, blissfully unaware they were being watched. A leopard paced in the forest nearby, hidden by the foliage. The leopard did not seem deterred by the fact there were so many people around, in fact it looked as if it was observing them. It's great yellow eyes were scanning the homes, almost like it was looking for someone in particular.

It watched as the men and boys began to group together, gathering their hunting gear. The leopard then began to jog deeper into the woods, farther away from that little village. The trees began to thicken, the sounds of village life growing fainter and fainter. As the wild cat ran, it suddenly began to transform into a girl. It's four legs became two dark ones, and it grew taller and taller.

The fur turned into dark skin, the spots disappearing. A human head began to form, with very short curly hair. The girl continued to run, her patchwork dress blowing slightly with the breeze. And it wasn't until she was nearly two miles away did she begin to slow down. At last, she stopped, grasping onto a young tree for support. She glanced around, and once she was sure the hunters had not followed her, sat down in exhaustion.

Kali de Vries let her head fall back onto the tree trunk, breathing heavily. Her head was swimming, her mind in complete shock, because while she was watching that village, she could have sworn saw her little sister. A little girl had been standing outside her old house, before being snatched inside by her mother- Kali's mother.

Rumors of a little girl with a powerful Obscurus had led her back to her home village, and she had wondered, could it be Saja, her younger sister that they are talking about?

Saja de Vries, if that was her, would be no older than six, and it would be a miracle if she could walk. Kali just wasn't able to believe Saja was alive, so she had returned to her village to see for herself.

Kali had been there that night, exactly four days since she had run away from her muggle parents. She had witnessed the fight through the outdoor window, too terrified to go inside. She had choked back a sob as her father beat her pregnant mother's stomach, determined not to have even a risk of another magical child.

That was the day Kali vowed to never return to that wretched village, yet here she was.

Guilt began to seep into Kali's very soul, wandering if Saja was actually alive. And she wondered, was it a miracle if her little was? Or just rotten luck? Kali wouldn't wish anyone to suffer from her parents anti-witchcraft wrath.

Kali placed her hands on either side of her temples, pressing down on her head, wishing these thoughts would just disappear. She closed her eyes tightly, imagining giving Saja a better life. When she opened her eyes again, she noticed the forest getting considerably dimmer.

Kali stood up and transfigured back into her animagus form. The leopard climbed the tree effortlessly and settled onto a branch to spend the night. When she fell asleep that night, only one thought was on her mind, that she had to save Saja.

For the next couple days, Kali watched her old house carefully, waiting for another glance at the little girl in front of her own home, to see it that was actually Saja. But for some reason, the girl had not reappeared. Kali began to doubt her mind, wondering if she had actually seen her little sister or if grief was playing tricks on her again.

She remembered her sixth year at the African wizarding school Uagodou, where she would imagine the ghost of her baby sister at night in the dorms. The guilt began to settle in her heart that year, growing and weighing her down. But still, Kali told no one.

As she continued to watch the village, memories she had buried deep began to resurface. In her animagus form, she felt braver, she was a leopard that no one would dare approach. But when she transformed back into herself again, she would feel small and weak.

After about a week, Kali was no longer convinced it was her little sister that was the subject of the rumors. She felt her heart sink, and the truth was, she had hoped it was. A small part of her wished it was Saja that had the Obscurus, because at least she would be alive. But Kali began to think more clearly, and how it was for the best that Saja was dead. She wouldn't have to suffer from her parents.

Kali began to travel through the Sudanese rainforest, heading back to Egypt, where her apartment was. As she walked, her senses were on high alert, listening for hunters and animals. She decided that once she got to a safer spot, she would apparate.

But after an hour or so, she suddenly froze, upon hearing the crack of apparation and someone tramping through the woods. She scampered behind a tree, transforming quickly into her animagus form. She crouched low, ready to pounce in self defense. She heard the person get closer and closer, and suddenly stop on the other side of the tree. Kali felt her heart pounding and made a split-second decision.

She jumped out from behind the tree, hoping she looked threatening in her leopard form. She bared her teeth and found herself face to face with the strangest man she had ever seen.

His eyes widened at the sight of her, and she supposed he hadn't come into contact with a leopard before. He stood very still, not making any sudden movements. Kali had to give him props for that, he was obviously not stupid.

She then transfigured back into her normal form, and held out her hands, her finger tips sparking with energy.

The man jumped back, stumbling over his own suitcase. He gazed at her curiously, and a bit of shock.

"Who are you?" Kali demanded, her voice sounding hoarse, and she realized with a start how long it had been since she had spoken.

The man stood up slowly, pulling his wand out of his pocket. Kali watched as he set it down on the ground cautiously and stood back up, looking to her, "Newt Scamander, just a passing fellow wizard," he answered.

Kali lowered her hands, gazing at Newt Scamander curiously. Why on earth would a wizard be passing through Sudan?