ⒻⒶⓃⓉⒶⓢⓉⒾⒸ ⒷⒺⒶⓢⓉⓢ CAMP AU

The Possum

"Woah! Hey there, little dude!"

Jacob shifted on his feet, a hesitant yet excited smile painted across his face. Below him, the possum scuttled around his feet, savouring the reassuring solid flooring and warmth of the indoors.

"A possum?" enquired Leta, crossing her arms. "It was a possum outside the entire time?"

"Yeah, go figure," murmured Queenie.

"She was... hurt," murmured Newt from his position by the cabin entrance. Theseus closed the door behind them, raking incredulous eyes over his brother.

"And when did you decide it was a 'she?'" he probed with sketched brows.

Newt turned to face his elder sibling. A cocky note of pride sounded in his response at knowing something that Theseus didn't.

"The skin near her tail is flatter, and she has a pouch. It's empty."

While Theseus looked taken aback, Newt turned his attention back to the possum. By this time, she had collapsed on the floor, evidently worn out.

The six of them awkwardly stood around it, staring down at the creature with a deafening sense of: Okay. Now what?

"Uh- we'll have to help her. Look at her gash there," murmured Tina finally, pointing a vague finger at the cut running across her side. "Or- maybe we should- uh... make sure she's warm? It's pretty cold outside..."

Tina desperately albeit subtly glanced up toward Newt. Searching for an answer. She was about to suggest something else to get him to respond, but Newt slowly nodded his head, finally dragging his eyes upward to meet Tina's.

He couldn't suggest that they let the possum into his suitcase- no one knew that he'd brought it. Theseus had told him specifically not to bring it. Maybe he'd let it in when no one was looking.

"The cut isn't bleeding heavily at the moment. I think you might be right. Let's keep her warm for a bit. She's in a new environment- " A quick gesture around the cabin. "- And that might take some time to get used to even without bandaging the wound."

A hush fell across the group. Jacob raised his brows, clearly impressed.

"Wow. Someone's quite the vet!"

The remaining five turned quizzical gazes toward Jacob. Newt felt inclined to speak first.

"Wh... what's the vet?"

"Oh. Uhh- animal doctor. It's a muggle thing." Jacob gave a nonchalant shrug.

~~

Tina rolled over, fighting to keep her eyes awake. Her uneasiness had worn off, to be replaced by gratefulness to have claimed the nice bed, and the overwhelming urge to sleep.

"You alright there, little fella?" she murmured instead. It was eerily dark, but no one was scared. Tina received a single squeak in reply.

Her disobedient eyes flickered up across the room- to Newt. He was looking back at her, lying on his stomach with his fingers laced beneath his chin.

Newt gazed at her with a soft smile. Tina smiled back. The possum between them squeaked happily again.

Everyone had long gone since Newt and Theseus first brought the possum inside, leaving her in Newt and Tina's cabin for the night- just to adjust to its new surroundings. Tina had dug up a thick jacket to serve as makeshift bedding for it. Newt, in a fit of humiliating chivalry, had shed his pyjama shirt as a blanket for the possum.