Harry Potter's : Fantastic Beasts Guide

The dense forest was alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant bird calls. Tariq's voice broke through the natural symphony, filled with awe. "Ron, look at it! It's so beautiful!"

David, known to his companions as Ron, followed Tariq's gaze. His eyes traced the jagged cliff face, past the tangled branches of trees clinging stubbornly to the rocky surface. There, perched on the edge of a cave, was a magnificent creature—a Thunderbird. Its pale gold back shimmered in the sunlight, contrasting with its white underbelly. The bird stretched its wings, shaking them slightly, before leaping off the cliff. With a graceful flap, it caught the wind and soared into the sky, sunlight spilling through its feathers, making it look like an angel descending from heaven.

David's lips moved silently. "Frank..." He glanced at Ion, their leader, who was seated on a thick tree root, engrossed in a comic book. Ion's face was calm, but David knew better than to disturb him. Still, he couldn't help himself.

"Head, that's the thing we're supposed to catch? Are we even capable of handling it?" David asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Ion's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing dangerously. His breathing grew heavier, like a bellows ready to burst. Before Ion could react, another wizard—a man wearing a swallowtail dog mask—jumped to his feet.

"Don't, Head! Don't be angry. Just keep reading. I'll handle this," the masked man said hurriedly, stepping between Ion and David. Once Ion returned to his comic, the masked man turned to David, his tone sharp.

"What's wrong with you? We agreed not to bother him while he's reading. Why can't you follow simple instructions?"

David shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "I'm just thinking about our safety. You saw that thing. It's not some tame owl. If we're not careful, we'll pay a heavy price—and I'll be the one paying the most. I don't want to die for a few hundred Galleons."

His words struck a chord with the others. The wizards around them exchanged uneasy glances, their doubts growing. The man in the swallowtail dog mask raised his hands, trying to placate them.

"Relax, everyone. Our goal isn't to catch the Thunderbird. We're here for its eggs. We've calculated that the bird will lay its eggs soon. When it does, it'll be at its weakest. We'll lure it away and retrieve the eggs. We'd never send you into a suicide mission."

David raised an eyebrow. "So, we're just here to watch the scenery until then?"

The masked man shot him a glare. "We're here to wait for the right moment. I wasn't planning to share this until the mission started, but since "someone" couldn't keep their mouth shut..." He trailed off, his tone dripping with annoyance. "Just trust us. We've got everything under control."

David nodded, pretending to be appeased. "Sorry, I was just worried. You know how it is—only one life to live."

The masked man sighed. "It's fine. Just trust us next time."

As the man walked away, David's mind raced. "They want to steal Frank's egg? After all the work Newt's put into protecting these creatures?" He glanced up at the cliff, his resolve hardening. He couldn't let that happen.

Tariq leaned closer, his voice low. "Ron, what are you thinking?"

David smirked under his mask. "Just wondering how big a Thunderbird's egg is. Think it'd make enough soup for all of us?"

Tariq chuckled nervously. "I doubt it. But we could try..."

"Then you go up and grab one. I'll handle the pot," David teased.

Tariq quickly backed down. "On second thought, maybe not."

David's smile faded as he sat beside Tariq. He had a plan, but he needed to act carefully. The sun dipped below the horizon, plunging the forest into darkness. The storm clouds gathering overhead promised a turbulent night.

When the last wizard returned from relieving himself, David approached the man in the swallowtail dog mask. "I need to go too. Mind coming with me?"

The masked man sighed but followed David into the shadows. As they walked, David stopped near a large tree. "Give me some space, will you? I don't need an audience."

The masked man stepped back, keeping his eyes on David. Seizing the moment, David summoned a Water Horse—a shapeshifting magical creature—to take his place. Under the cover of darkness, the creature's watery form was indistinguishable from David's figure. Meanwhile, David cast a Levitation Charm on himself, floating silently to a hidden spot where he placed a two-way mirror, angling it toward Frank's cave.

"Newt Scamander," David whispered, activating the mirror.

The surface rippled, and David felt a surge of relief. "Please be there, Grandpa."

After setting the mirror, David returned to the Water Horse, dismissing it just as the masked man turned around, alerted by a noise. David reappeared, wand drawn.

"What was that?" the masked man asked, his voice tense.

"Probably just an animal," David replied, feigning calm.

The two returned to camp, the masked man none the wiser. As they walked, the man suddenly said, "Ron?"

David's heart skipped a beat. "Yeah?"

"I was a bit harsh earlier. Don't take it personally."

David forced a smile. "It's fine. I overreacted."

The masked man nodded. "You're a cautious one. That's good. In our line of work, it pays to be careful."

David shook the man's hand, his mind already elsewhere. He had done what he could. Now, it was up to Newt.

---

Meanwhile, in Sivir's Inn, Newt Scamander paced the room, his worry etched deep into his face. Charlie and John had returned with no news of David or the R organization. The silence was suffocating.

Suddenly, the two-way mirror on the table shimmered. Newt snatched it up, his heart pounding. "David Scamander," he whispered.

The mirror's surface cleared, revealing a cliff face with a faintly visible cave. Newt's eyes narrowed as he studied the image. "What are you trying to tell me, David?"

Then it hit him. The cave. Frank's nest.

Newt's face broke into a grin. "I know where he is," he said, turning to the others. "Get ready. We're moving out."

The storm outside mirrored the tension in the room, but Newt felt a surge of determination. *Hold on, David. We're coming.*