LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 67: Differential Treatment
A sudden commotion broke the stillness of the forest. Behind a wide tree trunk, thick enough for three people to circle it hand in hand, strange voices rang out.
"Fool, fool!" screeched the voice, sharp and repetitive.
Hermione froze in her tracks. Startled, she instinctively stepped behind David, her voice trembling as she whispered, "David, what's that sound?"
David chuckled softly and reassured her, "Don't worry, Hermione. It's just an old friend of mine."
Before Hermione could respond, two small, white creatures darted out from behind the massive tree. They moved with a flash of silvery speed, circling Hermione and sniffing curiously at her feet. Their small, twitching noses were almost comical.
"Fool, fool!" they repeated, their high-pitched voices oddly endearing.
David smiled knowingly. "They're playful little sables," he explained.
Hermione's initial fright melted into curiosity. "Sables? Are they magical creatures?" she asked, lowering herself to get a better look.
David nodded. "Sort of. These are called earthpick sables. They're harmless and rather friendly. Though it seems," he added with a playful smirk, "the gray one over there isn't feeling quite as brave today."
He gestured toward a gray sable perched proudly on a raised tree root. It seemed less inclined to approach, observing Hermione with an air of aloof dignity. Meanwhile, the two white sables continued sniffing at Hermione's feet before eagerly turning their soft, furry backs toward her, as if inviting her to pet them.
Encouraged by David's words, Hermione cautiously extended her hand. The sables didn't hesitate—they rubbed their silky fur against her palm, eliciting a delighted giggle as their soft coats tickled her skin.
"They're adorable!" Hermione exclaimed, scratching them behind their tiny ears. Her fear was long forgotten now, replaced with genuine joy.
David, meanwhile, moved toward the gray sable. It stayed rooted in place, a little wary but ultimately too proud to flee. He crouched down and spoke to it softly. "What are you doing here, old friend? Did you move your den?"
The gray sable sniffed David's hand, seeming to relax. Then it let out a sharp, insistent cry: "Bad guy, bad guy, protect!"
David blinked in surprise, piecing together the creature's meaning. "Protect?" he murmured, following the sable's gaze to the shadowed area behind the tree. "Are you guarding something? Is it the unicorn?"
The gray sable bobbed its head slightly, its body language confirming David's hunch. He let out a low whistle. "Well, that's unusual," he muttered. "Sables aren't exactly known for their bravery, even less so for protecting other creatures."
David made a mental note to write to Newt Scamander about this peculiar behavior. Sables forming an alliance with unicorns wasn't something he had ever heard of, and he suspected Newt would find it just as fascinating.
By now, the two white sables had grown bored of Hermione, their playful energy waning. They scampered back to David, rubbing affectionately against his legs.
"Why do they like you so much?" Hermione asked, a touch of envy in her voice. She couldn't help noticing how naturally the magical creatures seemed drawn to him.
David shrugged with a sheepish smile. "I don't really know. It's always been like this. Animals just... trust me, I guess." He paused, scratching one of the sables under its chin. "Newt calls it the 'probation effect.' Gentle creatures warm up to me right away, and even aggressive ones tend to calm down after spending some time with me."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "That's... unusual. I've never read about anything like that in my books."
"Maybe you haven't read the right ones yet," David teased lightly, though his tone carried a hint of genuine curiosity. He'd never fully understood this strange connection he had with magical creatures, but it had come in handy more times than he could count.
Hermione huffed quietly, determined to find an explanation in her studies. "I'll just have to read more," she thought to herself. "There must be an answer somewhere."
David interrupted her thoughts, pointing ahead. "Let's keep moving. Felix has stopped, which means we're close."
The pair followed Felix past the great tree and over a small rise. As they crested the hill, they saw it: a flash of silver darting through the clearing below. The gleaming figure moved with impossible grace, leaping from one side of the glade to the other.
Hermione gasped. "It's beautiful."
The silver figure slowed its movements, coming to rest at the hill's summit. It was a young unicorn, its slender body glowing faintly under the moonlight. The creature stood tall and proud, its mane rippling like liquid silver as it surveyed them with intelligent eyes.
Hermione took a step forward, drawn irresistibly toward the enchanting creature. But the unicorn snorted sharply, stamping its hoof in warning. It reared its head back, clearly nervous.
"Stay calm," David advised gently. "Unicorns are very sensitive. Just relax and don't think about anything that might scare them."
Hermione nodded, taking a deep breath. She closed her eyes, trying to quiet her thoughts. But as much as she tried to clear her mind, her knowledge from books came rushing in—facts about unicorns' magical properties, the uses of their horns, and even the grim history of their blood. She winced, realizing how much of it was tied to harm and exploitation.
The unicorn took a cautious step back, sensing her unease. Its silver eyes flicked nervously between Hermione and David.
Sensing the tension, David spoke calmly. "Hermione, don't think of them as unicorns. Just imagine they're kittens. Friendly, playful kittens."
The suggestion made Hermione laugh despite herself. She nodded again, trying to picture the majestic creature as a harmless little kitten. Slowly, the unicorn's stance softened, and it lowered its head slightly, its luminous mane shimmering under the moonlight.
Behind the young unicorn, a larger figure emerged from the shadows of a hollowed cedar tree. An adult unicorn stepped into the clearing, its powerful frame radiating an air of calm authority. Its presence immediately reassured the younger unicorn, which relaxed further.