Unable to find any clues, Kael returned to the big tree.
Just as he was hesitating about what to do to see the gap, Fang suddenly came running, biting his robe.
"Don't mess around, Fang," Kael said as he patted its head, "it's not playtime now."
But Fang wouldn't listen, dragging him over to Hagrid and then using its paws to brush away the fallen leaves on the ground.
Beneath the leaves, two rows of footprints were clearly visible.
"This is..." Kael took a deep breath.
"Hagrid! Look! There are footprints here!"
Hearing Kael's voice, Hagrid also quickly bent down; he too saw those two rows of footprints.
"Good job, Fang!"
Hagrid patted Fang's head, complaining, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Fang heard this and displayed a wronged expression, patting Hagrid's trousers with its paws.
They were wet, with a very obvious ring of tooth marks.
Apparently, Fang had tried to warn him; it was just that Hagrid was focused on the trunk and hadn't noticed.
Having no choice, it had turned to Kael.
"Sorry, Fang, my fault," Hagrid quickly apologized when he realized this.
Not every pet is like Fawkes; just a word from Hagrid cheered up Fang, making it wag its tail happily.
Kael also took out a piece of Murtlap jerky, rewarding Fang with it and then squatting down to inspect the footprints.
There were two rows of footprints in total, very chaotic, as if a fierce battle had taken place here.
The outer row of footprints was normal, looking like an adult's size, but the row closer to the tree was different.
They were very large, about twice the size of a normal person's, looking just like Hagrid's...
No, these were Hagrid's.
Kael suddenly remembered seeing similar footprints in the pumpkin patch, the exact same size and tread pattern.
Kael frowned, "Hagrid, have you been here before?"
"Impossible," Hagrid said confidently, "I wouldn't forget a big tree like this if I'd been here, but I have no memory of it."
"Then how do you explain this?" Kael pointed at the big footprint, "The tread matches your shoes exactly."
"What are you saying?" Hagrid strained to bend down, finally seeing the footprints clearly.
Then his pupils suddenly contracted as he yelled as if he'd seen a ghost, "This can't be!"
"I haven't been here, I swear!"
He then seemed to think of something and quickly added, "Could it be I accidentally left them just now?"
"Unlikely," Kael shook his head.
Fresh footprints wouldn't be hidden under fallen leaves.
And... Kael also touched the soil at the edge of the footprints, finding it already very hard. If they were fresh, the soil should have been soft.
"That's all for today," Kael stood up and said, "Let's go back and ask Headmaster Dumbledore, maybe he knows what's going on."
Hagrid was completely dumbfounded by now, only slightly calming down at the mention of Dumbledore, nodding repeatedly, "Right, Dumbledore would know."
Kael took out his wand, used a Diffindo spell to extract the footprints along with the surrounding soil.
He then dug out a piece of the corroded tree trunk, using levitating spells to carry them out of the Forbidden Forest.
On the way back, Hagrid still walked in front, but he seemed very distracted, his mind in turmoil.
"By the way, Hagrid," Kael asked curiously, "how did you know the unicorn foal was missing?"
"Professor Kettleburn told me," Hagrid replied, "He was supposed to come, but the unicorn that lost its foal was so agitated that he couldn't leave it unattended."
Kael understood.
Professor Kettleburn was also a renowned Master of Fantastic Beasts and one of Newt's few close friends. If it was him, there was no doubt.
But unlike Newt, Professor Kettleburn's character was more reckless, which is why he was left with only one arm and half a leg.
To this day, Kael couldn't understand why this professor was sorted into Hufflepuff. Clearly, Gryffindor suited him better.
The Sorting Hat must have been drunk back then.
On the way back, they encountered a centaur again, but it wasn't Ronan; it was a young centaur with platinum blond hair.
"Hey, Hagrid, you seem distracted," the centaur said first, "This won't do, the Forbidden Forest is dangerous at night, don't forget you have a foal with you."
"Oh, Firenze... yes, you're right," Hagrid smacked his head, turning to Kael, "Sorry, Kael, I was a bit out of it."
"It's okay," Kael smiled, "With you here, I believe the creatures in the Forbidden Forest wouldn't dare harm us."
"Thanks," Hagrid also smiled.
"A bit out of it?" the centaur named Firenze looked at Hagrid, his eyes shockingly blue, "Did you run into some trouble?"
"I don't know if it's trouble," Hagrid scratched his hair, "Firenze, have you seen me in the Forbidden Forest before?"
"Many times," Firenze said, "I see you almost weekly."
"Not what I meant," Hagrid pointed in the direction they'd come from, "I mean, over there, next to the big chestnut tree."
"I think I understand what you mean," Firenze lifted his head, "Today's Mars is normal."
"Alright, I knew it," Hagrid said irritably, "Could you just say it straight... never mind, let's go."
Hagrid walked past Firenze, while Kael looked at Firenze thoughtfully.
The centaur named Ronan had said the same thing earlier.
Mars is normal...
Is that normal?
Firenze didn't leave immediately, following them until Hagrid led Kael to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, then halted.
...
In front was the Moonstruck Beasts' nest. Watching them dance gracefully in the moonlight, Kael couldn't help but recall their first night out, almost getting caught by Hagrid...
Hmm?
Kael suddenly stopped; if he remembered correctly, Hagrid had also traveled into the Forbidden Forest via this path then.
...