A couple of days after Cedric arrived, I got a letter from Newt confirming the location of the Wampus and telling me that we needed to move quickly because there were rumors about a group of wizards hunting them for their fur. Even though it was still early in the morning, I wasn't going to waste any time in getting to them.
"Come on Cedric, we have some mountains to climb," I said as I grabbed the keys to my Gran's jeep that she let me use when I was back at home.
"I'm sorry, we're doing what?" Cedric asked me, still half asleep as he sat at the kitchen table with my parents.
"Mountain climbing, there's a pack of wampus that need protecting," I told him while I packed my backpack with everything I would need.
"Trust me Cedric, there's no point in arguing with her. This is how we ended up going to Arizona to look for Thunderbirds," Dad laughed.
"Hey, you liked Frank!" I said, spinning to look at my dad with my hands on my hips.
"I know, Frank was amazing," Dad admitted.
"Now that we have settled that, it's time to go," I said, shouldering my backpack.
"Okay, okay, I'm coming," Cedric laughed, standing up from the table.
"Bye Mum, Bye Dad. Love you both," I called out over my shoulder.
"Love you too and be safe," Dad called back.
"I always am, Dad!"
I led Cedric out of the house, down to the grave driveway to where Gran's red Jeep was parked right next to Pa's truck. I knew that it looked comical, me standing next to the jeep which made me look like a little kid standing next to a small car and it became funnier as I hoisted myself up so that I could climbing into the driver's seat. So, I really couldn't blame Cedric for being a little hesitant about getting into the Jeep with me.
"Uh, Elsa, you do know how to drive, don't you?" Cedric asked as his hand over the door handle.
"Don't be stupid, of course I know how to drive," I told him as I started the Jeep, thankful that my Gran was the same height as me so I didn't have to adjust the seat. "Now, get in the car."
"I swear, if this is how I die after everything that has happened, I will come back and haunt you for the rest of your life," Cedric joked as he climbed into the Jeep.
"Funny, Cedric. You just better be grateful it's me driving and not Danny. He tends to be a bit of a lead foot," I told him as I hooked my phone up to the car and putting my music on.
"Why dose that not surprise me," Cedric laughed as I pulled out of the driveway. "Now, where are we actually going and don't just say the mountains."
"The Appalachian Mountains. I got a letter from Newt confirming my research and telling me that there is a group of hunters after them. So, if we can get to them and get proof that they have made a home there, we can send it to MACUSA and then they can declare it a sanctuary and put-up protection wards around them," I explained.
"I can't believe that people would hunt wampus or any creature or animal. It's just wrong," Cedric said in a voice that was full of disgust.
"I know, right. Apparently, their fur can be used in wands but so can unicorn hair and phoenix feather and you don't see Ollivander killing them, so you," I said angrily.
"Don't worry, we will find them and stop anyone from hurting them," Cedric asked before pausing for a second. "But I do have to ask, what the hell are we listening to?"
I laughed as I turned up Miranda Lambert's White Trash, remembering that Cedric really hadn't heard much of the music I listened to which was 98% country with some classic rock thrown in as well as some Disney songs. I knew that some of the music I listened to sounded really country and Cedric was about to find that out.
"Country music, Ced. Right now, it's Miranda Lambert and you are about to get a lesson in all thing's country music because it's a three-hour drive to the mountains," I told him.
"Why didn't we just apparate there?" Cedric asked me.
"Well, first off I don't know how to apparate, I teleport. Second, you have never been there before and you have only just got your apparition license so there is a good chance that you would splinch yourself. And finally, I haven't been out driving like this for so long and how else would I be able to teach you the ways for country music," I laughed.
"Why do I have a feeling that I am going to regret ever agreeing to come along?" Cedric asked.
"Because there is a 50/50 chance that you will regret it."
By the time that we reached the base of the mountains, Cedric was singing along to country hits and country classics like he had known them his whole life. Something told me that Mr. Diggory wasn't going to be happy about it, but with the way he had been treating Cedric I really didn't care.
"Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads
Take me home, down country roads
Take me home, down country roads"
"So, who sung that one again?" Cedric asked when Country Roads Take Me Home finished playing and we stopped singing along.
"John Denver," I told him, turning the Jeep off and pulling out the keys.
"I like him," Cedric said as we both climbed out of the Jeep. "Has he released any new songs lately?"
"He hasn't," I told him as I got ready to break him the bad news about John Denver. "Unfortunately, he passed away in 1997."
"Great, you could have told me before," Cedric sighed.
"What was I going to say, hey let's listen to a song by a dead guy? It's not the best intro into a classic," I pointed out.
"Good point," Cedric admitted. "Now where are we headed?"
"Um, let me check," I said as I pulled a map up on my phone. "Up the trail and up to the first peak where that hanging valley is."
"You do realise that I have no idea what you just said," Cedric laughed.
"Sorry, Clint's training coming through. We're heading just up there," I said pointing to a spot on one of the mountains.
"So, in other words, we're in for quite the hike," Cedric summarised.
"Pretty much. It's also a good way to test if you got any Asgardian endurance along with the glamour and suddenly knowing how to speak Norwegian," I told him.
"What's next? Freezing me to see if I got your ice powers," Cedric laughed as I rolled my eyes.
"This is nothing compared to the training Loki and Nat have put me through. Trust me. I mean one of them is a demigod and the other a reformed soviet red room assassin, they don't know the meaning of the word easy."
I started to head up the trail, leaving a shocked Cedric behind. After a few moments Cedric ran to catch up with me and started to question me about what training he was going to be put through when we got to Asgard. So, I spent the rest of the long hike explaining what was involved in Asgardian training and trying to calm Cedric down by saying it really wasn't as hard as it sounded.
"Okay, if Newt's information is correct, they should be around here somewhere," I said as I put my phone back into my backpack.
"Is there anything in particular that we should look out for?" Cedric asked as he looked around the valley.
"Um, they can walk on their back two legs," I said as tried to think about what stood out about Wampus'.
"They can walk on their back two legs?" Cedric repeated.
"Yep, it also has yellow eyes and can use hypnosis and legilimency," I pointed out.
"It's surprising that anyone is brave enough to hunt them," Cedric said becoming a little hesitant of the magical big cats.
"It also means that they will know if you want to hurt them or not, because they will be able to see it in your mind. So, if you don't want to hurt them, they won't attack you."
"I never thought about it that way."
I kneeled down on the ground, looking for any sign of the pack. If there were as many as Newt and I thought, they had to be signs of them. I had just found traces of paw prints when Cedric placed a hand on my shoulder to get my attention.
"Elsa, look up," he whispered, making me look up to see that I was almost eye to eye with a fully grown wampus. It looked exactly like a mountain lion in size and appearance but its yellow eyes seemed to almost glow. I remained as still as I could as the magical cat started to sniff me, not wanting to spook it while it was deciding if I was a threat or not. Finally, it decided that both Cedric and I was safe, it rolled on to its back and yawned.
"You really are just a big kitty cat, aren't you," I said to the wampus as it started to purr and nuzzled my hand as I gave it a tummy tickle.
"You really are an animal whisperer," Cedric laughed as bent down to pat the playful wampus.
"What can I say, all creatures love me," I laughed as I stood up, leaving the wampus rolling on my feet. "Now we just need to get proof that they have made a home here and then they will be safe from any hunters."
"Did you want me to take any photos?" Cedric asked, making me pull my phone back out and toss it to him.
"Sure, I'm just going to have a little look around to see how many there are living around here," I said, walking further into the valley.
As I walked more into the trees in the valley, towards a small cave in the mountain wall, I saw more wampus than I ever expected to see. There were cubs running around and playing with each other and fully grown wampus lounging around, just going about their daily lives. In the distance I saw one of the cubs walking closer and it seemed to be limping.
"Hey little guy, are you okay?" I asked softly as I walked over to it. When I was close enough the cub sensing I was safe, ran in to my arms. When I started to give it a pat, I saw that there was blood on its leg which didn't look like it was from an animal attack. "Did someone hurt you?"
"Put the cat down, girl and no one will get hurt," a voice growled from behind the tree line.
"That's not going to happen, so why don't you come out here and face me like a man," I called out, placing the cub down and pulling out my wand.
When the man walked out from behind the trees, he looked exactly like what I imagined a magical poacher from Tennessee to look like. In other words, he looked like a true red neck with his scraggly beard, dirty jeans and trucker cap. He also had a crazy look in his eye as he raised his wand at me.
"You're going to regret saying that, little girl," he snarled at me. "Carpe Retractum!"
"Expelliarmus!" I cried out as I dodged the rope that the man has sent towards me and knocked the wand out of his hand.
"You little..."
"Petrificus Totalus!" Cedric called out, binding the man and causing him to fall to the ground. "You know, it might be because I was raised in a different country, but in my opinion that is no way to treat a girl."
"Thanks, Ced," I told him, picking up the man's wand and putting in my pocket. "Now, I'm gonna make sure that you or any of your friends hurt these beautiful creatures even again."
I could tell that the man was trying desperately to break free of Cedric's cure but wasn't strong enough. I rolled my eyes as I walked away from him, sending a message to the witches and wizards at MACUSA with a snap of my fingers, using my Asgardian magic. I was going to keep my promise to the man and was going to ensure that no one would ever hurt the wampus living in the mountain ranges ever again.
"And now no one is going to be able to hurt them ever again," I said as I finished explaining to Gran how the day went.
"I'm so proud of you, sugar," Gran said as she placed a plate of freshly baked cookies on to the table.
"I just did what anyone would have done," I shrugged.
"No, you didn't love," Cedric said as he sat down next to me and kissed my cheek. "Not many people would go out of their way to save animals let alone potentially dangerous magical creatures."
"Well, they should," I pouted as I took one of the cookies off the plate in front of me.
"Is one of those for me?" Loki asked as he materialised into the kitchen beside Gran. "It's wonderful to see you again, Kellie."
"Loki, dear! How wonderful of you to stop by! I've missed seeing you around the farm, there's never a dull moment when your here," she told him, giving him a pat on the cheek.
"Thank you, Kellie. It is wonderful to know that some of my family appreciates my presence," Loki smiled.
"Your always welcome here, honey, you know that," Gran told him, making Loki blush which stood out on his fair skin.
"You are too kind, Kellie," Loki told her as he sat down across from me at the kitchen table. "Now, important business. I have heard from Thor and he has informed me that it is the best time to go to Asgard would be in the next few days. The All Father is in a surprisingly good mood for once and we do not want to waste it."
"So, when do we leave for Asgard?" I asked him.
"Tomorrow morning."