Chapter 99: Footprints in the Forbidden Forest
Kyle, who had been searching in vain for clues, returned to the large tree. Just as he was wondering how to get a closer look at the gap, Fang suddenly trotted over and grabbed onto his robe with his mouth.
"Cut it out, Fang," Kyle said, patting the dog's head. "This is no time to play."
But Fang ignored him, tugging Kyle over to Hagrid, who was crouched nearby. Once they reached him, Fang used his front paws to push aside a layer of fallen leaves, revealing something underneath.
Two rows of footprints were clearly visible in the soil beneath the leaves.
"This is..." Kyle took a deep breath. "Hagrid! Look! There are footprints here!"
Hearing Kyle's voice, Hagrid quickly leaned over to look. He saw the same two rows of footprints.
"Well done, Fang!" he praised, petting Fang's head. "But why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Fang, looking quite put out, gave Hagrid a reproachful stare and swatted his trousers with his front paws. There, on Hagrid's pant leg, was a damp circle marked by a distinct set of teeth marks. Evidently, Fang had already tried to get his attention, but Hagrid had been too focused on the tree trunk to notice. With no other option, Fang had gone to Kyle for help.
"Oh, sorry, Fang. That's my fault," Hagrid said, quickly apologizing.
Unlike Fawkes, it seemed, not every pet's attempts at communication were so obvious. At Hagrid's words, Fang's mood lifted, and he happily lay down, tail thumping the ground. Kyle reached into his pack, took out a piece of Murtlap-dried rat meat, and offered it to Fang as a reward before crouching down to examine the footprints.
The two rows of footprints were jumbled, suggesting a fierce struggle had taken place. The prints on the outer edge looked like those of an adult but of normal size. However, the footprints closer to the large tree were different.