"I didn't know you were an Animagus…" Rolfe exclaimed.
"It's no big deal. You're the same, aren't you?" Ivan replied as he flapped his wings and landed on top of the leopard.
How could that be the same? Rolfe rolled his eyes. He'd had to go through a lot to train to become an Animagus… and Ivan had transformed into a flying creature, so he was far more skilled at stealth and detection than Rolfe's own leopard. The only drawback was his lack of combat ability.
Despite his feelings, Rolfe didn't forget his business. Since Ivan was an Animagus, it was much easier for him to hide, and he didn't have to worry about exposing himself.
"By the way, Hales, when the Thunderbirds show up later, remember to follow my orders. Do not act on your own. If you are unlucky enough to encounter those poachers, do not try to force your way in. I will decide whether or not to abandon this operation by judging their numbers and combat effectiveness," Rolf reminded him sternly.
Yvonne gave him a strange look, then nodded. "All right, you're a professional, so we'll do it your way…"
After reaching an agreement, the eagle and the leopard fled into the forest.
Due to the delay, the half-grown goat had long since disappeared. Even if Ivan had the advantage of high-altitude vision, he would not be able to find its tracks in this complicated forest.
Fortunately, this did not pose a problem for the battle-hardened Rolf. He moved like a real leopard, crouching low and sniffing for prey as he moved quickly. Within a few minutes, he had located the goat.
Rolfe didn't move any further. Instead, he kept a fair distance between them, using his low growl to drive the creature toward the top of the hill, where it would be easier for the Thunderbird to spot the goat.
Ivan slowly followed, not daring to fly too high in case he became the Thunderbird's first target.
The chase went on for over half an hour, and Rolfe was able to accurately estimate the goat's stamina. By the time they reached the top of the hill, the goat had collapsed in exhaustion.
"What do we do next?" Ivan asked as he slid from the air and looked at the poor, helpless goat that could only bleat.
"We'll wait!" Rolfba hissed, pulling on her claws to keep herself hidden in the thick shrubbery. "We'll need to compete in patience with the Thunderbird, and the plan will be half-successful if we can just sit tight."
"Half? What's the other half?" Yvonne was intrigued.
"Luck! We had better pray that the Thunderbird does not succeed in its hunt, or it may choose to remain in its lair, and we will have wasted our time," Rolfe explained, his face calm.
Over the years of his research and exploration of magical creatures, there have been instances where he made ample preparations in advance only to fail miserably and return empty-handed.
Ivan nodded, equally aware of this, and landed on a low branch.
In his spare time, Rolfe was in a rare mood and whispered to Ivan about his thrilling adventures over the years, as well as his knowledge of wilderness survival.
The wait went on longer than Ivan had expected, and they were out of sight from morning till midnight.
The half-grown goat, on the other hand, seemed to have regained its vitality and was prancing about in the grass, occasionally looking down and nibbling at the grass.
Ivan turned his head to look at Rolfe, who was lying in the bushes, pretending to sleep.
Seeing this, Ivan also turned over and hung upside down on a branch, closing his eyes to recuperate…
… .
In the early hours of the morning, Ivan was woken by a loud crack of thunder, and as soon as he opened his eyes he saw flashes of lightning in the dark clouds.
Thunderbird?
Ivan woke up with a start and turned his attention to the grass in front of him. The half-grown goat seemed to have sensed the danger and fled into the woods with a terrified whoop.
Yvonne instinctively tried to fly after him, but Rolfe spoke first.
"Don't move. The sheep won't get away. Now is not the time!"
Rolfe was awake long before the Thunderbird's arrival and, like Ivan, was keeping an eye on the goat and the Thunderbird, although he did not make a move, as he was well aware of the Thunderbird's hunting habits.
As expected, not long after he spoke, a bolt of lightning suddenly surged out of the clouds and struck the goat in its path. The stunned lamb was so frightened that it staggered and fell to the ground, then lay there trembling and motionless.
Ivan held his breath and looked up into the sky. Now that the prey had lost its fighting spirit, it was time for the hunter to make his entrance!
A golden bird flew out of the dark clouds. It was as fast as a beam of light. With a few dives, it swooped down from the clouds, opened its sharp forepaws, and gently scooped up the half-grown goat.
Yvonne finally got a glimpse of the Thunderbird, which was the size of a Muggle car and covered in golden feathers. Most peculiar of all, it had three pairs of wings, the largest of which had a wingspan of over five metres.
After the successful hunt, the Thunderbird seemed to have no intention of enjoying the food on the spot. It flapped its wings again and flew away.
"After it!" Rolfe shouted. "But remember, don't get too close. Our goal is to find its lair. Don't try to do anything rash!"
The speed of the leopard, coupled with its magical powers, allowed Rolf to keep up with the Thunderbird.
Ivan moved quickly, keeping close to Rolf.
After about ten minutes of flight, a towering cliff appeared in front of them. The Thunderbird did not move forward, but hovered over it.
Rolfe's face lit up with glee. The Thunderbird's nest was here!
However, he was not happy for long before Rolf realised that something was wrong. The Thunderbird seemed agitated and did not return to its nest.
Just as the two of them were wondering what was going on, several brilliant magical beams suddenly shot out from the cliff, targeting the Thunderbird in the sky…
(PS: Two chapters today, and a second chapter later.)