Faelan backed away as the thing came closer, trotting past the approaching men at a much faster pace than a real elephant could have. His territorial animal instincts stirred, but as the eyes of the shadow met his, his defenses retreated, somehow recognizing that the creature was safe, a friend.
"Faelan, I'm okay." The animal wasn't speaking, and yet it was, and he stared up at it with relief flooding through him as an echo of Padma's voice floated around them. "Someone from the Ministry caught me and made me go back to my flat. I'll be here waiting for you. If you can't come back, find someone that can send me a message back the same way this one came to you..."
There was a pause, and the elephant lifted its trunk, lightly touching the tip of it to Faelan's cheek. It felt like cool mist. "Be safe. Please."
With that, the animal retreated into a swirling sea of fog and was gone. Heart racing, Faelan looked around at Harry and Sirius, urgency in his voice as he asked, "Where's the nearest floo?"
It seemed that the danger had passed, but he didn't want to cross through town and keep Padma waiting a second longer than necessary.