Stephen watched Carlos engage the beast further, antagonizing it with insults (or at least he thought they were insults). He was revved up for action. Somehow he had control of the the very atmosphere around them, making the air go chilly. Stephen shivered as he watched Carlos sizing up his opponent for battle. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Oneo inching sideways, apparently reaching for the tranq gun.
Stephen reacted instinctively. He wanted to help the people who were stronger than him, and it was all he could think of doing. He felt his skin prickling again, his bones retracting. His spine contorted and his tail bone expanded. Stretching gently, Stephen had resumed his cat form.
He eyed the orca. It was angry and looked ready to thrash Carlos. Stephen concentrated on it, moving his front legs farther apart and his back legs farther back, shifting his weight to the ends of his paws. His fur stood on end and his tail pointed directly above him. He gave a very feline growl, his ears laying nearly flat on his head, and shifted again. He looked ready to pounce. And he did. Yet he didn't.
Several nearly identical ragged black cats pounced in turn away from the first, which never left its place. Stephen made copies, ten black cats in all crowding and grooming in the zoo. They lingered for a moment, looking proud and majestic in the wake of danger, then in turn began to swarm around Carlos and the orca. They moved so quick that they were black blurs to everyone with normal vision. He didn't know what else to do other than distract the orca, which it seemed had somehow called for help as there were now two of them. What else was there to do? He hoped with all his might that Oneo was a good shot with the tranq gun and could guess the plan he had. Either that or Kevin would make it here in time to do something. He left it to fate.
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