He started rocking Theo back and forth. His shaking slowed down and eventually stopped. He still kept a death grip on Master Swoop's cloak. " Please, get me away from them." whispered Theo. The pain in Theo's voice broke the master's hearts. " Wrap your arms around my neck." murmured Master Swoop. Theo did and Master Swoop stood with Theo in his arms. He turned to face Theo's family. " Big brother, who is he?" asked Luen. Master Swoop finally lost it. " I, am, his, mother." said Master Swoop. In a deadly calm voice.

" No your not." said Dom. Theo gasped and buried his face in his mother's neck. " Why him?" was the horrified whisper. The snarl from Master Swoop caused everyone to flinch. All except Theo, Don, and Master Lope. " I think you've done enough." said Master Swoop. " What has this sweet boy done?" asked Theo's birth mother.

" He is not sweet. He has hurt Theo just as you have." spat Master Lope. Master Swoop turned around and started to walk away. Master Lope fell into step beside him and Don on his other side. He suddenly whirled around and glared as he heard footsteps.

" You are not his mother." said Dom. " Do you want to see the adoption papers?" growled Master Swoop. " No, I just want to know why you insist on telling me that when your not." said Dom. Sudden rage overwhelmed Master Swoop and he was shifting into his lioness form. He was unaware he had let go of Theo and that he was on his knees at his side. All he saw was red. Suddenly Theo's voice was in his head. " Are you alright?" asked Theo. " Yes, am in my lioness form?" asked Master Swoop. " Yes." said Theo.

They snapped back in and Master Swoop snarled at Dom, his tail lashing back and forth in angry motions. He finally got himself under control and transformed back. He turned to Theo and picked his up like a baby. Theo wrapped his arms around his neck and he turned to Dom, snarling. " How do you think I got my second animal spirit?" asked Master Swoop. Dom paled and gasped. " That's your animal spirit?" asked Dom. Master Swoop didn't bother to dignify that with an answer. " He is off limits! You do not touch him! He is mine!" snarled Master Swoop. Suddenly realization hit Dom like a sledgehammer. " He's your cub." whispered Dom. In shock.

" Yes, I believe he insinuated that when he last fought you." drawled Master Lope. " Why are you involved in this?" asked Dom. with narrowed eyes. " I'm his brother and Theo is my nephew." said Master Lope. Dom stared at them in shock. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had attacked a lioness's cub.

" Your his mother." whispered Dom. A snarl answered his question.

" We're leaving, can you grab Don?" asked Master Swoop. Master Lope turned to the man who had been kneeling next to Theo. " Grab onto my arm." said Master Lope. Don did and Master Lope slowly rose off the ground. Master Swoop did the same but stopped when he felt Dominick release his animal spirit. " Antelope uncaged." hissed Master Lope. Dom recoiled as he felt his animal spirit get thrown back. " Keep your hands off my nephew!" snarled Master Lope.

They started to move again and Master Swoop shot off like a bullet towards his forest. Master Lope quickly lost sight of his brother and heard Don gasp beside him. " He moves so fast, even with Theo in his arms." said Don. " He does. I don't think I've ever seen him that mad." said Master Lope. His brother had never lost control enough to actually let his animal spirit run rampant. " Is Theo OK with him?" asked Don. When Master Lope growled, he knew he had overstepped his bounds. " You doubt your own son when he's been a master longer then you've known him? It is not your place to be worried about Theo in my brother's arms! How dare you!" hissed Master Lope.

" Something has happened between you and my son." said Don.

( A.N. Master Lope is still Theo's uncle.)