Master Swoop walked over to Theo and picked him up like a baby. Theo wrapped his arms around his neck.
" Ready?" asked Master Swoop. Theo nodded and buried his head against Master Swoop's chest. Master Swoop slowly rose off the ground and then took off like a bullet. Don stood there gaping like a fish. They flew for fifteen minutes before Master Swoop slowed down and touched down in his forest. " It's nice to be back." said Theo. Master Swoop chuckled. " We were only there for about half an hour." said Master Swoop. " Still, it's nice to be back." said Theo.
" I completely understand." said Master Swoop. Theo suddenly transformed into his jaguar form and took off. Master Swoop sensed him shift and did the same. He took off after Theo and eventually caught up to him. " What's on your mind?" asked Master Swoop. " I just had the sudden urge to shift. I felt trapped in that office. I needed to run." said Theo. " That's your instincts. Your blind, so to compensate, your instincts are telling you when your in danger. You weren't in danger, but Don isn't someone you know. He knows me, which causes your instincts to go nuts. It scares you to think about him getting close, because in your mind, you'll lose me." said Master Swoop.
" How do you know all this? Your blind as well." said Theo. He instantly dropped to the ground and mewled as he realized what he just said. Master Swoop stopped and laid down next to Theo. " I know what you meant. I noticed it because I had what you once did. I was separate from my animal spirit. Therefor, I began to notice things I didn't before." said Master Swoop. Master Swoop felt Theo shrink down and a purr made his chest rumble. Master Swoop turned his head and picked Theo up by the scruff of his neck. He took off with Theo tightly clenched in his teeth.
Theo was tense. " Take it easy Cub. I won't drop you." said Master Swoop. Theo slowly relaxed and enjoyed the feeling of having a mother. Master Swoop ran for about an hour before slowing down and eventually stopping. He set Theo down and curled around him. Theo fell asleep with his tail over his nose. Master Swoop was happy Theo trusted him enough to let him carry him in his mouth. Master Swoop laid his head down and just enjoy the breeze. Two hours later, Theo woke up.
He lifted his head and let out a yowl. Master Swoop licked his face before picking him up and settling him on his paws. " I'm glad I finally found you." said Theo. " I'm glad to be here. And that you let me in." said Master Swoop. " We need to go in now." said Theo. Master Swoop got worried as he heard the tiny, almost silent gasps. He picked up Theo and set him down on the ground. He shifted back and Theo did the same. Master Swoop grabbed Theo's hand and pulled him up. He slung an arm over his shoulders and walked towards his patio.
They made it to the patio and he walked in. He walked under the arch and down the hall to Theo's room and walked in. He removed his arm and turned around. Theo took off his shirt and Master Swoop walked over to the jar. He put the cream on Theo's chest and then had him put his shirt back on. With his hands on his shoulders, he lead him to the bed and had him lay down. Theo suddenly jerked and went rigid. Master Swoop moved him over onto the quilt and swaddled him like a baby. He then sat him up so he was on his knees and pulled him against his chest. He bent his head so it was right above Theo's ear.
" Grab onto me. I'm going to help you breathe, but it's going to hurt." said Master Swoop. He grabbed Theo's hands and placed them on his cloak. He gently closed them into fists and then wrapped an arm around Theo to hold him in place. He hated to do this, but it had to be done. He put his other hand on Theo's back over his lungs and started rubbing slow circles. Theo screamed bloody murder and Master Swoop winced.