" Yes, I too would like to know what my student is hiding." said Master Phant. If looks could kill, they would have been a pile of smoking ashes. " So instead of asking him nicely, you see fit to corner him?" asked Master Swoop. Dangerously. " We're not cornering him and how would you know? Your blind." said Master Phant.
A low growl had them all taking a step back. Another ear piercing scream burst from Theo's lips and Master Swoop's attention shifted. He walked forward and forced his way through the masters. He knelt down in front of Theo a few feet away. He knew Theo was crying. The thing that was once a nightmare had come to pass. But this, this was so much worse. " Theo stop, it's OK." said Master Swoop.
He scooted closer to Theo and laid his hands on top of Theo's clenched fists. Theo's head lifted and he sniffled. " Is it really you?" asked Theo. " Yes Cub, it's me." said Master Swoop. A broken sob left Theo's lips and he launched himself into Master Swoop's arms. He caught him and rocked him back and forth. " You came Mommy. Thank you." whispered Theo. Apparently, it wasn't whispered quietly enough. " You don't have a mother." said RJ.
Shocked gasped rang throughout the room. All except Master Swoop. Theo cried harder and Master Swoop whispered in his ear. " Wrap your arms around my neck. I'm going to pick you up." Theo wrapped his arms around his mother's neck and he picked him up. He stood with Theo in his arms like a baby and turned to RJ. " How dare you. If I didn't have my baby in my arms right now, you would be in sever pain." said Master Swoop. His voice softened as he shifted his attention to Theo. " Hey. For us to get out of here, I need to go through the masters." said Master Swoop. " OK." said Theo. He walked through with Theo in his arms and was almost to the door, when a voice stopped him.
" He isn't your baby. Your his teacher and nothing more." said RJ. A possessive growl left Master Swoop's lips. " I'm going to go get your adoption papers and I'll be right back. Will you be OK for a second?" asked Master Swoop. " Yeah, but you'll be back right? You won't leave me with them?" asked Theo. " Never." promised Master Swoop. He snapped back in and turned towards RJ.
" I will be right back. I have to go grab something. If you touch him, talk to him, or make him uncomfortable in any way your dead. Got it?" hissed Master Swoop. None of them answered him and backed away. They had this uneasy feeling. Like they had crossed the line. Master Swoop set Theo down and he unwrapped his arms form around his neck.
He stepped away from Theo and went to the door. He opened it and walked down the stairs. Back up in the loft, Theo backed himself into a corner and slid down to his knees. The fear in his eyes had Master Lope confused. RJ let loose a triumphant howl at finally getting what he wanted. " Now what are you hiding?!" screamed RJ.
Theo fell forward and curled into ball on his side. Tears were streaming down his face and he was silently sobbing.
" Why do you want to know so bad?" asked Theo. In between his gasping. " So I can use you." said RJ. " You've gone mad." said Master Lope. " What? It's not like he has feelings." said RJ. A deafening roar shook the masters to their cores. The next thing they knew, a lioness had RJ pinned to the floor on his back and was growling in his face.
The lioness took RJ's throat in her mouth and for once in his life, he felt fear. After a minute, she let go and got off him. She walked over to Theo and curled around him. She released a low purr and Theo turned his head. " What are you doing? Their not supposed to see you like this." said Theo.