~ ZEV ~
Time moved very slowly.
A tiger's skin around their neck is loose, but their fur thin. Zev had no trouble gripping the cat even as he flew through the air, while his own thick fur made him a bigger—but less effective target.
Five, razor-sharp claws raked down his ribs in what felt like lava inching down his side. Zev had to consciously force his jaw to remain locked on the tiger's throat and leave his tender side exposed.
They turned a slow somersault in the air, Zev twisting, whining at the pain. But while Xar instinctively rolled onto his back, readying to engage his back paws, Zev kept the pressure on his throat so that the tiger couldn't breathe, and twisted his body, landing to the side of Xar's shoulder, and turned more than halfway around—and immediately twisting again, leaping so most of his boday was behind the tiger's head.