Marcus looked on knowing that Randal was one of their assets and would probably be punished by a higher up if he reprimanded him.

The lion turned its eyesight from where the boy was cowering and stared right into the frightened eyes of Ash. The lion flinched when it saw Ash’s eyes and seemed to release himself from the control of Randal.

The lion slunk backwards from him. “Stupid animal!” Randal shouted. Then he turned and stared daggers at Marcus. “What did you do to this lion?! I’ve never met a lion that wouldn’t listen to me and was afraid of a coward. You guys must have tampered with it.” He accused.

Randal left the line and walked back inside. Marcus just looked confused up until the next person stepped in line.

Most of the other boys maintained pretty nice control of their animals, but the boys that hated Ash made sure to at least smack him around a little bit. He would have plenty more bruises by tomorrow, and many more to come considering the new boys had not gone yet,

Then it was the turn of the boy who had whispered about Ash earlier. Out of the water rose a hippopotamus. Ash did not like the idea of trying to take it on. Of course, he was the closest to it as that’s where they had placed him so that the other boys wouldn’t get hurt.

Ash looked at the boy who had narrowed his eyes in concentration but seemed to be frustrated. Ash looked back at the hippo and the things eyes zeroed in on him.

It started to charge at him, it’s mouth open wide. Ash’s eyes flicked back to the other boy’s fearfully: he had no control over the hippo.

The hippo’s mouth chomped down right where Ash’s arm had been a moment ago. He was glad that he had moved when he did. When the other guy meant that if things went out of control, they’d get help, he meant like an animal was attacking someone actually important.