Oh, Espio hated it when this sort of thing happened! What was it with people and deciding that the best way to handle something was to try hurting it? The idiots!

Okay, so maybe that was a tiny bit hypocritical, but it wasn't as if the kid was some kind of evil villain! All they were doing was making the situation worse!

'It's not as if he can help it!' Espio wanted to shout at them, feeling the heat from the fox-like creature. 'Cut it out!' Like the boy could even really protect himself against those animals.

As the whole thing continued moving before his eyes, all Espio wanted to do was actually be there. That way, he might actually be able to help! And not...

Wait...

'What is he touching?' Espio realised, trying and failing to turn his head and see where that freakish hand was.