high at the wheel of a bull black nova

Caiaphas swallowed hoarsely, her yellow eyes wide as the full length of the cat turned about to face her. He was monstrous in size -- a streamlined leviathan of coiled muscle and agility. Caiaphas, lanky and rangy in comparison, nearly cowered under his honey-eyed gaze.

She had not expected him to speak and her first instinct was to pull her long ears to her skull in worry -- but his words, they were lacking in venom. She studied him unsure of his intentions -- and quick to put distance between them, she scrambled wildly backward. "How many of you are there?" She blurted, fearful he and others had taken residence on the shore. If this was the case, she knew the future of the Sound was in potential jeopardy.