He had to take a second to right himself, another two seconds or so to orient, and that was about one second too long. He started to turn as the cat lunged, but instead decided to let his body, which still seemed to think he was moving forward at a fairly reckless speed, have its way, and tumbled forward, along the branch. He hoped that would allow him to dodge the initial rush, as he drew one of the special daggers he had commissioned for this job, and might keep using as a sort of signature.