The dweomercat's pupil's narrowed to vertical slits as it felt the faint stirring of magical energies when Azarel prepared to cast his spell upon the feline.  As they began to coalesce, he felt the intangible path of energy flow out of the caster until it anchored itself loosely to him.  The moment he felt that connection solidify, the mage conjured the illusionary ball causing the feline's eyes to open wide.  Though it had nothing to do with the phony toy that was tossed to him, rather the sensation of his will clinging to the magical pathway like a rope and pulling it taunt.  In that instant, the feline leapt into the air and vanished from the material world as his body surfed along that magical pathway within the ether that united all planes and yet never entirely existed in any of them as anything more than a conduit for magic to travel.  An instant later the feline reappeared into the material world descending from the apex of his pounce, his large, powerful paws catching Azarel on the shoulders before the mass of the nearly three-hundred pound cat knocked him from his feet.<br/><br/>Before anybody could so much as flinch, the mage was pinned beneath the powerful paws of the tiger as his broad head lowered until his broad muzzle showing a sliver of the sharp teeth through partially parted lips hovered above Azarel's face.  The dweomercat's jaws parted as his maw descended towards the pinned man, but it was a broad, rough tongue that caught the side of his face rather than sharp fangs.<strong>"I appreciate the help."</strong>He said gratefully before stepping off Azarel and giving him space to get up.<strong>"Sorry if I surprised you, but the magical current carries me right into the caster and leaves little room for navigation when I'm riding it.  Ezel never considered the possibility that my dweomer leap utilizes magic, but the ability itself is just a part of my being and isn't actually magical."</strong>The feline reached out with its two front paws and stretched long and hard for the first time in days, thankful to finally have room to work out his cramping muscles.<strong>"The name is Junpei by the way."</strong><br/><br/>With all the attention focused so intently upon the creature pouncing their comrade, Lasrie took the opportunity created by the distraction to bolt for the woods.  He would already be nearing the edge of the forest to the west before the sudden motion would have drawn attention (Perception DC 25 since a tiger pouncing your friend is bound to take an abundance of your attention.)<br/><br/>(Zoey finds 250gp worth of worn/damaged weapons and armor from the dead as well as the chest containing nearly ten-thousand gold pieces.)