"I'm an orangutan, you buffoon!" the monkey shouted, breaking its creepy smile. "Hotaro the Treelord!"
Ryuzio pointed up at him. "Give Hitryel back, you monkey!"
"Monkey?" Hotara's expression soured. "Kill them all, Petmakers!"
The shouts of his thirty squadmates erupted into the swamp as they advanced in their modified hovercars, each of the fifteen vehicles having two Volants riding it.
"Captain Hotara!" Kinimi said, waving her tail. "They're holding me hostage! Save me!"
Arold's forehead formed sweat. "Joy…can I panic now?"
Joysaleen had her jaw set, gripping her hammer tightly. "Not yet."
"Kinimi?" Hotara said, eyes thinning. "Hold it, Petmakers." His command halted the advance of the roofless vehicles. "How did you lose to a bunch of amateurs, Kinimi?"
"The green-haired boy is a Therabright like you, Hotaro," Kinimi said quickly. "I couldn't fight them—"
"Where's the merchandise?" Hotaro said coldly.
