The last thing Irvine had anticipated was somebody discovering them up here and trying to interfere. Steven's attack takes him completely by surprise, knocking him back to slam into the wall with a force he wouldn't have expected out of such a small person. His red eyes focus on the lion boy, looking astonished at Steven's strength.

"This just keeps getting better, doesn't it?" he murmurs, straightening slowly. His gaze flicks briefly to Jamie, who's paused in his assault on Greg to stare furiously at Steven, ears flattened in ire and blood flowing freely from his snarling maw. With the barest of mental commands, Irvine directs their collective attention to Steven, and Jamie leaps over Greg's shoulder toward the smaller boy, fangs bared and claws outstretched.

Irvine clasps his fists together, raises them above his head, and brings them down toward Steven's shield.