Bruno grinned, and did his best to think of stats to distract his stiffening cock. When the mascot showed up in the buff costume, everyone assumed that it was heavily padded. Bruno knew immediately that Chad had to be the costume. It was shaped and muscled like Chad, and while Chad might wear the mascot costume as a joke, he would never wear it to root on Bruno and the swim team. He considered participants in noncontact sports with contempt. Bruno pointed out that baseball was a non contact sport, but Chad had laughed and said it, "it depends how you play." When he pitched, people got hit by the ball, and his team had been known to tackle a runner with the ball.
Between races, Bruno slipped into the locker room. He dug out a pouch filled with bells, talismans, and charms. He smiled as he held the 20 inch dog collar in his hand. He had prepared it for Chad, but had never found the circumstances to put it on Chad's neck. It had an animal tag identifying Bruno as the owner. He intended to make Chad his dog slave if the opportunity arose. But it would work as well on a cat. After all a panther was only a big cat. Spencer in Chad's body would work as well as Chad himself.
Bruno didn't need to know the magic that Spencer used, his spell would make the wearer his pet/slave. He fastened a large round brass bell to the collar. That should amplify and harmonize his spell with Spencer's. He never took Spencer for a magician. The guy was too nerdy. Nanobots were beyond Bruno's comprehension.
He headed back out to the pool. He had completed all his races, so he just needed to.urge his teammates on in their races. He soon found himself standing next to the dancing mascot.
"Nice cartwheel, Spencer. I really like your new costume, but it looks incomplete," Bruno said.
"Huh? What's missing?" Spencer asked.
"You can see the seam where the mask meets the suit. But I've got the solution. Come over here and I'll put this collar on you. It will cover up the seam."
" I'm a panther, not a housecat, Bruno. "
"Try this now. We can get you an iron collar later, if you like."
Spencer let Bruno fasten the bell collar around his neck. He liked the way the bell mangled as he did three more cartwheels and danced during the final race.
He didn't notice the seam vanishing, as his mask and suit fused, but Bruno did.
Bruno shouted, "Yes!"
Rico pulled himself out of the water.
"What are you cheering about, I lost," he said.
Bruno was flustered, but recovered quickly. He said, "Rick, you were second, and the way I figure it, we won the meet by points. I won my three races. You,Cal and Steve all placed. Unless I added wrong?"
The judge announced the Panthers had won the meet.
Bruno and Rick grinned at each other. Spencer let out triumphant roar.