"I take it you don't want the fourth boy killed?" Stephan looked at Jeff with a sneer.
Jeff nodded, though he did not think the evil scorcerer would pay any attention to his wishes. Surprisingly, Stephan shrugged and gestured at the cage. The bloody boy, stillfighting off his former friends, suddenly gasped and stiffened. The monkeys stopped thier attack and ran back to the other corner of the cage, chattering in fright.
The fourth boy's injuries vanished under a thick golden pelt, and he began to get larger. Long before his face pushed out into a muzzle, it was obvious he was turning into a lion. The new beast roared, revealing 3-inch fangs. The monkeys sprang for the top of the cage, screaming and pulling at the bars.
Stephan grinned. "I left part ofr the boy's identity - the lion instincts are very hard for him to fight, but if he tries really really hard, he can resist. Of course, as he gets hungry and tired, he'll have more trouble not eating one of his friends for lunch."
The lion snarled again, this time at Stephan, and then backed into the corner of the cage and lay down. The boy was obviously trying to control his urges.