"...?!"
Elizabeth and Cupcake froze in absolute shock. They were staring blankly at the small white paw which had suddenly frozen in mid-air, inches away from Mirabella's face. It wasn't stopped by a magical barrier or a burst of aura; it was as if an invisible, physical wall of pure diamond had intercepted the strike.
"What are you doing, Cupcake?" Mirabella asked calmly. She opened her eyes, the dark energy completely gone, and slowly turned her head to look at the stunned white cat.
"Um..."
Cupcake was entirely speechless. She was staring wide-eyed at her master, her feline mind unable to process the absolute physical resistance she had just encountered, not knowing how to answer the question without sounding guilty.
"Nothing." The cat finally answered, hastily lowering her paw and sitting back on her haunches, trying to look innocent.
