what happens next

"I suppose you would prefer being dead, you stubborn long-eared ass," he growled. And then sighed, because Basileus was right about the living conditions. Maybe he could dump water in there. Surely a ship would have some way of allowing the water to run out of the hold somewhere. Turning towards Asriel, he shared a few quiet words with the snow leopard, who grinned and twitched his whiskers before bounding off. "Are you getting enough to eat?" he continued courteously, for all the world as though inquiring of a guest if they had enough hand towels in the guest bath. "If some other type of meat would be more to your liking, I am certain I could arrange for it for your comfort."