I AM YOUR NIGHTMARE IN THE FLESH

The lion was big, almost as big as he was, it seemed like, and not really afraid of him. It moved, though. That was all he wanted, even if it was to a spot that was a little less advantageous for him. Ganelon shifted backwards to get his back to the water. If he had to he'd hit the water and swim to shore. Doubtless it would be cold as hell and might kill him anyway, but if he had to take his chances he would. The animal jumped on top of..he didn't know what that was. It took the high ground. Ganelon stopped with his back to the rail and didn't look away from it, gray eyes fixed on its yellow ones. And then it began to speak.

The wolf's only sign of suprise was a slight raising of his hackles. What devilry was this? Lions didn't talk. If they did, it was in a language that only they knew. He bared his teeth into another warning growl, to make his intentions as clear as possible. No, he didn't want to fight. Whatever had caused this cat to be able to talk was, doubtless, much greater in wizardry than anyone he'd ever known. He cleared his throat but didn't respond to it's taunting. So, in response (he assumed) it dragged its claws across the surface of the..object. Whatever this was that he was on. Today was a day full of firsts for him. Ganelon was never coming back here.

He kept the wince off his face, despite the fact that the noise hurt his ears, and, when it stopped, tried to remember everything he'd ever learned about wizards. Not that much, honestly. They had familiars, which was obviously this lion, and they could curse a wolf if they knew their name. Ganelon would have to be careful not to say his. And if one knew the wizard's name one could destroy them somehow. He didn't know how. Not much good, this. He decided there wasn't much point in talking and instead starting trying to think of a way out of this that didn't involve swimming. Kept his eyes on his opponent, like always. Waited.