At this point the lizard decided it was safer on it’s own and unzipped its heater pouch. After a quick scurry to my head, it leaped like a demented green rodent to the ground.

“Dang it, Rodney,” I yelled, the arcs of lightning were toying with me by slapping my butt. “Ouch, goddammit, run faster won’t you? This is getting awfully painful back here. Not to mention I want some clothes left by the time I finish.”

“Here, round here.” Rodney turned a corner and ran, nose first, into a pool of water. After a moment he clambered onto one of the lilypads. “You’ll be safe here,” he said.

“Those things loathe water. That’s what my pappy always said.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, plunging into the pool. It was deep enough to come up to my ankles and fill my shoes.

“Definitely, just look at them.”

I turned back to look and, yes, the arcs of lightning had paused at the edge of the water. Rubbing their hands together in glee, the arcs dove into the pool.

“Hmm,” Rodney said. “Maybe pappy said loved…”