Xerxez's stomach flipped. His skin prickled with gooseflesh. "What—who said that?! Was that… you?"
The dagger wailed again, its voice cracking with panic. "There's a monster! Right behind you!"
"GRAWRR!!! That treasure is mine!!!"
The roar ripped through the swamp as a shadow lunged. Xerxez's eyes widened—what he heard next was bizarre, like the furious croak of a frog: "Crokcrokklock!"
"Whaaaaaa!! A monster!?" His voice cracked in terror.
From the reeds burst a swamp lizard, hulking as large as a wild boar. Its hide glistened with muck, claws curved like scythes, eyes burning yellow. With one bound it was upon him.
Xerxez stumbled back, but the beast's muscular tail whipped out, coiling tight around his ankle.
"Wheeeere ya goin'!!! Groock!" the creature snarled, its words garbled and guttural in Xerxez's ears.
"What… what did it say!?"
The dagger screeched back, its shrill voice cutting through his panic.
