James sat on an ornamental rock at the side of the murky water and tried to take in the enormity of his current predicament. He had literally been reduced to pond life and forced into an environmemt where he didn't fit or understand how to survive at all. The muddy, smelly water didn't tempt him in the slightesr, and he was equally repulsed by what he was presumably supposed to eat. The suddenly much bigger than usual dragonflies nearby seemed to be eyeing him with caution and keeping their distance as they buzzed past, but they were perfectly safe. And what would he do if the princess forgot about him? No way could he live like this for any more than a day or so which was bad enough already.
"Well, hello there, I haven't seen you around here before" a deep but feminine voice came from behind James, breaking his train of thought.
He turned round and was shocked to see it had come from another toad. This one was somewhat larger than him and looked more than a little monstrous from his perspective. So wait, he couldn't speak to humans but he could to other toads? Well that was just great.
"I'm not staying here, I'll be going tomorrow" James answered, still not quite believing he was having this conversation.
"Well that's a shame" the larger amphibian gave him the awful impression she was trying to sound seductive "perhaps I can convince you to stay. What's your name?"
"It's James"
"James? I've never heard that name before" the female toad belched back "It almost sounds human. I 'm Ranalisa"
"It's nice to meet you.." James tried to be both polite and dismissive at once "but I've had a long day and.."
"Oh don't be like that" Ranalise hopped uncomfortably close to her prey, her eyes bulging invitingly at him "If you are only here for one night you may as well enjoy yourself"
"Look, you're getting the wrong idea" James replied with a note of panic in his voice, fully aware he wasn't big or strong enough to fight this persuer off "I'm not really a toad"
"Well, you certainly look like one James" Ranalisa continued with a dismissive laugh "and a very handsome, virile one at that. Don't tell me you don't find me attractive too?"
James of course found Ranalisa physically repulsive, but there was no way he was telling her that. How was he going to get out of this?