Stunned, Nick reflected on the last minute. In hindsight, trying to grip such a rotten looking branch was a bad idea. Looking up at the bemused wizard, he shrugged, as if to say, 'Well, I tried.'
"What's your name, lad?" the wizard said, getting out his wand.
Deciding there was no point in being coy, Nick muttered, for his injuries were fairly severe, "Nicholas Nimblepaws..."
A snort from the wizard, "Nimblepaws, hmm? I can work with that... nimble paws indeed." With that, he leveled his wand, and Nick felt a sharp pain in his gut, as fur began to sprout from his belly, his waist contracting and his spine and skull burning...