Greatwater Lake roped up, rat in a cage

He moved to stand—
 
And she was there, again, just like that, grey fur and the scent of something cold, all nipping, prickling teeth. His own jaws snapped shut on empty air time and time again, and his hackles bristled, stood tall and stiff along his shoulders and back. He could hear the jagged sound of his own breathing in his ears, every rough exhale and drawn inhale.
 
Until finally—
 
“Fucking, fight back.” He punctuated it with a lunge, his voice breaking on the syllable, his movement sloppy and clumsy and unrefined, his jaws parted and a snarl tearing through his vocal cords. Quit fucking playing—