It was a lion.
A very malnourished lion, with ribs poking out from his body like daggers, his face gaunt and pale.
He walked around with sort of a limp, because a large thorn was in the very center of his right paw, bleeding out excessively.
It seemed that the thorn was impacting his ability to hunt.
The man knew he had to do something, because of he did not, the lion would surely die.
"Oh." The man said, noticing that the poor creature was hurt. "S-stay there, I-I'll help you."
The man tried to grab the thorn from the lion's paw, but the lion only roared and nipped at him. He tried a second time, but the lion unsheathed his claws and scratched the man's forearm.
"Well." The man said, bandaging his wounds but still keeping a calm tone of voice. "Aren't we a ray of sunshine? Let's try this again."
The man reached out for the thorn a third time, and pulled it right out.
"There we go!" He smiled. "That wasn't so bad!"
The lion paused a moment, breathing heavily. His eyes grew wide, then he started PURRING and rubbing against Androcles.
"Woah...I wasn't expecting that. I'm Androcles..." the man introduced himself, gently shaking the paw of the lion.
The lion looked down at Androcles' wounds, then began to lick the blood away.