In my new game I was walking through Falkreath Hold with Faendal, and he hadn't been very useful so far (I wanted an early companion so it was between him and Sven), so I said aloud "Better step it up Faendal, you're on probation..." Not ten seconds later I noticed a red blip on the compass, and a wolf jumped out of the bushes at me. So I was like 'Eek!', and rushed to pull my sword out so I could defend myself. Then, as the wolf was mid-jump at me, he took an arrow right between the eyes and crumpled over, dead. I turned around and there was Faendal, probably forty yards away, just glaring at me.
"Alright, you're off probation."