The adder prowled through the cover of night, weaving through the territories in search of the strongest warriors.

Tonight, she had found one.

Grackle hadn't snuck up on him deliberately—sneaking was for cowards, and she was anything but. Her step was naturally quiet despite her large frame, and now she emerged from the tall grasses with a confident chuff.

Hey! You! she barked, her voice sharp and challenging, raising an accusatory paw. Fight me! The command was sharp, almost absurd in its directness.

She sauntered closer, muscles rippling under the sleek, oil-slick coat. I’m out of shape and I’ve got a dumbass I need to beat. You look like you could give me a challenge.

Great! Grackle's lips twisted into a wicked smile. Just a spar, nothing long-lasting. Does that sound reasonable to you?

She waited for his acceptance, cracking her neck with a satisfying pop and stretching her long legs. The anticipation thrummed through her veins, a familiar and exhilarating rush.

Alright! Let's go, man, She grinned, her voice a low, eager growl.

The man aimed a heavy blow to her shoulder, and it connected with frightening ease, her skin splitting like butter beneath the force.

Grackle inhaled sharply, the sting of pain only widening her devilish grin. She could feel the blood trickling down, but it only fueled her excitement. Alright! Time to give it her best shot!

Rolling low, she moved with the fluid grace of a serpent, aiming to take his legs out from under him.

Pearly teeth clamped onto her throat like a vice, and the dark woman spluttered, choking on the sudden pain and pressure. Grackle’s mind raced, her body instinctively reacting. She twisted, trying to pull her arms around him, muscles straining beneath the obsidian coat. Her back legs kicked and pummeled, focusing on delivering a flurry of attacks rather than forceful ones.

Nice grip, she wheezed out with a half-laugh, a glint of admiration in her jade eyes despite the pain. She twisted again, using her legs to create space between them.

The battle ended almost as quickly as it had begun. Grackle found herself panting on the ground, gasping for the air that had been squeezed from her lungs.

It wasn’t long before she was back on her paws, her jade eyes boring into the man with a fierce intensity. Hey! she barked, voice a mix of weariness and exhilaration. You're amazing! Where'd you learn to fight like that? There was a spark of wildfire in her eyes, an invigorated blend of curiosity and respect. The spar had left her aching, but vivified.

Grackle's eyes narrowed slightly at the man's retort, an amused grin playing on her lips. The rush of adrenaline still hummed under her skin, and she shook out her coat, trying to disperse some of the energy that made it feel static and prickling, like tiny lightning bolts under her fur.

Oh, please, Grackle scoffed, her voice tinged with playful sarcasm. I don't see how the two are mutually exclusive. I've trained plenty too, granted, not recently, but that doesn't mean a thing.

She flexed her claws against the ground, carving shallow furrows in the dirt, Who knows, maybe you just got lucky this time. Her tail swished behind her, the tip carving erratic patterns in the upturned dust.