The Sentinels Mean enough to stare your demons down

Dante watched her carefully, knowing he would need to act quickly when/if she chose to attack.  She was smaller, lighter, and doubtlessly more graceful on her feet.  He was solid, grounded, and would need to pin her down quickly or force the fight to a battle of strength to win.  If it wasn't a close-quarters fight, the disadvantage was his.

he caught almost no perceptible warning of her strike, but he was expecting it.  Unhelpfully, however, because of her subtlty, he didn't know where the blow would land until it came.  He reared up when he realized she was going for his chest, unable to avoid the full hit but lessening it some.  Sharply in taking his breath, he stepped back quickly, bringing his forelegs down at her shoulders in an attempt to wrestle her down before she could dart away.