Blacktail Deer Plateau Last Round: What are you made of?

Shale was feeling good. He had come out victorious in both his spars so far, and was all set for his third. Strangely enough, they had all been against family members--his nephew, his brother, and now his niece. This fight might be the most challenging. Dawn might not have the brute strength of her brother, nor the experience of her father, but she was a spitfire, and nimble on her feet.

The older man smiled at Dawn, amber eyes gleaming in the winter sun. "Let me mentally prepare myself before you kick my butt," he told her, laughter in his voice, though he did not jest. Despite his good health, he was a little winded, and she was younger and fitter than he.

Engel, on the other hand, looked like he was on death's door. Shale, vibrating with suppressed amusement, gave him a grin of encouragement. Poor bastard. He would face the winner, who, regardless of the result, would be a formidable opponent to the ruddy male.