The stars shine brightly tonight, pinpricks of light against a sable sky. There is a gentle breeze ruffling the leaves of the trees and bushes that litter the land around me. The forest is quiet tonight, devoid of the usual activity that fills its nocturnal hours. It is as if the woodland inhabitants are waiting for something, a vigilant audience to a midnight show.

I lie in wait, quiescent for now. If the animals are expecting a show, I intend to give them one. I remain still for now, however, in my place of cover, yet my senses are alert; my eyes scan the area ceaselessly, my ears drink in all the sounds of the wood, searching for anomalies. I sniff the air eagerly, trying to detect the different smells of the forest, questing for a more familiar scent. I wait, my muscles tensed like a uncoiled spring, ready for release. I am ready for my moment.

It comes quickly; I sense the other’s movement, and I surge forward in a blur of speed that is surprisingly quiet. My feet glide across the woodland ground as my legs carry me in my pursuit of my prey. They’re fast and agile, and I admire them for their obvious talent, but I know I’m better. I begin to close the distance on my target, closing down upon them.

It takes longer than I expected, but I slowly gain on them, and eventually, with mere metres between us, I spring forward in a leap, my arms outstretched to grasp my enemy. My momentum pushes us both forward toward the ground, and we crumple to the floor in a mass of struggling limbs. An arm reaches out to strike at me, and I feel a blow to my temple. Head spinning from the impact, I roll off my enemy, rising in a battle-ready position. They follow suit, clearly not giving up without a fight. I feel a grin creeping on my lips; I do enjoy it when they decide to play rough.

He’s not that experienced, despite his good hit earlier, but I quickly find that what he lacks in skill, he makes up in ferocious strength. He attacks wildly, desperation giving him a power that could have been devastating if he’d aimed it at any other foe. I’m too good for him though, my agility giving me reflexes bordering on precognition. I duck, swerve and sidestep with ease, and throw blows of my own to demonstrate my comparative omnipotence. I catch his jaw with a right hook, and the strength behind it throws him off balance; I follow through with a solid roundhouse kick to the head, splitting a nasty gash above his right eye. He gets lucky as he recoils from this, managing to knock me to the ground with a retaliating punch that leaves me winded. I’m enjoying this battle, I rarely get a fight that I find satisfying, and although I know the outcome will always be the same, this one will live in my collection of happy memories.