Vicious Enemies

All true warriors have a sixth sense, a sort of tingling in the back of the mind that triggers the impulse to be ready for a fight. Muscles tense, hands clench and senses sharpen. All from the presence of an enemy.

I sensed my foe near by. My instincts took hold.

Raka and I were camped by a small river, near the tall grass. I quickly fell to the ground, pull her down with me, as quietly as I could. I motioned for silence as clearly as I could to the look of confusion and pain Raka gave me. Slowly and quietly, I crawled to the edge of the water where I knew without seeing that my deadly target would be found. The water about it splashed and moved, oblivious to the end that I had planned for it. Forsaking my weapons least it get away, I tensed my muscles and leaped from where I crouched, and landed right on target and began my fight.

I quickly had my victim within my grasp as I tried to throddle the creature with my bare hands, only to have it slip out and fall back to the river attempting to escape. In its exuberance to flee, it managed to slap at my legs causing me to loose my balance. I fell to the water with a grand splash, and was quickly taken up by the current down the river.

I struggled against the water, as I looked for my prey. Although fast in the water, my reflexes were faster, and I reached out and grabbed it again, holding it in a crushing grip against my body. Before I realized what had happened, or if I knew if my foe was finally vanquished, I was thrust into open air once again as I flew out from a waterfall, and landed in a great fountain.

I worked my way to the bank of the waterfal, still cradeling my prize, as Raka came running down to meet me. My armor and every inch of me was soaked to the bone, but I was happy. The look of concern on her face quickly gave way to exaspiration.

"What?" I said, perfectly innocent. "Do you know how hard it is to find freshwater tuna?" I held out the finally limp fish, and grinned with delight. "This one had a lotta fight in it, donchya think?"

Raka gave a derisive snort, and she walked briskly back to camp. I shrugged and hummed a tune while I thought of my new dinner plans.