Don didn't let Redstar's words hang in the air.
He stretched his arms, shook out his legs, rolled his shoulders once, then cracked his neck—crkk~.
"I'm ready," he said.
Redstar gave him a small smile. It wasn't kind.
And without warning—
BOOMM~
The floor shook as she burst forward, bare feet cutting across the frost-lined floor in a blur. Don didn't expect her to close distance that fast—not after giving him the illusion of a countdown—but he reacted anyway, lifting his guard just in time.
Her form telegraphed a kick.
He raised both forearms and caught it clean—thump~.
But the moment her foot recoiled, her fist was already swinging for his jaw.
He saw it coming.
But she saw something else—
His left thigh twitched.
She halted mid-motion, shifting her weight to spring back—
Too late.
