Yara felt the satisfying contact of her teeth against Basilisk's shoulder, a brief moment of victory before she prepared to retreat. But her success was short-lived. In the split second it took to push off and change direction, Basilisk's teeth found her scruff. The sudden grip was firm but not painful, a stark reminder of his superior strength and speed.
As he lifted his foreleg to catch her behind her own, Yara instinctively twisted her body. She managed to pull free from his grasp, her hind legs pushing off the sand to propel her sideways. She halted her movement, choosing to stop and reassess rather than counter with an immediate attack.
Her heart pounded in her chest, the adrenaline coursing through her veins as she took a deep breath, resetting her defenses. She squared her stance again, lowering her head and tucking her tail, but her mind was racing. What had she done wrong? She realized her mistake was in the execution of her retreat. The moment of shifting her momentum had left her vulnerable, allowing Basilisk to exploit her opening.
Meeting Basilisk's gaze, she nodded slightly, acknowledging his superiority and her own need to improve. The fire within her burned brighter with determination. She was learning, adapting, and she would continue to refine her techniques to ensure she wouldn't make the same mistake again.
[3/3 Received a fighting lesson (not including a spar) from another character ]
