"Ouch!" Walter's cry echoed through the forest as his skull met the unforgiving bark of the tree. The pain was excruciating, but he had no time to dwell on it. His cousin was relentless, her eyes ablaze with a fierce determination that sent shivers down his spine. "Easy now-" he tried to reason with her, but his words were cut short as she lunged at him once more. His heart raced as he dodged her attack, his body moving on pure instinct. The battle had only just begun, and Walter knew he had to stay focused not to hurt his cousin.
"I must admit," he began, his voice strained as he parried her blows, "you've improved quite a bit since we last sparred." He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride for her progress, even as he struggled to keep up with her attacks. With a swift movement, he bo
