I Was The Fool

I entered the arena, inching closer and closer to my intended opponent. I surveyed the battlefield to be, finding the spot for my first strike. The intended victim was by all indications, a female of her species. She was resting in the middle of the room on a crude sort of bed. History told that they were less aggressive than their male counterparts but when cornered, their erratic style of fighting could spell your death. This particular creature was larger than the average that I'd battled. Having completed my assessment I spread my wings and made my presence known. Taking to the air, I swooped around the arena to ensure that I had her attention before landing on a heap of fabric to observe her reaction and await her first strike.

The being rose to her full height. She moved slowly and methodically towards a wedge shaped piece of rubber that lay on the floor. All reports were correct. This species seldom fought without weapons and were resourceful at finding them. This particular weapon I had seen before worn on the feet of another female of the species. The sluggish brute lifted the wedge and inched closer, as if not to startle me. Did she think I would patiently await the blow? These beasts were not known for their intelligence however her tactics seemed to indicate that perhaps she was slow of mind. She lowered the wedge to a striking range that, had I not been the top of my class in evasion, would have ended me. In a quick and minimally off target move she brought her weapon down in what she might have intended to be a killing blow.

I barreled away from the strike with but a hair separating me from the location it had fallen on. Seeing her first attack had failed she stumbled back as I took to the air again. I came to rest on the barrier in front of the portal this being used to enter and exit this arena. Having failed with her first weapon she surveyed the arena for another to aid her in this fight. After a long moment she edged closer to me once more. It was my belief at the time that the creature had decided bare handed combat to be her only option. I braced myself to evade and then try to land my first blow but as she reached within striking range she passed behind the barrier and fled.

I could hear her communicating, perhaps with her superiors, in her unintelligible tongue. I do not believe this method of communication has the sophistication or content to be considered as much a language. There were a few of their sounds that we had accurately attributed meanings to but I could make out none of them. Within a short time I could hear her returning. She entered the room with some form of trapping device. Using the same battle maneuvers as before, she moved within a range that would allow for greater accuracy. I would not dally to show my superiority this time. I would have to time my movement carefully lest I be trapped.

In a flash she brought down her trapping device. Waiting for the last second I leaped out of the way.  She was more cunning than I anticipated for she dragged the device in the direction I'd gone in. One of my legs was caught briefly and was now badly injured. I dropped to the floor and hurried to find cover as she chased after me. Finally safe under the thing she had been resting on, I examined my injuries. I had underestimated her and it had cost me dearly. My leg would likely be lost after this battle if I was able to keep my life at all. Once again my opponent left the arena. She was furious. She prattled loudly to whoever lay beyond the portal. There was one sound she repeated that I was familiar with. It was how this species referred to my kind. "Roaches."

I made my way to the far side of the arena and climbed the wall of fabric that was strewn there. Calming myself, I listened for her return. I reached into the memories of my youth to the early days of my training. Focusing on the basic strategies of engagement that I could recall, I prepared myself for the onslaught that was coming. The beast startled me out of my recollection as she made a clamorous re-entry. Steeling my nerves I swooped towards her, now on the offensive. I must win this round if i was to have any chance in this encounter. She paused in her advance for but a second before making a hasty retreat. 

I landed on the wall next to the portal. I heard no sounds from beyond it. Was she toying with me? Was this some part of her training to lower enemy defenses? If it was, I would not be drawn into the trap. Briskly but cautiously I crept onto the corner of her bedding and calmed my mind once more. I would use stealth to defeat this foe. A head on assault would only lead to more injuries. After a long while of watching and waiting I heard her returning. She once again reverted to her careful calculated advance. She took great care in examining the arena. My ambush was not discovered. Thinking I had fled, she resumed the position I had first observed her in. She was oblivious to my presence. The upper hand was mine.

I crept soundlessly up to her enormous thigh. It was now or never. I would have to strike the final blow or rather, my first blow, before she noticed I was upon her. I made it to within seconds of my goal when she moved. An enormous hand swatted me away. I was sent flying off of her to the bedding which broke my fall and unfortunately, another leg. Struggling to maintain some semblance of calm through the pain and the dizziness I made one final attempt to regain the advantage. What a feeble waste it was. I had apparently walked into her ambush. In one swift move she brought her crude containment device over me. 

I had lost. My lifetime of training had failed me and I had failed my race. My captor dragged my prison onto a paper seal. I lost another leg on the way and the tip of my wing. On the floor I was placed and she stared at me. She taunted me with her eyes. The knowledge that I had all along been the weaker and far less cunning broke my spirit. I would die alone here, slowly, tormented by every moment that I was a prisoner and my prey remained free. To cement her domination as victor, she took me, in my prison, to show the others of her kind her latest victim. She made what I can only assume was a speech before attempting to place me on the floor. The seal she had chosen was defective for it slipped away affording me once again an opportunity to grasp freedom. My joy was short lived as she slammed an object onto my back, mortally wounding me. I was still alive of course for these brutes were infamous for their love of torture, but I would soon die. No one would hear of my victories. no one would sing songs of my battles. I would die here having done nothing to further our cause.