Gaile’s heartbeat showed no signs of slowing down anytime soon as the fennec fox sat in the locker room, taped hands trembling before they were subsequently clenched. Through some sort of miracle, the young fighter had been scheduled to face Selene, a fellow fennec who had already made a name for herself by reaching contender status early in her career. Only three years separated the two, yet she could tell there was a clear difference between them. To further skew the odds they were bound to face one another in boxing and not MMA or wrestling which she found herself more comfortable doing. That didn’t hinder her from accepting the challenge however, facing such an esteemed fighter - and a fellow fennec no less - would only help push her career even further. She may be the reserve of a reserve, but Gaile was determined to make her mark and give that fox everything she got! The young fox got up and grabbed her pair of blue gloves hanging on the mirror before putting them on, dashing sapphire eyes staring at her reflection. The fox was dressed in a top and bottom sharing the color of her gloves and she took a moment to turn her slender but toned body, inspecting its condition with an anxious smile while fanning her fluffy tail.

  She was ready.

  The door opened and she almost jumped out of her fur as her second, a tall orange rabbit dressed in a white shirt and black shorts, entered. “Gaile Finster, it’s time to get ready!.”

  Gaile shook off her nerves and nodded with a smile. “Okay! Let’s go!”

  The stands surrounding today’s boxing ring was packed to the brim with spectators, all of which were eager to catch a glimpse of Selene in action once again. A great number of sports journalists stood at the ready, shutters flashing as they took pictures of the ring and the two individuals standing at the center. One of them was a tall brown grizzly bear wearing a striped black and white uniform, his beady eyes glancing at the large crowd in unease before turning his attention to the man beside him. With microphone in hand, a gray wolf dressed in a white tuxedo adjusted his red tie as he got ready to make the long-awaited announcement - it only took one glance to tell that this mustachioed canine loved his job.

  “Ladies and gentlemen!” the wolf called out. “My name is Leonard Fangold and I’ve been generously bestowed the opportunity to introduce today’s boxers! Though there were some, ahem…complications along the way, cancelling today’s event was NEVER an option!” He pointed a finger to the ceiling and the crowd erupted in wild applause. “Now with that out of the way, it is time to introduce our first contender! In the blue corner, weighing in at thirty-four kilos and standing tall at 142 centimeters - counting the ears -, we’ve got one firecracker of a fighter from the minor league who refuses to give up! Introducing… Gaaaaiiiile!”

  Upon hearing her introduction, the fox entered the runway wearing an orange and blue cloak obscuring her face, though two holes had been put in place to keep her big ears visible. She punched the air with her shiny blue gloves as she approached the arena before stopping to stare at a stool which had been placed ringside - it was hard to tell if it was done out of consideration or mockery. Nevertheless, Gaile placed a foot upon the stool and slipped through the ropes with both arms raised to soak in the applause, then pulled off her cloak with a bright smile to reveal herself. Hearing the many cheers and whistles filled the tiny fox with vigor as she went corner to corner and waved at the crowd with a contagious grin.

  “And now for the main contender, the one you’ve all been waiting for!” the wolf called out before snapping his finger, causing numerous ceiling lights to illuminate the opposite entrance. “At the still-crisp age of twenty-four, she has already made a name for herself as a capable contender in the world of boxing and has once again decided to grace us with her presence! In the red corner, weighing in at fifty-five kilos and standing proud at 157 centimeters - though taller opponents were never a concern to her -, we’ve got the counterpunching prodigy and rising royalty of boxing! Introducing… Seeeeellllllleeeeene!!!”

  A cloaked woman and a tall white cat in a purple suit stepped into the limelight while raising a yellow boxing glove in the air, keeping the other rested against her hip as she walked in a confident stride, cream-colored tail swaying with unrivaled elegance. The crowd went wild and a faint smile could be seen hiding behind the shade of her hood before she climbed into the ring. She tugged at the robe and pulled it off with finesse before folding it over an arm while keeping a glove pointed at her soon-to-be opponent. Selene was dressed in a red top held up by dark brown straps and a yellow pair of trunks with a loose skirt accessory in the color of her top spreading to the side like flower petals. The fennec fox’ fur beheld a pristine cream shade and a coat white as snow stretched from her toned belly to the lower jaw which curled into an arrogant grin. After dropping the robe into her second’s awaiting hands, she ran a gloved hand through her lustrous brown hair and over the yellow bow behind her big left ear, then set a pair of amethyst eyes upon Gaile. She was even prettier in person and as the younger fox blushed at the stare, Selene held a glove right below her mouth and laughed.

  “You’re kidding. THIS is the opponent I ended up with?” she said with a haughty chuckle. “I haven’t even heard your name before.”

  Gaile ignored the attitude at first, instead rubbing the back of her head with a smile. “Oh, that’s because I don’t usually do boxing! But no worries though, I know the basics! More importantly…” She beamed at the fox with starry eyes, tail wagging, “it’s an honor facing you in the ring, miss Selene!”

  “‘Miss’?” The older fox’ ears perked for a moment and she shuddered - god that made her feel old. “Just…just call me Selene.”

  The young canine’s eyes brightened in adoration. “Sure thing, Selene!” she said with a pleasant chirp, thinking the fox was just being modest. “But again, I’m really glad I get to face you! When I heard your scheduled opponents backed out I volunteered on the spot!”

  Now that made Selene raise a brow. “I can see you’re quite the fan, then. You’ve got good taste~ Though if you think brown-nosing me will earn you any mercy then you should give it up right this very instant.”

  “Oh no, no, no, not at all!” Gaile waved her hands in a defensive gesture. “By all means, please give it your all! This will serve as a great learning experience for me so I wouldn’t dream of having such an esteemed fighter like yourself hold back.”

  Selene smirked. “Good to see there exists boxers with some common sense, unlike a certain bunny I know.”

  “Oh, you mean Juniper? She’s really cool too!” the young fox blurted out. “Your matches against her are always so intense and amazing and-!”

  “There’s nothing ‘cool’ about that woman.” And just like that, Selene’s smile was gone, replaced by a deep frown. “The only thing that makes our matches amazing is me and me alone, she’s got no hand in that.”

  “Ah, but-”

  “No buts. It seems I have misjudged you.” The arrogant fox turned her nose up and returned to her corner. “But that’s my fault for thinking there were any boxers with decency around these parts.”

  Gaile blinked at the complete shift in attitude and returned to her corner with a lowered head. In the midst of her excitement she had angered a well-respected fighter and as she sat down on the stool in her corner, she buried her face in her gloved hands. Good lord, how embarrassing. This could have been a golden opportunity to know more about Selene and she blew it! However, she wouldn’t let this rock the boat that was her mental and she slapped both gloves against her cheeks before turning the attention back to Selene, watching the fox’ confident posture while seemingly ignoring her second who tried to give advice. As for Gaile, her second appeared to have already given up on any hope of victory as he was busy texting someone on his phone. Not that she could really fault him, the young fox was still inexperienced in the combat sports scene and even more so in the art of boxing - though that would never stop her.

  With the palms of her gloves pressed together, she rested the tip of her nose against the leather and started muttering. “She made her name through immaculate counters and fleet footwork, so it stands to reason she’s got sharp eyes. Based on the matches I’ve seen she’s great at reading an opponent’s movements and picking up on various tells, so surprising her is difficult… And since I’m limited to punches that shrinks my options even further, hmm…” She closed her eyes, allowing her mind to float freely while bobbing her head left and right with faint hums. “So if I were to do that, then… And if she responded like this, maybe… But then what if this happened… Right, right… Left, low, right, low, up… Got it!” By the time she raised her head, a bright smile showed alongside a pair of gleaming sapphires as she giggled. “I’ve got my battleplan!”

  Her second pulled his attention off the screen for just a moment and raised a brow. “You said something? Wait, you plan on winning this?”

  “Of course!” the bubbly fox replied. “If I want to make it big then I’ve got no choice but to face every fight with the intent to win, no matter how steep the climb!” She turned her head to look at the rabbit with a bright smile. “Right?”

  “Right…” The rabbit stuffed the phone into his pocket and placed a bucket onto Gaile’s entrance stool. “I suppose it won’t hurt to try.” He procured a wet cloth out of the bucket and to clean his hands before pulling out the transparent plastic box containing his fighter’s blue mouthguard. “But don’t start crying when you lose. I can’t stand the sight of cute girls wailing.”

  Gaile smiled ear to ear. “Aww, you think I’m cute? That’s so sweet of you.” She punched her gloves together and set her sights back on Selene. “Just watch, I’ll make sure to deck her real good!”

  Her second couldn’t help but flash a big-toothed smile. “Heh, you’ve got some spunk, girl. Make sure to give it your all out there, maybe you’ll even bruise her ego a bit.”

  “Will do!”

  With the announcer leaving the stage, both boxers were called to the center and after being given their respective mouthguard they did just that. The two boxes faced each other, sapphire eyes meeting Selene’s amethysts while the referee read them the rules, though the taller fox’ frown soon turned back into its usual prideful smile.

  “Usually I don’t have to look down when beating up my victims, but it’s very fitting for someone so beneath me.” Selene said with a haughty laugh. “If you last longer than one round I’ll count that as a miracle~”

  “Looks like I’m about to become a miracle-maker then.” the shorter fox replied, then watched as her opponent’s smile turned stiff. “I’ll have you know I’ve defeated fighters more than one and a half head taller than yourself. I may not be a pro boxer, but I know just enough to tussle with someone like you.”

  Selene turned her nose up and scoffed. “Hmph, so the fan’s got some fangs on her I see. Can’t say I dislike that. However,” She flashed a grin and pushed her glove against Gaile’s cheek, “I do enjoy dulling the fangs of my opponents. It’s an artform I find myself quite proficient in~”

  The pale-brown fox smirked as her cheek was being kneaded. “Even dull fangs can leave a bruise, you know?”

  “In that case I will knock them out by the root.” Selene pulled her arm back and held up both gloves. “Once I’m finished here, I’ll have you down on your knees begging for my forgiveness.”

  “You’re on!” Gaile raised her gloves in return and giggled. “And once I’m finished, I’ll have you acknowledge me as the boxer who proved you wrong!”

  A familiar image gleamed in Selene’s amethyst eyes as she stared at the younger fox, but she reined herself in and straightened up with a huff. There was something in her opponent’s demeanor which filled her with a sense of conflict, yet for the time being she couldn’t put a finger on what it was that made her feel this way. The bell rang and they bumped gloves before stepping back in unison to gain distance, Selene taking her stance with the left arm hovering over her chest and the right near the belly while Gaile…did the same? To the older fox’ shock, her opponent’s stance was much akin to her own and an angry vein knotted on her forehead as she chewed the mouthguard with a growl.

  “Do you think you’ll impress me with that poor imitation?” she barked. “The posture’s off.”

  Gaile responded with a smile. “Ah, I still need to get more used to this is all. I had to use you as a reference since my prep time was limited.”

  Selene’s brows raised, then she shook her head. “In that case, allow me to show you how to use a PROPER stance.”

  The fox took a step forward and sent a swift jab barreling Gaile’s way, causing the canine to yelp before raising her left arm to block with a grunt. A jab though it might be, the young fox felt like a hornet had sunk its stinger into her and when a second jab came, she twisted around to block it with the base of her elbow. Gaile winced and stepped back while fanning her arm with a cheeky smile, something which seemed to annoy her opponent even further. Selene closed in and stretched her arm out to its full length with a blinding jab, prompting the shorter fox to bob her head sideways before swinging in the opposite direction when another jab came. There was no doubt in the experienced canine’ mind that her opponent had indeed done enough homework on evasive classes, but how about durability? She took a step closer before swinging a much faster, more precise jab at Gaile to force a blocking maneuver and when the short fox did as expected, Selene unleashed a heavy Left Hook targeting the jaw.

  “Gotcha!”

  With both gloves still raised to protect her chin, Gaile ducked below the swing and stepped forth before ramming a Right Cross into her opponent’s gut - or rather, that is what WOULD have happened had Selene not pulled her jabbing arm back to block. Time seemed to move in slow motion as Gaile saw her punch land against the taller woman’s forearm before it was swatted aside, throwing her off balance. The short fox stumbled past her opponent and when she spun herself around to resume the fight, a flash of yellow obscured her view with an audible thump as her snout was pushed inwards. Saliva and sweat clouded the air as Gaile’s head was blown back, sapphire eyes quivering while she stumbled. She scrambled into a makeshift guard and tried to regain focus, but those hopes were dashed when a golden missile to the kidney knocked her breath away. Spittle passed through the canine’s pursed lips as a blue mouthguard poked into view before a second punch sunk into her gut, past the sloppy guard. With wide eyes and puffy cheeks, Gaile teetered in a clumsy backwards dance and caught onto the top rope while holding an arm over her stomach with dry gasps.

  “H-huh…? Wha-...?”

  “You’re such an adorably naive idiot. Did you really think someone of my level would fall for that?” Selene laughed as she approached with swaying hips. “It was so obvious you were trying to bait me, that posture especially was a dead giveaway~ Only a fool would fail to notice.”

  “Is…is that so…? Thank you for the advice…” Gaile forced a smile as she winced before pushing away from the ropes with raised gloves, “and for giving me a breather…”

  “Oh, you thought I was doing you a favor?”

  Before Gaile could even think of raising the gloves higher, a swift jab bopped her on the nose and made the canine’s head bob back for a moment, just enough for a second blow to find its mark on her fluffy white cheek. When she finally mustered the strength to lift her guard higher, Selene responded with a clean Uppercut to the belly which pressed the fox against the ropes, toes curling as more saliva spurted from her mouth. With a glistening mouthguard pushing out from between her lips, Gaile fell onto her opponent’s arm while the glove still rested against her gut, gasping for air like a fish on land as she reached out at the taller fox. Selene pulled her arm back as if she had just shanked someone and stood still while the wheezing fox fell face first against her chest before clinching, chest heaving in agony. The older boxer marveled at her handiwork, savoring the hot breath brushing against her white fur before patting her opponent on the head.

  “There, there, at least you tried. It’s not your fault I’m superior.” Selene chucked, then brought herself to a pause. “Actually… No, it IS your fault actually. Your fault for being weak that is.”

  The young fox stirred. “N-not…”

  Selene raised a brow. “Hmm?”

  “Not weak… I’m not weak…”

  “Yes, yes, stay in denial if you wish. Now if you’ll excuse me…” She pushed Gaile off and primed her fist for a finishing blow, “I’ll be nice and put you out of your misery~”

  Selene launched a piercing Haymaker at her groggy opponent’s face, only to widen her amethyst eyes in shock as the weakened fox fell forward and stomped her foot on the canvas, inadvertently ducking beneath the punch before swinging a Right Hook which landed smack-dab into the arrogant boxer’s cheek! Her head turned sideways from the impact, fur rolling up from the pressure of leather…but the rest of her body didn’t budge. In fact, only her head moved from the blow and the two stood still for a moment, frozen in time while Selene’s sharp eyes drifted back the flabbergasted fox.

  “...That’s it? That’s all the strength you could muster?” she growled. “I knew something felt off when I blocked your punch earlier, but now I know what it is. You really ARE weak! Why are you even facing me in the ring?”

  Gaile’s ears lowered. “T-to become stronger…”

  “Well whatever you’ve done up until now hasn’t been working. I’m not the brute strength type either but not even I would dare step into the ring with such paltry punches.” She swatted the young fox’ arm aside and bared her teeth…then cooled off on the spot and smiled. “Honestly, you should just get down on your knees and forfeit. Saves everyone’s time.”

  “Never…” the fox barked before reeling an arm back. “I’ll never get on my knees!”

  Gaile launched a Right Cross at her opponent’s belly, but the taller fox saw it coming and leaned back just enough for the blue glove to just barely graze the alabaster fur before replying with a Right Hook of her own which snapped the inexperienced boxer’s head sideways. Saliva and sweat flew as the young fox staggered in a daze, leaving her woefully unprepared for the follow-up punch to the stomach which forced her maw open to release liquid fatigue. With tiny translucent beads forming in the corner of her eyes, Gaile clutched her belly and doubled over while gasping in silence, then dropped on her knees. The fox’ blue mouthguard hung loose from her lower lip as she coughed, drool trailing down her chin before finding its rightful place on the canvas below while the referee began counting.

  “On your knees already? How considerate of you.” Selene held a glove my her mouth and let out a haughty laugh. “Now do everyone a favor and stay down.”

  Sweat trickled down Gaile’s forehead as she panted, her belly throbbing something fierce. “Hah…hah… I never stay down…if I can help it…”

  “Is that so.” The arrogant canine shrugged and shook her head. “Even if the end result won’t change~?”

  Gaile’s lips curled into a smirk and she placed a gloved hand onto her knee. “Even if the end result won’t change.”

  As she watched the smaller foe’s graduel rise, Selene didn’t utter a word. The arrogant sneer was gone and when she saw Gaile beat the ten count with those fiery blue eyes digging into her soul, the older fox responded by flashing a smile.

  “So you got up. I’ll interpret that as you wanting to be my sandbag for a little longer.” She did a couple hops with both gloves raised. “Just don’t come crying to me when I win.”

  Gaile almost let a feral growl slip but managed to restrain herself. “Just keep talking… It won’t last long.”

  “Ooh?” Selene raised a brow and laughed. “Let’s test that, shall we?”

  The moment Selene stepped forward, the bell rang and they were separated by the large bear shoving his massive fluffy arms between them. While the arrogant boxer spun around with a “hmph” and went to her corner with head held high, Gaile was finding it hard to even keep her own breathing stable as she walked with tiny steps, one arm on the rope for support. Her searing lungs screamed for help for every step she took and when the canine finally sat down on her stool, a subconscious arm coiled around the abdomen.

  After flipping through his phone for a moment, her second pulled up a bucket. “I had a feeling it’d turn out like this. Thought you’d outsmart her, huh?” He sighed and removed her slobbery mouthguard with a gloved hand. “Smarter boxers have tried, but that gal’s got sharp eyes. Got a quick wit too.”

  “I…I could tell…” Gaile rested both elbows on her knees with slouched shoulders, but the smile was still there. “This is crazy… To fight her so soon…”

  “Yeah, you pulled the shortest straw here. Though if you’re lucky, she might show mercy and finish it round two, that crazy vixen’s prone to play with her food.”

  A pair of droopy eyes were raised and the fox flashed a faint smile. “...I’m banking on the latter…”

  The rabbit rubbed the bridge of his nose and had Gaile drink from a bottle of water. “Great, there’s two crazy foxes in the ring.”

  “Trust me.” the fox replied, tail swaying in excitement as she gargled the water and spat into her bucket. “I’ve found another win condition…”

  “Okay, okay, I get it.” He pulled the bucket away and cleaned the mouthguard before putting it back in. “But I’m throwing the towel if it starts looking ba-”

  “Don’t you dare.” She glared at him with the ferocity of a lion matriarch protecting her cubs. “I fight until I drop… No exceptions.”

  The man froze in place for a moment and shuddered. “Girl, chill, I was only kidding. You can fight to the finish or whatever, I don’t care. Go eat your heart out.”

  When the referee called the boxers to meet for the next round, Gaile pouted and banged her gloves together. Of all the seconds she could have gotten, it just had to be a downer with zero faith. While he wasn’t entirely to blame for not reciprocating her enthusiasm, it was still a second’s job to assist their assigned fighter in any way they could and this rabbit was very much the opposite in that regard. Nevertheless, she couldn’t let this distract her as she faced the arrogant vixen with a smile welling with confidence and after the two bumped gloves, she took an abrupt step forward to throw a jab. Selene bobbed her head aside and evaded the reckless attempt at offense before leaning in the opposite direction to dodge the following jab, then leaned back when a sudden Right Hook whiffed her chin. Her smile only grew as she blocked jabs targeting the ribs, kidney, liver and gut in a pattern so by-the-book she saw them all coming a mile away - it came to a point she even started laughing mid-block to further mock her opponent. The moment Gaile overextended with a Haymaker, the experienced vixen swayed sideways and slammed a golden glove into her snout as a reward, then added a little more juice to the swing which blew the short canine back several feet on teetering legs. In just one simple counter, Gaile’s offensive measures had been shattered and the dazed fox struggled to raise her guard as she stood there with legs leaning together for support.

  Instead of charging in, Selene took calm and measured steps towards her prey while resting a glove on her hip. “Aww, you don’t look too good. Let me help with that.” She swung a calm Right Hook while Gaile barely dodged with a yelp. “Ooh, you avoided it. How about this?” The vixen threw a casual Right Straight and whistled as her opponent ducked with strained breaths. “You are aware that you’re just delaying the inevitable, right? Your defeat was set in stone the moment I became your opponent. And here’s why!” A low cackle left her lips and she threw a Left Cross at the head, then brought it to an immediate halt before ramming a punch into Gaile’s face when she ducked. “So, so, SO predictable.” She rocked the stunned fox’ head to the left with a hook. “You were truly in over your head thinking you stood a chance.” She rocked her head to the right with a spray of spit and sweat. “Boxers of my standing have better things to do than dealing with mere riffraff such as yourself.” A Left Cross knocked Gaile’s head back. “Now be a good jobber and stay down!”

  Without a semblance of this alien notion called mercy, Selene sunk her glove deep inside the vulnerable fox’ gut, watching as saliva spewed from her mouth and onto the arm, mouthguard threatening to flee at any moment. Yet even with the cold leather pressing against her abdomen, Gaile closed both elbows against the punching arm for support and raised her head to stare at the dominant vixen with tearful but determined eyes. Saliva leaked from the corner of her mouth like a miniature waterfall and tears trailed down the brown streaks reaching down to the chin, but her bright sapphire eyes reflected the most fierce of fires still. The sight brought Selene to a momentary pause as their eyes met - for the first time she was at a loss of words.

  “I…” Gailed clenched her taped fist within the glove, “never…” She reeled her arm back with glistening eyes that burned with passion, “give up!!”

  The burning fox launched a punch with all her might into the distracted Selene’s belly and though it did force a grunt out of the vixen, that’s all she was willing to give. With narrowed eyes, she struck Gaile down with a clean Right Hook to the jaw and the fox hit the mat with an audible thud. Her head was ringing as she lay there with faint breaths, glazed eyes staring at the audience while a glistening mouthguard slipped out halfway to touch the ground. She was aching all over and every semblance of her survival instincts screamed at the fox to stay down, but the stubborn fighter refused to heed these warnings as she rolled on her belly before rising on all fours. A bright shine flickered in Selene’s amethyst eyes while she watched the fox stand by the eight count, unwittingly letting her lips curl upward before twisting into a deep frown.

  “Ugh, why are you so persistent? You’re wasting everyone’s time!” the vixen growled. “Why can’t you just take a hint and stay down like a sensible person?”

  As she stood on shaking legs, Gaile flashed a tired smile while pushing her mouthguard back in. “Because I can…still win…”

  An angry vein formed on Selene’s forehead. “Excuse me? You think you can win? Are you insane?!”

  “Heh… Maybe…”

  With claws tearing against the inner linings of her gloves, Selene’s teeth grinded against the mouthguard in frustration as she glared at the tiny fox. The vixen had actually tried to knock Gaile out this time, so seeing the stubborn fox rise again shot her pride like a cannonball to the chest. An almost feral fire burned in Selene’s soul now and when the referee gave them the green light to resume, she went on the offensive - but so did Gaile. Both boxers threw an immediate Right Cross at the other, but while Selene’s glove dug into Gaile’s cheek, the smaller boxer’s glove stopped mere inches away from its intended target. It could have been a magnificent Cross Counter, but the reach difference was just too great for that to happen. Despite her quite literal shortcomings however, Gaile powered through and raised her other arm for a punch, only for a swift jab to bop her on the snout. Then another. And another. The short fox was backed into the ropes as she was overwhelmed by rapid left-right jabs to the snout and cheeks, rocking her like a bobblehead on a bumpy road until an Uppercut rocked the body with a loud thud - and then the bell rang to end the round.

  “That’s what you get for being stubborn.” Selene huffed before pulling her arm back, then watched the fox hit the canvas. “I’ve faced many weaklings in my career, but you’re by far the worst of the lot.” She hunched down next to Gaile who gasped and wheezed in breathless agony. “You sought me out ten years too early, loser. Stop embarrassing yourself any further with this ‘brave’ charade of yours and forfeit before I shatter your spirit in its entirety.”

  And with that, Selene straightened up and walked away with a smile, confident that her words had finally reached that stubborn fox. As she sat down on her stool in the corner however, the vixen found herself staring with wide eyes at the sight of Gaile rising to her feet - albeit with some difficulty - and stumbling back to her own corner with an arm draped against the belly. The sheer tenacity of that shorty left Selene dumbfounded, so much so that she didn’t even pick up on her second calling for the fox’ yellow mouthguard to be removed. She blinked for a moment before returning back to reality as the white cat went on to do his duties, though she failed to keep her eyes off the slouched and tired fox. A wave of nostalgia hit her like a truck where she stood and Selene soon caught herself smiling as if she had just run into a long-lost childhood friend, though the cat gathered herself soon enough.

  “That gal’s stubborn, but that’s all she has.” the cat said in a cool tone. “Those two punches she landed hardly even fazed you, so it’s safe to say this match is set. Just knock her out in the next round, I refuse to believe she’s got much juice left.”

  Selene’s eyes trailed towards her second to give him a cold stare. “Are you trying to tell me what to do?” she asked in a tone laced with venom. “If I wanted your opinion then I’d ask.”

  The cat jolted and lowered his head with drooping ears. “Ah, sorry mis-... S-Selene. I overstepped.”

  “You most certainly did.” Selene brushed a glove through her bangs and stopped it right next to her left ear. “As for this Gaile girl… I know exactly how to dismantle her~”

  With the third round nearing its start, Gaile made her way towards the center with heavy steps after having just dealt with another bout of the rabbit’s negativity. The fox’ body was screaming for mercy, her head was throbbing like a woodpecker had just banged on it and it felt like a heavy steel weight had been tied to both arms - though to this fighter in particular, she was more than familiar with such situations. She had suffered many losses throughout her current career due to her lack of both talent and strength, but if there was one thing she could boast it was her impressive guts. Taking a beating was par for the course in the realm of fighting and she was already an expert within that field in particular, so pain was no longer something that lured her will into the bosom of submission. When her sapphire eyes met Selene’s amethyst, she could tell something was different but didn’t give it a second thought as they bumped gloves before stepping back. The young fox kept both arms raised in a guard to get some more breathing room, determined eyes locked onto Selene whose face soon twisted into a deep frown. She tested the guard with a couple approaching jabs before going low, though Gaile’s shorter size made it easy to block with a simple hunch which was then followed by a swift counter to the vixen’s belly. Selene winced and swung a Right Hook aimed for the jaw in response, but the shorter fox evaded the attack and delivered another punch to the exact same spot.

  As the blue glove slammed into her abdomen, the taller fox spat and her yellow mouthguard poked out for a moment before she threw a lethal glare at Gaile. “Why you little-!” She reeled her arm back in a sudden fit of anger, only for her opponent to deliver a swift Right Hook into her belly. “Ghk-! I’m going to-oouuff-!” Another gloved fist found its way into her bruised stomach and she lifted an arm with gritted teeth. “Don’t get carried away now, I’ll-” As if on cue, she took another blow to the gut and for the first time in their match, the vixen was on the backfoot. “T-tch, this doesn’t hurt, this is nothing!” Selene rushed a guard, but her opponent saw the gap and slipped a Haymaker between the hunched fox’ arms and into her stomach. “Gha-ha-...!”

  Selene almost spat out her mouthguard and stumbled back with both arms clutching the midsection, wrecked by the gradual wear and tear of Gaile’s precise punches. Though lacking in power, even the weakest of strikes would start to burn once the same spot’s hit enough times, a strategy the fox had made very active use of in her to-now brief career. As she saw her opponent’s struggle, Gaile couldn’t help but show a tiny smile of confidence before closing the distance - the canine had waited for the moment Selene’s arrogance would leave her open and she was not about to let this opportunity pass while she still had it. She let her right arm trail by her side as she gathered strength, blue eyes scanning for the perfect target until all sights were set on her pretty face. The vulnerable vixen was too occupied clutching her sore stomach to notice Gaile’s approach and the fox soon sent a vicious Uppercut flying, slicing the air with cold leather as it made its way towards the chin.

  …And then Selene weaved past it.

  The tiny fox’ confident gaze wavered and her eyes went wide in slow motion as she watched the glove whiff her opponent’s cheek. She could see Selene winding up for a punch, but since she was still stuck in the forward momentum of her botched Uppercut, it was impossible to defend herself. A wicked smile spread on the vixen’s face as she tensed her arm and smashed a punch smack dab in Gaile’s face, pressing the fox’ snout inward before she was sent crashing to the canvas. Gaile’s body bounced off the mat as she made impact before laying sprawled out with glazed eyes staring at the bright ceiling, arms and legs spread while shaking like fall leaves. Meanwhile, Selene couldn’t help but laugh at the sight as the referee began counting again.

  “Let me guess, you thought you caught me off guard? Fat chance~” She rested both gloves on her hips and leaned over Gaile’s panting form. “Don’t think for a second you’re anywhere near my level. I just wanted to let you get some hits in so you could get some points for your scorecard.” she laughed before raising a hand near her mouth. “That way the judges won’t think you’re entirely inadequate~”

  Selene turned her back on the downed canine and raised her fist while soaking in the audience’s applause. Aah, nothing felt quite like dominating an uppity loser like…like… Why did the count stop? She looked over her shoulder and sure enough, Gaile was up on her feet, though it seemed like even the slightest of gusts would be enough to topple her trembling body. The fox sniffled and wiped her bloody nose with hazy eyes before keeping both arms raised in a guard again - her will to fight hadn’t budged by an inch! Something stirred deep within Selene’s core as she stared at the trembling canine, flabbergasted. No matter how many times she was struck down, Gaile would always rise back on her feet and the vixen felt a strong sense of warmth gathering in her chest.

  (“Like looking into a mirror…”) the fox thought to herself as she did light hops on the canvas. “You’re quite the tenacious brat, aren’t you?”

  Gaile’s droopy ears perked up. “I finally…caught your attention…”

  The vixen turned her nose up and rolled her eyes. “...Th-that wasn’t a compliment.”

  “H-heh…” The tiny fox smiled. “Never said it was…”

  That response left Selene’s eye twitching and she took a swing at the fox on impulse before watching as she ducked by a hair’s breadth. Despite her poor condition, Gaile primed her arm and swung a Right Hook straight at the abdomen which was subsequently blocked, then swayed back to avoid the jab that came in return. A couple more jabs followed and the young fox blocked them with low grunts before once again trying a duck and counter which were met with the same result. Though she avoided being hit, Gaile also failed to land a single blow for the remaining duration of the round and when the bell finally rang, she dragged herself to the corner. Fighting Selene felt like fighting one of those cheap video game bosses she struggled with as a kid, the kind that read your button inputs to counter every move. She sat down in the corner with elbows on her knees and lost herself in thought as the rabbit treated her - he still wouldn’t shut up about her having to give up, so she fazed him out.

  Meanwhile, Selene sat in her stool with controlled breaths as she stared at the exhausted fox. “Even now she fights to find a way…” She threw a glance at her second. “Hey, cat.”

  “For the last time, my name is-”

  “Tell me what you know about Gaile.” she demanded.

  “Eh?” He paused for a moment before shrugging. “I mean, what is there to know? She’s a nobody.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Yet she’s still fighting. Now tell me.”

  The cat sighed and rubbed the back of his head. “Gaile Finster is a member of some backwater minor league organization that I don’t remember the name of. Her pro career is rather middling and she’s got considerably more losses than wins.”

  Selene rubbed her chin in thought. “And she keeps fighting hard in spite of that…”

  “She’s in denial.” the cat said in a casual tone. “Some fighters just refuse to believe they’ve got no talent for the sport and push themselves needlessly. It’s depress-”

  “I never asked you for your personal opinion.” The fox looked at her golden glove, then let her attention trail back to Gaile. “Hmm…”

  Meanwhile, Gaile tapped her feet with quivering lips. Each time she thought a solution was found, Selene dashed it with minimal effort and stress began to weigh on her mind. Thoughts swarmed into a giant jumble of knots and as she was called to meet Selene in the center again, the fox wouldn’t stop shuddering. Now that her entire battleplan had been derailed, Gaile’s heart rate escalated as she struggled to think straight and when the fourth round began, the fox threw a punch of pure desperation. The taller vixen swayed sideways with a raised brow, amethyst eyes looking at her opponent in wonder before she cracked a smile - now this was a response she was more familiar with! She evaded a second punch and danced past another with fleet footwork, then slipped past the fourth swing before countering with a Right Hook to the gut. Saliva sputtered from the short fox’ mouth and she froze in place with wide, teary eyes as both feet refused to listen.

  “I’m surprised you even lasted four rounds against me. I must be getting rusty.” Selene said as she pulled her glove out. “Your posture’s weak, your punches are laughable and your footwork leaves much to be desired…but your moxie passes I suppose.” She bobbed her head back to dodge a punch. “Oops, trying to land a hit while I’m still speaking? That’s not very…” The vixen leaned in and delivered a swift punch to the abdomen, knocking Gaile’s breath away, “nice. Do you not understand the position you’re in? The only reason you’re still standing is because that bothersome fighting spirit of yours denies you any rest.”

  Gaile gasped and wheezed with both arms wrapped around her bruised belly as she drooled - her drooping eyelids were getting heavier by the second and so did her arms, legs and even her head. It felt as though the entire ground had turned into a black hole sucking her in and she soon teetered forward on the brink of falling…then she stomped the floor with gritted teeth. A searing hellfire plagued Gaile’s bruised stomach and she released a loud battlecry where she stood, giving Selene and the referee pause. Parts of the audience went silent in response to the canine’s outburst and before the fellow vixen could get the wits about her a sudden Haymaker zoomed past her cheek - though she was woefully unprepared for the Left Hook which collided with her gut. Selene spat with wide eyes of surprise before ramming a fist into the smaller boxer’s belly, but rather than resuming the assault she just stood there. Looking. This spunky fox was far outclassed in every which way, yet even now she refused to fall as she kept both feet planted while resting against the golden leather propping her up.

  It took everything within Selene’s power to keep herself from smiling and she soon pulled out before jabbing at her opponent’s head, followed by another jab, then another. Left-right, left-right, the jabs wouldn’t stop as Gaile blocked it all with her head, too weakened to raise her guard any higher…and then she stumbled into the ropes. The fox was groggy, her bright sapphire eyes had begun to dull and the blue mouthguard of hers was almost hanging between her lips as she held both arms raised at chest-height. Selene could tell it was over and approached with a long step forward, arm reeling back as she set her sights on finishing off this impressive fox.

  “GAILE!!”

  The fox’ ears perked up and flicked for just a moment as her name was called by an all too familiar voice. (“Dad…”) Of course that old man of hers would get tickets at the last minute, that was all too like him - she could picture the look of worry on his greying face, dull teeth bared and navy blue eyes glistening in the light. (“Ah… This won’t do…”) She felt something stir deep within her soul and soon the tiny pugilist found herself bathing in the flames of determination. (“Come on… One more shot…”)

  Selene stepped into range and in an instant the groggy fox threw herself from the ropes, past the outstretched arm before pumping everything she got into a counter. The canine’s blue glove pierced the air and traveled towards the stomach to deal a crippling blow but just as it was about to land, an arm lowered in its path. Her counter had been anticipated by the more experienced boxer who wasted no time diverting the force of Gaile’s strike with a firm sideways swing of an arm to keep the momentum going, then rebounded the same arm to deliver a blinding Left Hook to the jaw. A spray of saliva and sweat clouded the air and the fox’ slobbery mouthguard flew as her head snapped sideways, then her body followed suit before she fell into the ropes with her head resting on the middle rope.

  As she lay against the ropes with weak tremors, Gaile’s foggy eyes trailed to earn a faint gaze at the audience before fixing itself upon her father - his look of worry was just how she had imagined. (“Heh…knew it…”) she thought to herself as she drooled. (“Still a worrywart…”)

  Meanwhile, Selene brushed her bangs and threw one last pensive look before turning away as the bell rang to end the round. “You know what they say about cornered mice. I can’t let my guard down for a moment.” She rubbed the back of her head with a sigh. “Next round I’ll put you out of your misery.”

  The vixen sat down by her corner and watched as Gaile was fished out of the ropes to be brought to her stool. She looked down on her belly for a moment and ran a glove across the ruffled alabaster fur, then cracked a tiny smile - the punches had finally begun to leave a mark…but it was too little, too late. Her second was speaking, but she couldn’t care less as she observed Gaile’s treatment, noting the clear look of disinterest in the rabbit’s eyes, at the way her opponent slouched in her seat. Then their eyes met. Though the older fox saw heavy exhaustion in those dull pair of eyes, Gaile still had a glimmer of hope lingering deep within that never seemed to fade. It was as though the little fox was shielding a dying ember in the midst of a blizzard with nothing but her trembling, weak body.

  “Just like the good old days…” Selene muttered.

  “Huh? What was that?”

  “I wasn’t talking to you, peasant.”

  Even though the round had yet to begin, Selene rose from her stool and crossed the ring to look down on that tiny insect of an opponent who had crossed her path. The rabbit who had been so eager to speak moments before had gone dead silent and Gaile, who by all means should have been knocked out already, raised her head with a weak smile. There was something in that smile which roused the vixen’s soul and left her brimming with a vigor she so rarely felt.

  “Since you won’t survive till the end of the next round, I’ll extend my thanks for entertaining me. Your needless floundering has been very amusing.” the vixen said with a haughty laugh. “I’ll try to not make it too embarrassing for you.”

  Gaile let a weak chuckle slip. “...You’re nervous…”

  “Excuse me?” Selene replied with a raised brow. “Nervous? Me? Who do you think you’re talking to?”

  The fox’s eyelids were raised by force as she gave her opponent a good, hard look, “A goalpost…”

  Selene’s eyes twitched in response and she gritted her teeth. “Arrogant twerp, do you really believe you’ll ever reach my level? I’ll ingrain the taste of my leather so deep it’ll linger for months.”

  She turned before any other words could be exchanged and held a glove over her mouth as she snorted, then stopped near the corner to laugh. Oh, this fox was just way too much. A riot…but also someone who had earned the boxer’s respect. There was no longer any doubt left in her mind - she was going to treat Gaile to something very special.

  On the dawn of the fifth round, both foxes met in the center and reached out their gloves to be tapped once more, though Gaile’s energy was but a shadow of what it once was. The referee himself was torn about whether or not the younger canine should be allowed to continue, but deep down he felt that calling it off would do more harm than good to the spirited gal. Additionally his trained eyes had yet to spot any serious injuries, so he opted to keep a close eye as he backed off from the pair.

  Gaile’s breathing was hoarse but somewhat steady as she pulled her tapping arm back into a guard and hunched forward to cover as much of her body as possible. Her belly was still screaming and it was nigh impossible to straighten the body anymore, but she endured nevertheless. The panic that plagued her mind the round prior was now gone, replaced with an odd sense of clarity as she stared at the mountain she was about to climb - no heights were too great, no matter how much her body protested! She watched the vixen do slight hops with one arm raised and another near the chest, though no offensive measures were made while Gaile was still standing there. Time was ticking and the fox felt the pressure push against the back of her mind until she finally relented and threw a swift jab-

  BAP!

  Before the fox’ arm could even reach halfway, Selene’s hanging fist lunged like a snake into her face and rocked it backwards, then retracted and struck a second time. Then a third…and a fourth. While her head was jostled back and forth by the vixen’s lightning-fast Flicker Jabs, the true severity of her damage was made clear as she proved unable to react in time anymore. The fox stepped back in a light daze and as Selene followed she tried to surprise her with a sudden Right Straight, but the more experienced boxer saw it coming as she weaved past the arm and rammed a Right Hook into her jaw. Gaile’s head snapped sideways and as she teetered on unsteady feet, the vixen dug an Uppercut deep into her gut - the young boxer’s mouthguard was pushed out and her feet almost left the ground as harsh leather sunk into her flesh, causing spittle to fly. She raised an arm in a desperate attempt to strike back, but that was thwarted when a second punch rammed into her gut, followed by a Left Hook to the side. Ribs, kidney, liver, diaphragm, solar plexus, all became victims to Selene’s rapid barrage and as the desperate Gaile forced herself to stumble back for distance, she was hit with the dreadful sensation of ropes touching her behind. That one moment of dread escalated into deep agony as the taller fox delivered one last package of leather into the abdomen. Once again saliva spewed from Gaile’s mouth and with eyes clouded by tears she leaned against her superior with the hoarse gasps of a beached fish, unable to take any more punishment.

  With steady huffs, Selene kept her eyes fixed on the canine and sighed. “Finally, I thought you’d never give up. You see the true difference in skill now, Gaile?” she said before shrugging. “Though I don’t even think you can hear me anymo-...” She felt Gaile’s blue glove bump against her chin, “...-re… Huh, you’re still conscious.” Another glove bumped against her cheek. “How cute, the little fox has yet to give up.” She caught the third punch with the palm of her glove. “At least there’s one thing you’re half-decent at… But now it’s time to say goodnight!”

  Selene gathered strength in her free arm, fist clenched within the inner lining before she launched a vicious Uppercut in an upward arc which struck Gaile’s chin with enormous force! The young fox’s head went skybound and her neck almost seemed like it gained a couple extra inches as she was lifted off the canvas, then crashed down almost as soon as she flew. Her slobbery mouthguard clattered on the ringside before falling off the edge and as the downed fox trembled on the canvas, Selene turned her back once again. She could hear the referee’s shaky tone as he began the ten count, only to then turn her head on instinct to see Gaile rolling on her stomach at the count of four.

  “No way… You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  Gaile groaned and wheezed, strings of saliva leaving her moist lips as tears and sweat drenched her facial fur, messy brown hair now covering those faint but determined eyes.

  “Five…”

  She got up on all fours, trembling like a tree caught in a hurricane.

  “Six…”

  Now she got on her knees with a raised head, though her face was hidden from Selene’s view.

  “Seven…”

  Selene swallowed a lump in her throat as she watched her opponent get up on one knee. “Is she a zombie or something? I literally just tried to knock her out cold just now…”

  “Eight…”

  Gaile had begun to push herself higher up and now the vixen was beginning to break a sweat.

  “Nine…”

  The determined boxer ascended…

  “Ten. Knockout!”

  Gaile stood there swaying, too late to break the ten count as she turned her head to meet the vixen’s gaze. Despite the deafening cheers hailing her victory, Selene was more focused on Gaile as she watched the light fade from her opponent’s eyes - the fox fell forward and the victorious canine made a mad dash before catching the young fighter in her arms. Her chest was heaving and she breathed heavily with wide eyes as she held Gaile in a firm but safe grip, refusing to let this stubborn foe hit the canvas. Parts of the crowd had stopped cheering to murmur amongst themselves and her sensitive ears caught the sound of both seconds sighing. She gritted her teeth, but rather than releasing her anger she returned her attention to Gaile.

  “All that effort and you still lost. Really, why waste so much energy when you were bound to lose anyway?” she said with a frown before glancing at the referee. “Consider yourself lucky I reacted to your dangerous fall, unlike a certain slowpoke over here.” She spun around and with the unconscious fox’ arm slung over her shoulder she started walking. “Useless, the whole lot of you. Having an opponent get injured on my watch would hurt my image, you know? I’m not just some mindless brute.” She stopped by Gaile’s corner and threw a dark glare at the bewildered rabbit standing there. “What are you gawking at? Aren’t seconds supposed to pick up their losers? Honestly, you must be the most useless sentient being in this entire building and that’s saying a lot because my second is a dumbass.”

  “R-right away, ma’am!”

  “Oh don’t you ma’am me, peasant.” Selene scowled. “I’ve been watching you, your abilities as a second is way below par.”

  The rabbit froze. “Ah, but-”

  “Just keep your mouth shut and do your job.” She let Gaile down on her stool in a gentle manner, then turned around. “I’ll have a long talk with whoever hired you.”

  After taking a brief moment to soak in her well-earned victory, Selene walked past her second and headed for the locker room, not even giving the cat a chance to follow along as she slammed it shut in his face. Once by her lonesome, the vixen spat out her mouthguard and untied the boxing glove’s laces with her teeth before dropping both to the floor. She took a seat by one of the locker benches and trembled with both hands rubbing her sore belly…and then she burst into laughter. Aside from that accursed Juniper whom she despised so much, this was the most stubborn fighter she had ever encountered in her life. She was outmatched and outdone in every conceivable way, yet she never even considered giving up for a single fraction of a second! The vixen couldn’t help but respect such moxie.

  “That girl’s got some promise…but she needs work. A lot of work.” She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up at the ceiling. “Never thought I’d find myself getting this sentimental again, but I can’t allow such talent to waste away…”

  One week later, Gaile found herself standing outside a large gym with a note in hand - it had been delivered through the locker room door undercut shortly after she had woken up, with the only text being an address and a name. She looked down on the paper with quivering lips which soon curled into a grin as she took the first step inside. The interior was filled to the brim with state of the art training equipment and at the very center she saw Selene running on a treadmill with steady breaths, dressed in nothing but a simple yellow top and training trunks. Her amethyst eyes turned for a moment and slowed down the treadmill while transitioning into a light job, then came to a stop and let her feet slide to the floor with a single fluid step.

  “So, you’re finally here.” the vixen said as she wiped her forehead with a towel. “I was wondering if you’d ever show up.”

  Gaile’s heartbeat intensified as the fox got closer. “Oh my gosh, so this wasn’t a prank after all. You really did call for me!”

  The taller vixen raised a brow. “Well, obviously. You were absolutely pitiful in the ring, but since I’m so gracious I decided it wouldn’t hurt to give you a couple pointers. The results could be amusing.”

  “You’re saying you’ll train me?!” With wide eyes overflowing with hope, she grabbed Selene’s hand with both hands and shook it vigorously. “I’m so honored that someone of your esteem is willing to save time for me! I’ll do my best not to disappoint you!”

  “Woah, hey-!” The fox stifled a smile at Gaile’s burst of excitement, though she couldn’t keep her fluffy tail from wagging. “Don’t get carried away, I’m only going to give you a pointer or two. It’s not like I’ll be your personal trainer or anything like that.”

  “Of course, of course!” Gaile nodded before procuring a notebook from her backpack. “You’re a very busy woman after all. You’ve got a match against Juniper two days from now at 18:30 and another in two weeks, so I’m surprised you even had any time for me at all!”

  Selene blinked. “Huh… You’re a well-informed one, aren’t you?”

  “I have to be.” The young fox closed her notebook with a somber smile and averted her eyes. “I wasn’t born with the talent or physique needed to be a proper fighter, so I need knowledge to cover my bases. Sometimes it does, others…not so much.”

  “I know.” the vixen sighed. “Your combat record speaks for itself.”

  Gaile went silent and for a moment the older fox held her tongue. Did she hit a sore spot with the young fox? She hesitated, struggling to come up with something to say.

  “Yeeaah, I’m not the best…” The short fox rubbed the back of her head, then raised an index finger, “yet! I’m still young and losses are to be expected.”

  Oh good, she wasn’t the sensitive type. “Huh, so there’s some actual wisdom hiding between those big ears of yours. I was wondering if you were fueled by nothing but moxie.”

  “Wait, is that a compliment, ooor…”

  “No.” Selene turned around and placed her taped hand on a sandbag hanging from the ceiling. “More importantly, let’s not waste any more time and focus on your training. I only reserved this gym for two hours so time is valuable.”

  “Right! But first…” Gaile held up her notebook and opened up a blank page, pen in hand. “What’s your usual training regimen? What diet are you on? What sort of opponents do you find troublesome in the ring? Do you have any allergies? What’s your favorite food? Favorite drink? Do you have any hobbies? Which fight do you remember the most? And-”

  Selene pressed a hand against her forehead and held a finger against the inquisitive fox’ lips. “Sheesh, even outside the ring you're such a hassle…” The vixen’s tail wagged faster and it was becoming harder to hold back her smile - this flattering fox was such a sweetheart… Buuut if it gets you to stop pestering me…“

  As Selene answered Gaile’s questions, she felt a deep warmth welling within and soon the act of stifling smiles became a thing of the past. Just looking into those curious sapphire eyes was enough to make the older fox think back upon her younger days, how she too used to be this outgoing, tender even. Yet even with those things now behind her, she found a resurgence of familiarity talking to Gaile and soon she even started asking questions in return before they eventually began the training sessions.

  Never in a million years had Selene expected to find herself a potential trainee amidst the rubble of opponents, but she didn’t complain. In fact, she was elated.

  (“She will become a most formidable fighter under my wing.”)