Dhati's first duel had been a pleasant, amiable, and oddly relaxed experience. The upbeat Shadow clan lioness had given him a fair fight, and he was thankful for it. Now he faced another lioness, one that looked as though she'd been plucked from the night sky. Hadn't there been one such in the Aka'mleli...? A pang struck him at the thought of his birth pride, and he gave himself a little shake and forced a slight smile at her before launching into the introduction he'd settled upon. "I am Dhati of the Bird clan, and it is an honor to fight you."
Quaji