Changed into a loose white blouse and brown trousers, me and Andre stood in an arena. A harsh, unforgiving metal floor with several rings of cages filled the enclosed space.

Tyke in the centre of it all stood tall and proud regardless of the scars that littered his body; his blue rimmed jacket discarded on the floor next to him. Unfolded from his back the glass like delicate black and blue wings shrank the room by several metres.

'Come.' His voice was cold, as harsh as the floor I stood on.

We edged forward.

'Closer,' It wasn't his loud voice, there was no need, for his tone was so biting with command you would do whatever he said.

'My fighter, Elra will spar you to gauge your ability and work out which style is best for you.' He left no room to argue, just pointed at Andre indicating for him to go first.

Andre stepped back a bit but looking at the stare Tyke gave him he inched over to where Elra was in a ring. He turned back to face me, not even trying to hide the fear in his eyes. I couldn't blame him.

Elra was a solid at least 6 foot giant; her completely silver armour was adorned with a black cloak that was half pulled over her face; she wore a plain mask revealing no features except her pink eyes. Eyes that glistened with amusement.

'Go on.' Tyke growled.

I nodded my head trying to offer any support I could.

He took a deep breath.

He entered the ring.

Hands visibly shaking he raised them to cover his face, both balled into tight fists. Good. He at least had a knowledge of a basic guard.

He had both feet planted firmly on the ground, seemingly unable to move. He was a sitting duck. An object waiting to be hit. A punchbag would be more difficult than him to get points off of. I didn't want to look.

She started to circle him in an obvious taunt, even though her size was huge I could see the calculated grace. Every purposely thought out position as she manoeuvred Andre into where she wanted him. She controlled every aspect of the fight.

With brutal efficiency she pounced, her fists connecting with his nose and solar plexus. Spinning, she landed a kick to his stomach knocking him over instantly. His eyes watered, blood spraying from his nose. The next second he was on his knees spluttering from the lack of air.

'Get up.' Elra commanded.

He pulled himself up, gasping for air.

'Hit me.' She told him. Confusion furrowed his eyebrows, 'Try it.'

He caught his breath returning to his stance.

'Come on Andre.' I thought. 'Take your time.'

Fists up and ready he leaped forward stumbling as he went. His hand flailed as he swung it for her masked face. He missed, the power dissipating into nothing. The time taken to recover was his downfall as she lifted her leg up and down over his bowed head.

Andre collapsed.

'Pathetic.' Tyke muttered dismissing his unconscious form.

I was about to go and check on him when Tyke told me it was my turn.

'Your fight will be in this arena.' he pointed to the one next to Andre's crumpled body.

I looked at Tyke letting a smirk evolve on my features and threw a cocky grin at Elra. I wouldn't beat her, but I would at least hit her. I could take a lot more than Andre, that's for sure.

I sauntered over not allowing any hint of my nerves come through. Shoving them down so far I could barely feel them myself. Letting the bravado of street life back in, I entered the cage.

Elra was oozing confidence so I gave it all back to her. Focus, Ali. Focus.

She started to circle me like she did with Andre but instead of pinning me to a space of her choosing I made my own path. She soon tired of the starring match. Sneaking in, aiming for my unprotected kidneys.

I saw it coming a second too late as the blows landed.

Pain erupted throughout my body; only allowing a grimace to show. This was like this one fight when I was at school - yes I did go to school - where this boy was picking on me. I had gotten hit several times but I couldn't allow him the satisfaction of seeing me in pain. I had turned and thumped him so hard he had cried.

She wouldn't see me cry.

She took a step back, which could be considered nice, but I knew it was no such thing. It was a power play.

'Is that all you've got. No big surprise, you are wingless after all.' She acted like that would offend me.

'You might be a good fighter, but leave the insults to people with brains.' I retorted.

'I don't need a brain to beat you,'

'You are improving, you can now enrage a two year old.' I clapped, which was my downfall as she took this opportunity to lunge at me aiming a right hook at my chest. I ducked left but she anticipated it and was waiting with an elbow to the nose.

Snapping back, my nose erupted in agony. Feeling the coppery liquid fill my mouth, I spat it to the side. 'That wasn't very nice.' I muttered.

'I'm not nice.' Before I could say her name she was behind me kicking me in the back causing me to stumble forward. I should have fallen over. I know I should have. It was a kick she had not held back on, but for some miraculous reason I was still standing. Although it surprised me, she seemed even more confused.

This was her first mistake as I spun around and with as much force as I could muster launching myself at her. Time seemed to slow as I debated what to do. Try a kick. No, we were too close together. I started to go left and as she readied her defence I changed direction backhanding her temple and bringing a knee to her stomach.

Surprise once again filled her face, as she had done for me I stepped back, allowing her to recover. Which she did, too fast for my liking.

Annoyance emitted from her muscular body. Pink eyes blazing. I didn't glance at anything but her. Not at Andre to see if he was okay. Not at Tyke and his gleeful expressions. Not at the cage that trapped me in this fight. My focus remained solely on Elra.

She stepped forward barely touching the ground as she reached me, fist after fist aimed at my face. I dodged the first. Ducked the second but the third hit my already bruised nose. Crack!

Blinded by the spasms I couldn't see. She pushed me into the cage head whacking against the metal. I crumpled.

Gasping for air and struggling through the stinging in my body, I didn't want to move. I had a choice. Get up and continue. Or stay down. It will be over. She wouldn't kill me. I hoped. Even contemplating it, my pride couldn't handle it. Let someone beat me. Not likely. Not like this.

Just like back in the race with Ayanna I felt my body tingle with an adrenaline filling me up. The pain, although still around, numbed. I felt my determination grow as the black fog flashed in front of my eyes.

My fingers laced around the bars I hauled myself up. Facing her once more, my grin never dropping. She smiled right back. Moving simultaneously we danced, meeting in the middle her hand grazing my ear while her wings sliced my arms, sharper than anticipated. Blood spilled. I wasn't finished as I spun bringing my hand up towards her chin.

It was about to hit. So close to hitting. A millisecond off when she rotated, tripping me in the process adding a kick to my back as I landed on the ground.

It was over.

All the pain came back in a rush. Groaning, I flipped onto my front bringing my arms beneath me to stand up. A hand came down in front of my face, surprised to see Elra waiting. I grabbed it and she hauled me up in a firm hold.

'Not bad. Not bad at all for a wingless person.'

I grinned. 'You're quite good yourself.'

'It is my job.'

I faced Tyke and Andre, who was standing beside him cradling his bleeding nose. (Let me remind you it was just bleeding. Mine was broken.) I looked at the big bad leader of the warriors.

'Verdict?' I asked, annoyed.

'Needs work. But better than the other one.'

Elra nudged me, 'That's a compliment as good as you will ever get from him.'

When I smiled at her it was genuine.

'I am going to improve and the next time we spar, I will be the one helping you stand up.' I promised her.

'Good luck with that. But I will look forward to it.'