Fight

Jarring breathtaking pain shoots throughout his body.

The fist landed in the false ribs pulling at the cartilage attached to his sternum.

It was followed by a shot to the first rib creating a deep bruise to his clavicle.

A knee to his thigh shakes his femur, the strongest bone, the same force would have broken anything else.

His defensive punches have lost much of their power.

Oxygen starvation is making him weaker. 

Somewhere millions of miles away a bell rings and he staggers to his corner.

“I can’t beat him he’s too strong!”

 He protests to no one in particular as he spits out the mouth guard.

 It’s difficult to breath and he’s certain that at least four ribs are broken. The urge to urinate is strong and painful cluing him to the fact that his kidneys have sustained damage. The water sprayed into his mouth has a distinctive coppery taste.

Multiple teeth have been loosened.

It’s not a boxing match.

It’s a no holds barred fight and the cost is too dear if he loses.

The bell sounds again.

Agony runs the length of his body as he rises to continue the melee.

His opponent’s flurry of blows are evaded, and he concentrates his return blows on cutting off the huge man’s oxygen.

Each swing is a Herculean effort starting from deep within, his thigh muscles tremble with exertion.

A well timed kick brings the massive man to eye level, and a head butt stuns him.   

All of his fear of losing the fight, the pain that has been inflicted on his body and the realization that this might be his last opportunity to win are poured into the fever pitched jabs. Each one is delivered with devastating effect, landing on the heavier man’s eyes, nose, and mouth.

He claps hands to ears and uses a knee to the chin to finish the fracas.

A bellow leaves his diaphragm as his win is announced.

He watches the guards dispatch his unconscious adversary.

It saddens him to see the warrior killed so callously, it gladdens him as well knowing that he has avoided the same fate.

One more fight.
Just one.
Win this one and he will never have to fight for his dinner again.